Depeche Mode Music For The Masses. limited edition CD 2002.
depeche mode music for the masses cd cover
One of the bands that not only dominated the charts for most of the 80s, but they also typified the type of music that will be looked back on as ‘the sound of the 80s’. Their sometimes Germanic electronic pop became softer on this album. They were becoming more of a band, and they were ‘rockin’, just a little. Keyboards still dominated but the melody seemed less regimented. Vocalist Dave Gahan excelled, as his voice grew in power. In a year or two they would become stadium rock stars, and change forever. The reissued CD had a number of excellent bonus tracks including some interesting remixed material.
Recorded at Studio Guilliame Tell, Paris, France and Konk, London, England.
Depeche Mode: David Gahan (vocals); Martin Gore (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Alan Wilder (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Andrew Fletcher (keyboards, synthesizer).
Rolling Stone (p.74) – “4 stars out of 5 — “Gore’s pensive but sensual songwriting reaches a new plateau…”
Q (6/95, p.135) – 4 Stars – Excellent – “…has its dark, gloomy secrets and layered soundtrack grooves to support some of the groups’ most self-conscious and self-questioning storylines….Most of the songs….are real diamonds in the darkness….this was the point at which Depeche Mode were first taken seriously.”
Alternative Press (p.200) – “MASSES is articulate, intricate electronic music that lacked the tinny feel of DM’s early synth pop…”
Track List:
1. Never Let Me Down Again
2. The Things You Said
3. Strangelove
4. Sacred
5. Little 15
6. Behind The Wheel
7. I Want You Now
8. To Have And To Hold
9. Nothing
10. PIMPF
11. Agent Orange
12. Never Let Me Down Again [Aggro mix]
13. To Have And To Hold [Spanish taster]
14. Pleasure, Little Treasure
Bonus Tracks:
15. Never Let Me Down Again [Tsangarides mix]
16. Pleasure, Little Treasure [Join mix]
17. Sonata No 14 in C#m [Moonlight sonata]