Release Date:
14th April 1997 (original release date)
later (several re-releases & digital)
Format:
CD, vinyl, download & streaming
Tracklist Standard CD / Vinyl: 01. Barrel Of A Gun
02. The Love Thieves
03. Home
04. It’s No Good
05. Uselink
06. Useless
07. Sister Of Night
08. Jazz Thieves
09. Freestate
10. The Bottom Line
11. Insight
12. Junior Painkiller
Tracklist Deluxe Digital: 01. Barrel Of A Gun
02. The Love Thieves
03. Home
04. It’s No Good
05. Uselink
06. Useless
07. Sister Of Night
08. Jazz Thieves
09. Freestate
10. The Bottom Line
11. Insight
12. Junior Painkiller
13. Barrel Of A Gun (Live)
14. It’s No Good (Live)
15. Useless (Live)
16. Painkiller
17. Slowblow
18. Only When I Lose Myself (Single Version)
19. Surrender
20. Headstar
Press Info:
Depeche Mode release their twelfth album, the aptly titled ‘Ultra’ on April 14 on Mute. Following 1993’s platinum selling, No. 1 album, ‘Songs Of Faith And Devotion’, ‘Ultra’ was recorded and produced in New York, Los Angeles and London during the last year by Tim Simenon. The album stands as a personal and artistic triumph from a band who lived through their darkest days during its creation. Depeche Mode – singer Dave Gahan, songwriter Martin Gore and “backbone” Andy Fletcher – have survived personal and professional upheavals, including the departure of Alan Wilder and Gahan’s much publicised drugs busts and rehabilitation, to make the most diverse, engaging and exhilarating album of their 17 years together.
Including the hit singles ‘Barrel Of A Gun’ and ‘It’s No Good’, ‘Ultra’ unveils a sophisticated soundscape that draws influence from contemporary dance, gospel, blues and even country sources. In the words of Dave Gahan: “I think it’s true to say there’s elements of every kind of music in Depeche Mode, and that’s what’s unique about us is that we don’t limit ourselves to one area. We listen to styles that compliment that song and take it to that place rather than sticking to a format.”
Once more turning his pen to matters of the frailties in human relationships (‘It’s No Good’, ‘Useless’), predetermined fate (‘Barrel Of A Gun’), alienation (‘Sister Of Night’) and redemption (‘Home’), Martin Gore has created broad and evocative songs for Gahan to fully dramatise. With Tim Simenon at the controls, the brooding and sensual dance aesthetic that Gore’s original demos first brought to mind has been fully realised. “He really helped us out, because the way the songs were written and demoed they lent themselves to a dance direction, but not dance in a disco sense,” Martin explains.
Even so, fired by a restless imagination, the band also step out on a limb for the intriguing, Martin Denny-esque ‘Jazz Thieves’, the blues drenched ‘Freestate’ and the gospel noir of ‘The Bottom Line’. “A lot of people are far too narrow minded in what they listen to,” considers Gore. “There’s been a lot of really interesting music that’s happened over the last 100, as opposed to the last five to eight years.”
Depeche Mode’s broadness of musical vision is reflected in the choice of collaborators who appear on ‘Ultra’: Jaki Liebezeit, drummer with German experimental pioneers Can, former Living Colour/Tackhead bassist Doug Wimbish and pedal steel guitarist supreme B.J. Cole. As Tim Simenon enthuses: “Martin’s an amazing songwriter and I want people to take their hat off to him.”
Dave Gahan considers his vocal performances on ‘Ultra’ to be the best of his career: “They really take you to a place, wherever that place may be, and they take you on a journey, tell you a story and you listen, you know, it draws you in. ‘Sister Of Night’, for me personally, is one of the best vocals I’ve ever produced.”
As he sings on the album’s closing track ‘Insight’; “I’m talking to you now/The fire still burns.” Lesser bands may have crumbled by now, but Depeche Mode are firmly, defiantly back in business.
In 2007, the album was completely remastered, and released in two different formats (SACD + DVD, and LP in Europe, CD + DVD, and LP in North America). The SACD + DVD version featured the album in a remastered 5.1 surround sound presentation, on the SACD disc. The CD + DVD version featured the album in a remastered 5.1 surround sound presentation on the DVD disc. The CD and LP were remastered stereo audio. The US edition of the remastered CD was not a SACD. Only the European release was in SACD format. The US DVD is a standard DVD, not a specific DVD-Audio disc.
Digital bonus stuff was previously released on the DVD of the collector’s edition & singles.
