Album Review: Depeche Mode - Delta Machine

Arguably the world's biggest and longest-running electronic band, Depeche Mode return with their 13th studio album, Delta Machine, their first in four years and sees the return of high-profile producer and audio engineer Flood to the role of mixer. It had been touted, prior to its release, by the band's main composer, Martin Gore, as being somewhat of a return to Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion.

The comparison to the albums that many see as the pinnacle of Depeche Mode's career is not obvious on initial listen, especially given that the lead single released from Delta Machine – Heaven – was a less-than-obvious choice. Once you start investigating the album a second time, you start to see what Gore is talking about. The bluesy overtone of Songs Of Faith And Devotion have been represented with second single, Soothe My Soul, which definitely echoes I Feel You, and closing track, Goodbye. It is nice to see, or, to be more accurate, hear that rather than take the easy route and recreate their earlier work, Gore, David Gahan and Andy Fletcher have actually taken the best parts and turned it into something new.

While Gore has once again filled the role of principal songwriter, frontman Gahan has contributed a couple of his own tunes – co-written with Swiss-born engineer and producer Kurt Uenala – which sit well next to Gore's.

Gahan's vocals are as good as ever, as are Gore's. Sadly though, we only get to hear Gore take on lead vocal duties on The Child Inside, unless you have the deluxe version, in which case you can hear him lead on Always.

This is definitely their strongest and most passionate body of work since becoming a three-piece. Now if only we could get them to tour here again.