Depeche Mode -- Delta Machine

Hahah yeah, read about that the other day.

I guess Mr. Cowell doesn't understand that by branding Gore a 'weirdo', he is in some way (by extension) branding fans of Depeche Mode in the very same way. That's how I feel about it, anyway. I don't think Gore would be too bothered mind, he's been successful on a worldwide level on his own terms for... oooh, years now.

oh no, a weirdo, how insulting

I like how he says that as if he, Simon Cowell, is the most normal man on the planet

he thinks he's super-normal, and helps shape the mainstream of totally normal music, and is important.

Well, he did joke that Cowell should be shot. I'm surprised Cowell left it at "weirdo."

Still, if I was to guess which of these two had a fish fetish, I would say ... Cowell.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS8-3X9rr0iZGZpF6e8YDa-1UacOjDIJqQbk9zlgEFR6mkeDoGV

the disparity in insult is also hilarious

like, I'm certain in Cowell's mind calling someone a weirdo actually IS as nasty/violent as wishing for someone to get shot, but life kind of doesn't work that way

I think he means "weirdo" like "the people who are not normal who actually do shoot normal people, like myself, Simon Cowell"

really only two types of people in Simon Cowell's world: people that want to be like Simon Cowell, and all those weirdos who do that weird shit

And listen to that weird music.

“I am very happy with how the album turned out,” comments DM’s Martin Gore. “The music has a similar vibe to Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion and I think the songs on the album are among some of the very best we’ve done.”

I loved it. It was better than Cats. I'm going to see it again and again.

Anyway, album out in March. Tour to follow in the summer.

Do we have a title yet?

They've had Playing the Angel and Sounds of the Universe so I'm guessing the new one is something like Cosmic Mopegasm

They are hard at work in the office devising a title.

Rumor has it it is called "Cosmic Mopegasm."

I reckon they should call it More Songs About Suffering, Sin and Knees

They should call it either "Depeche Mode" or maybe "Da Violator II." That would be awesome.

New Studio Album ‘Delta Machine’ coming March 26th on Columbia Records!

First single ‘Heaven’ next Friday, February 1st.

Full track listing and additional details: http://bitly.com/DeltaMachine

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c23.0.403.403/p403x403/398004_10151433523410329_2116556785_n.jpg

I am all for bands picking album titles just for a graphic design joke.

fukken triangle bands

Anyway, thread title updated etc.

already liking this industrial vibe

Looking forward to the Blawan and Matthew Dear remixes of the single, too

It doesn't sound like a very Depeche title for a record to me...

New Depeche and new OMD this year makes Turrican an extremely happy chappy.

single:
http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/01/30/exclusive-depeche-mode-premiere-heaven-from-forthcoming-album-delta-machine/

“It’s got a bit of a feel of Violator on some of the songs and a feel of Songs of Faith and Devotion on other songs,” said Gore.

this'll be a SFaDy one then.

Can I be the first person to say that I don't like it? It's like a variation of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' with all of the hooks taken out... I mean, there isn't really much of a chorus to speak of in this. And this is the first single!? Christ. Hope the album is better.

Not really taken with the production either.

actually really liking this - got a nice slowed down Persuaders theme vibe. Chorus seems a bit out of place though. I am not hearing any trace of Songs or Violator, quite the contrary.

My first thought was "Condemnation", although it doesn't go all the way with gospel choirs it has a similar rhythm and feel.

do not want.

As a lead-out single it's hardly promising. But I haven't liked any of their recent albums so ¯\(º_o)/¯

After Violator, it was a long time until I liked one again (Playing the Angel). I've realized that was in all likelihood an inspired fluke.

That's a surprising lead single. That's the sort of track they leak first to show what they're up for - see: reunited Suede - saving a ringer for the eventual real single.

They should've named this album DGAF.

oh Andy..

http://cbskroq2.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/depechemode-press-2013.jpg?w=300

My first thought was "Condemnation", although it doesn't go all the way with gospel choirs it has a similar rhythm and feel.

― ledge, Thursday, January 31, 2013 12:17 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yeah, I can kinda see where you're coming from. Although 'Condemnation' moves me, and this really doesn't. It's just kinda "there".

