Depeche Mode
waited three years after the enormously successful Violator to follow it up
with their eighth album, released in 1993.
It’s probably their hardest-edged album, singer Dave Gahan had grown his
hair and was listening to grunge, which possibly influenced the sound.
An engine
screech introduces the rollicking I Feel You, Gahan positively bellowing the
song. He is in fine voice across the
album, but particularly on this and the gospel-influenced Condemnation. Depeche Mode were never afraid of toying with
religious imagery, and it reached its zenith on this track, and indeed, across
the album (Judas). There are a bunch of
dark, melodic songs which work really well such as Walking In My Shoes, Mercy
In You and the almost messianic Rush.
Subtler
moments such as the orchestral One Caress (featuring Martin Gore on vocals) and
the gently building In Your Room and Higher Love also work extremely well. With no duds on this album, it’s possibly the
band’s finest.
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