Depeche Mode & related artists

out now: Depeche Mode – Ghosts Again [Columbia Records]

Artist:
Depeche Mode

Title:
Ghosts Again

Label:
Columbia Records

Cat#:
tba

Release Date:
09th February 2023

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Ghosts Again

Press Info:
Depeche Mode has confirmed the release date of its eagerly anticipated new album, Memento Mori, which will be released March 24 via Columbia Records.

Memento Mori’s arrival is heralded by today’s release of first single “Ghosts Again.” Having been stealthily previewed in Berlin in October at the Memento Mori launch event, “Ghosts Again” is nothing short of classic Depeche Mode: Evocative Dave Gahan lyrical imagery including “wasted feelings, broken meanings… a place to hide the tears we cry” and a hypnotic Martin Gore guitar figure atop an uplifting, optimistic groove. “Ghosts Again” is available now across digital platforms, and as an instant grab with pre-saves and pre-orders of Memento Mori – which is available for pre-order now on 2LP vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital.
“To me, ‘Ghosts Again’ just captures this perfect balance of melancholy and joy,” commented Gahan. Gore added, “It’s not often that we record a song that I just don’t get sick of listening to – I’m excited to be able to share it.”

“Ghosts Again” has been visually interpreted by longtime Depeche Mode collaborator and Memento Mori album cover and artwork designer Anton Corbijn. Corbijn’s sublime rendering of the song in stark yet rich monochrome tones can be seen below.

Memento Mori is Depeche Mode’s 15th studio album and its first as a two-piece lineup of Gahan and Gore, following co-founder Andrew “Fletch” Fletcher’s tragic passing in 2022. Produced by James Ford, with additional production work by Marta Salogni, Memento Mori’s gestation took place during the early stages of the Covid pandemic, resulting in themes inspired directly by that period. The album’s 12 tracks chart a vast expanse of moods and textures, from its ominous opening to its closing resolve—running the gamut from paranoia and obsession to catharsis and joy, and hitting myriad points between.

Snippets:

Video:
“Ghosts Again”

Recommendations:
all stuff of Depeche Mode and related artists we featured

Buy Download:
Qobuz
iTunes
Amazon
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Deezer
Spotify
Amazon
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Websites:
Depeche Mode
Columbia Records

out now: Kurt Uenala feat. Dave Gahan – Manuscript [HFN Music]

Artist:
Kurt Uenala feat. Dave Gahan

Title:
Manuscript

Label:
HFN Music

Cat#:
HFN145

Release Date:
16th December 2022

Format:
download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Cracks Are Showing

02.
Longing

03.
Get Out

04.
G.O.D.

05.
I Think Not

Press Info:
Kurt Uenala has his fingerprints on more things than you may realize. While his name may be new to you, it’s possible you’ve come across collaborations he’s done under the moniker Null + Void, including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Moby, John Grant, The Kills, Woodkid and most notably, Dave Gahan and Depeche Mode

Having worked in Gahan’s NYC studio for years, and traveling with Depeche Mode, Uenala became aware of one of Dave’s rituals. Sometimes a notebook and pen would come out.
Something would get jotted down.

But what? That remained a mystery.

Uenala now calls Iceland home, so he’s no stranger to isolation, but what about city-dweller Gahan? The two kept in close touch during lockdown, sharing thoughts and ideas.

“I always wondered what he was writing in the notebook,” Uenala says, “but I never pried. During one of our check-ins I eventually asked what he was scribbling down when he was off in some corner, or standing on his own, next to a studio window.” Gahan disclosed that they were thoughts, feelings, and observations that would likely never see the light of day.

But then again, why not? Living during a lockdown is unquestionably difficult, but fortune also favors those who are bold in challenging times. Gahan sent Uenala a recording of him reciting something from the journal.

In his studio, a decommissioned hospital situated on an Icelandic Fjörd, Kurt sat in front of a classic Oberheim synth with the recording, reacting to anything from the timbre of Gahan’s voice, to background noise. Inspiration also came from ambience in the black chapel in Uenala’s town, which has often acted as a natural reverb chamber when one was needed. Songs started to take shape, through a modified form of call and response. The confluence of tone, poem, and tone poem.