Been a long time since I liked a lead single from them on first listen ("I Feel You"??) so it's weird that I'm actually digging this off the bat. Their most recent singles/albums tend to grow on me rather than hook immediately. Really like the last minute when the distortion starts to pile up.

what - I find all their first singles since I feel You (which hasnt aged that well IMO) have been killer.

since I feel You (which hasnt aged that well IMO)

Really? I think the song has aged really well. It's so monolithic, and was great way to open the final album of the band's Imperial Phase.

Wrong > Precious >> I Feel You > Barrel of a Gun >>>>> Dream On. Heaven tentatively in 3rd or 4th place. It's turning out to be a bit of a grower but can't imagine it becoming a firm favourite.

Dave sounds great on this

Aside from that, *sadface*

give it a few more plays i think you will come round

It's a nice vocal melody but this is exactly the wrong type of DM dirge for me to enjoy

I don't think Dave has sang well since Ultra, to be honest :/

Wrong > Precious >> I Feel You > Barrel of a Gun >>>>> Dream On. Heaven tentatively in 3rd or 4th place. It's turning out to be a bit of a grower but can't imagine it becoming a firm favourite.

― ledge, Thursday, January 31, 2013 2:19 PM (17 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I Feel You >> Precious > Wrong >>> Barrel Of A Gun >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dream On >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Heaven.

I don't think Dave has sang well since Ultra, to be honest :/

I think this is insane. "Wrong" is one of the greatest vocal performances he's ever given; actually for the first four tracks of Sounds of the Universe dude is in an amazing amazing pocket and just crushes everything, plus he really owns all of the PtA songs, especially elevating the more simplistic melodies he contributed to the album with his performance (there's no way a song like "I Want It All" should be as effective as it is, for example, but the way he delivers that vocal line is just killer).

Ranking the lead singles since SoFaD is difficult but I think a lot of you are drastically underrating "Dream On"

tbf it could be that singing technically well is a variance from the vocals that some longtime fans see as his older style

Meantime, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top in the latest Record Collector says this:

I took a shine to Depeche Mode. I went to see them and it was SO heavy…it was rewarding to me as seeing James Brown in 1965….That inspired me and I was able to lightly steer the band.

Hero.

ZZ Top were inspired by OMD, too (as were Depeche Mode, funnily enough, although you'd never catch any former or current member that isn't Vince Clarke admitting to it).

So it would seem like they're playing 'Barrel Of A Gun', 'Black Celebration' and 'Higher Love' on this tour!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/7f52bbe0b9d397430e4ea51283b1dd19/tumblr_mmakuvXn9Y1qcoqfio1_1280.jpg

Setlist spread:

Speak & Spell = 1
A Broken Frame = 0
Construction Time Again = 0
Some Great Reward = 0
Black Celebration = 3
Music For The Masses = 1
Violator = 4
Songs Of Faith & Devotion = 3
Ultra = 1
Exciter = 0
Playing The Angel = 2
Sounds Of The Universe = 0
Delta Machine = 8

woah Higher Love..

Meantime a new remix surfacing for "Soothe My Soul" via Jacques Lu Cont

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/depeche-mode-rage-anew-in-soothe-my-soul-steve-angello-vs-jacques-lu-cont-remix-song-premiere-20130503

Incredible show tonight, much better than the one I saw in '09. In the past the live instruments seemed like embellishments (not a criticism) on top of the synth and other pre-programmed components. Now they sound much less constrained and freer with what they can play and how they can play it. Anyhow, it was awesome.

Slightly underwhelming O2 show last night. Dave was great as usual and the highs were spectacular - World in My Eyes, Behind the Wheel, Enjoy the Silence, Personal Jesus, Never Let Me Down Again, I Feel You, Halo - but it was a strange setlist, very heavy on the last decade, and some of the Delta Machine songs sound stolid live. Doubly annoying because the night before they played Walking in My Shoes (my favourite Depeche song), Policy of Truth, Question of Time and Black Celebration.

