A long way

(Morning Star, Saturday 22 October 2005)

ALBUM: Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel
(Mute)

THE ethereal world of Depeche Mode is an interesting place for sure.

Dave Gahan seems to think that he's some kind of messiah and is clearly delighted that he has had the honour of his own acquaintance.

The appearance of the word "angel" all over this record - their first in four years - lends credence to the fact that Gahan reckons that he's a wee bit spiritual - and as far as pomposity goes, it's clear that the Mode still have it in spades.

But, for a band who started out with a definitively 1980s electronic-cheese reputation, they've come a long way.

Their gothic electronica is once again "in" and their trademark dourness seems to compress the misery that many of us feel about modern life and hand it back to us on a platter.

The first half of Playing the Angel is packed with a raft of impressive would-be singles, including the wonderful opener A Pain that I'm Used To and The Sinner in Me, while single Precious attempts the lyrically unthinkable - rhyming damaged with manage - but makes it all work regardless.

Although the tunes drop off noticeably in the second half, the intensity is still there and it rings as true as on any of the band's previous best work.

Depeche Mode had better watch out, they're approaching their 20th release and they've never sounded so fashionable.