Both artists were pleased with the results, and agreed that the prose had more of an impact in concert with the music than it did merely existing, on paper, hidden in a notebook. Work continued, and produced a collection of recitations set to soundscapes. “Longing,” “Get Out,” “G.O.D.”, “I Think Not,” and a piece born from the first recording Gahan sent, “Cracks Are Showing,” were completed, then assembled as the Manuscript EP.

Gahan says, “I’m not sure why, or when, exactly, I wrote these short pieces. I knew they were never to be songs. I do know that they were written when I was alone. Sometimes in a hotel room. Where? I can’t recall. Sometimes standing by the ocean, or walking the beach in winter. Sometimes on the empty streets of New York City, during the lock-down. Always whilst feeling the beauty, power, and loneliness of a world beyond me.”

Snippets:

Video:
“Cracks Are Showing”

Special:
Kurt Uenala aka Null+Void – “Obedient Citizen Mix”

Recommendations:
single “Where I Wait” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.1)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.2)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
remix single “Where I Wait (Remixes Pt.3)” by Null + Void feat. Dave Gahan on HFN Music
album “Cryosleep” by Null + Void on HFN Music
“The Light The Dead See” by Soulsavers feat. Dave Gahan on V2 | Mute
“Angels & Ghosts on Columbia Records
“Imposter” by Dave Gahan & Soulsavers on Columbia Records

Buy Vinyl:
soon

Buy Download:
Kurt Uenala @ Bandcamp
JunoDownload
Beatport
TraxSource
Qobuz
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Spotify
Deezer
Youtube Music
Apple Music

Websites:
Kurt Uenala
Dave Gahan
HFN

out now: Alva Noto feat. Martin L. Gore & Willian Basinski – Subterraneans [Noton]

Artist:
Alva Noto feat. Martin L. Gore & Willian Basinski

Title:
Subterraneans

Label:
Noton

Cat#:
N-057

Release Date:
16th December 2022

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist:
01.
Subterraneans

02.
Subterraneans
(Instrumental)

Press Info:
NOTON is pleased to announce the release of Subterraneans, a collaborative EP featuring Alva Noto, Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore and Willian Basinski’s cover of David Bowie’s homonymous song.

Recorded in 1975, Subterraneans is the closing song of David Bowie’s 1977 album Low. The composition was initially intended for the soundtrack to the 1976 science fiction drama film The Man Who Fell to Earth.

This song has a personal meaning to me. It was partly recorded in West Berlin at the Hansa Studio. According to Bowie, “Subterraneans” refers to the people who remained in East Berlin and lived in East Germany after the wall was built. In 1977 I was twelve years old and among the “Subterraneans” the song evoked. It still resonates within me, forty-five years after its original release.” – Carsten Nicolai

A tribute of the three artists to Bowie’s work, the EP features an instrumental version and an edit by Alva Noto on electronics with Depeche Mode’s Martin L. Gore on the vocal and William Basinski on the saxophone.

Snippets:

Special:
Alva Noto – “Fact Mix 641”

Recommendations:
Alva Noto’s “Xerrox Vol. 3” on Raster-Noton
“EP1-5” by Diamond Version (Byetone & Alva Noto) incl. Gore remix on Mute
“The Third Chimpanzee EP” by Martin Gore aka MG on Mute
“SSSS” by VCMG aka Vince Clarke & Martin Gore on Mute
“MG” by Martin Gore aka MG on Mute

Buy Vinyl:
Noton store
Deejay
Juno
Bleep
Boomkat
Red Eye Records
OYE Records
Decks
WOM
more soon

Buy Download:
Qobuz
JunoDownload
Beatport
Hardwax
Bleep
Boomkat
TraxSource
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Deezer
Spotify
Apple Music
Youtube Music

Websites:
Alva Noto
Martin Gore
Noton

out now: Depeche Mode – Playing The Angel | The 12″ Singles [Mute Records | Reprise Records]

Artist:
Depeche Mode

Title:
Playing The Angel | The 12″ Singles

Label:
Mute Records | Reprise Records

Cat#:
12DMBOX11 | tba

Release Date:
11th November 2022

Format:
vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist :
01.
Precious
(Sasha’s Spooky Mix – Full Length)

02.
Precious
(Sasha’s Gargantuan Vocal Mix – Full Length)

03.
Precious
(Misc. Full Vocal Mix)

04.
Precious
(Michael Mayer Balearic Mix)

05.
Precious
(Motor Remix)

06.
Precious
(Misc. Crunch Mix)

07.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

08.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Jacques Lu Cont Dub)