Annoyingly rockist too, thanks to the bloody drummer. Enjoy the Silence does not require a drum solo nor Just Can't Get Enough a latin beat,and I prefer Gore's guitar when it's providing precise embellishments rather than heavy riffs. I still had fun but, y'know.

This band is a long way - decades, really - away from three dudes standing behind synths and a twirling Dave. They have so many hits and iconic songs there's simply no way to do them all and satisfy everyone. The closest they came, really, was their hits tour some years back.

Yeah, part of me accepts that but another part of me was still disappointed. I preferred this setlist from the last time I saw them:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/depeche-mode/2006/hyde-park-london-england-63d6b69b.html

And Billy Gibbons goes from being a fan to being a remixer:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-billy-gibbons-depeche-mode/

LA show killed. All the Delta Machine selections sounded great live.

Oh also:

I am reasonably certain that Dave will never be able to sing "Should Be Higher" live

― the pheromones of hot clothing (DJP), Wednesday, March 27, 2013 8:26 AM

Incorrect! They did this, it was great, he sounded fantastic.

Here was our setlist via setlist.fm; looks like we got the alternate main set from DL's show:

Welcome to My World
(Extended intro)
Angel
Walking in My Shoes
Precious
Black Celebration
Policy of Truth
Should Be Higher
Barrel of a Gun

The Child Inside
But Not Tonight
(Acoustic; Sung by Martin)

Heaven
Soothe My Soul
A Pain That I'm Used To
('Jacques Lu Cont's Remix' version)
A Question of Time
Enjoy the Silence
Personal Jesus

Encore:

Home
Shake the Disease
(Acoustic; Sung by Martin)

Just Can't Get Enough
Never Let Me Down Again

No "Goodbye" to end the main set and no "I Feel You" in the encore, which I admit honestly surprised me!

Meantime according to Wikipedia, Martin's been doing a lot of changing up during his segments as the tour has gone on -- here are his usual selections:

"Higher Love"
"Only When I Lose Myself"
"The Child Inside"
"When the Body Speaks"
"Shake The Disease"
"But Not Tonight"
"Judas"
"Home"
"A Question of Lust"
"Somebody"
"Halo" (Goldfrapp Remix version)

Only a few tour films from Corbijn this time out -- "Should Be Higher" with the flames and circus performers was pretty good, loved the random "I will take Depeche out in nature and have them do random things" feeling of "Heaven," the doggies for "Precious" were, well, precious (in a good way). Contortionist poses for "Enjoy the Silence," Corbjin letterfonts for "Welcome to My World," there were at least a couple of others.

What else? Peter handled the keyboards as well as ever, Christian sounds like he has fully taken over the transformation of the group into a baroque rock band live. Fletch was Fletch. I mean he REALLY did not give a fuck and I love him for it. I think he only actually played keyboards three times. Martin's stage outfit was one of the most restrained I've seen from him in some years, just a silver demi-kilt plus whatever else he wore. He sounded a bit better than last time, wonder if he's taking some new singing lessons himself or prepping differently. Dave's voice really does sound better as he goes these days, he has aged in the best possible way. I was thinking how two of his most obvious role models when it comes to the stage -- Elvis more vocally, Freddie Mercury in terms of getting the crowd going -- passed on earlier before they reached the age he's at now, so there was never a full chance to compare/contrast. (Of course, he almost joined them several times over...)

Dope! I am going to see them Oct. 8 in Phx, which coincides nicely with the one-year anniv of me & my boyfriend, who is also a huge fan :D

So I gave Delta Machine a listen again from front-to-back tonight, and I guess it's grown on me a fair amount... I think this actually may have knocked Playing The Angel off the perch as my favourite post-Ultra album.

I just pulled up DM on Spotify and was surprised to be reminded they'd released an album only 2 years ago that I had COMPLETELY forgotten about.

the only missteps IMO are "Heaven" and "Slow", everything else ranges from good-if-not-necessarily-immediately-compelling to holy-shit-must-play-on-repeat

current fave song is "Secret to the End"

― the pheromones of hot clothing (DJP), Tuesday, April 2, 2013 10:50 PM (six years ago)

give "slow" a second chance. loud. stoned. you won't be sorry