09.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Bitstream Threshold Mix)

10.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Bitstream Spansule Mix)

11.
Suffer Well
(Tiga Remix)

12.
Suffer Well
(Tiga Dub)

13.
Suffer Well
(Narcotic Thrust Vocal Dub)

14.
Suffer Well
(Metope Remix)

15.
Suffer Well
(Metope Vocal Remix)

16.
Suffer Well
(M83 Remix)

17.
Better Days
(Basteroid “Dance Is Gone” Vocal Mix)

18.
The Darkest Star
(Holden Remix)

19.
The Darkest Star
(Holden Dub)

20.
John The Revelator
(Dave Is in the Disco Tiefschwarz Remix)

21.
John The Revelator
(Tiefschwarz Dub)

22.
Lilian
(Chab Dub)

23.
John The Revelator
(Murk Mode Dub)

24.
John The Revelator
(Boosta Club Remix)

25.
Lilian
(Chab Vocal Remix)

26.
Free

27.
Better Days

28.
Newborn

29.
John The Revelator
(Single Version)

30.
Lilian
(Single Version)

31.
Precious
(Michael Mayer Ambient Mix)

32.
Suffer Well
(Alter Ego Remix)

33.
Lilian
(Robag Wruhme Slomoschen Kikker)

34.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Goldfrapp Remix)

35.
A Pain That I’m Used To
(Telex Remix)

Press Info:
A 2022 limited edition box set containing replica 12″ singles taken from the album “Playing The Angel”.

Along with the 12″ singles, there was a download card included, allowing the buyer to download all the tracks as uncompressed 16 bit WAV files.

Also contained in the box set was a replica UK promo poster for “Playing The Angel”.

The boxes were made by Sony globally. Boxes sold in North America had a different card on the back of the box, with North American release credits and logos (Sire, Rhino).

Snippets:

Related Release:
album “Playing The Angel”

Recommendations:
all stuff from Depeche Mode and related artists we featured

Buy Vinyl:
MuteBank
Deejay
WOM
Rough Trade
Juno
Bleep
HHV
Decks
more soon

Buy Download:
Qobuz
iTunes
more soon

Commercial Streaming Services:
Tidal
Qobuz
Youtube Music
Deezer
Spotify
Apple Music

Websites:
Depeche Mode
Mute Records
Reprise Records
Sony Music

out now: Recoil – Unsound Methods (Re-issue) [Mute]

Artist:
Recoil

Title:
Unsound Methods (Re-issue)

Label:
Mute

Cat#:
STUMM159

Release Date:
October 1997 (original date of the physical release)
11th November 2022 (reissue)

Format:
CD, vinyl, download & streaming

Tracklist CD/Vinyl/US Digital:
01.
Incubus

02.
Drifting

03.
Luscious Apparatus

04.
Stalker

05.
Red River Cargo

06.
Control Freak

07.
Missing Piece

08.
Last Breath

09.
Shunt

Tracklist Digital ROW:
01.
Incubus

02.
Drifting

03.
Luscious Apparatus

04.
Stalker

05.
Red River Cargo

06.
Control Freak

07.
Missing Piece

08.
Last Breath

09.
Shunt

10.
Drifting
(Poison Dub)

11.
Control Freak
(Barry Adamson Mix)

12.
Shunt
(Pan Sonic Mix)

13.
Stalker
(Punished Mix)

14.
Missing Piece
(Night Disolves)

Press Info:
Recoil is the musical project of former Depeche Mode member, Alan Wilder, and Mute will release the project’s last three albums Liquid, Unsound Methods and subHuman. Originally a solo venture for Alan’s more experimental work outside of Depeche Mode, Recoil became his primary music project after he announced his departure from the band in 1995.

Recorded at Alan Wilder’s home studio, Unsound Methods is Recoil’s fourth studio album. The record included a number of collaborators, with four separate solo vocalists: Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb, Siobhan Lynch, New York spoken word artist and poet Maggie Estep, and Hildia Cambell, who Wilder worked with on his final Depeche Mode album. Although all collaborators were allowed free range, Unsound Methods still reverberates as the epitome of Recoil’s dark and atmospheric sound.

Snippets:

Full Track Streaming:
“Drifting”