Memento Mori

The pandemic and the sad, tragic loss of Andy Fletcher (RIP) must have delayed progress on Depeche Mode's fifteenth album as since Songs of Faith and Devotion they were like clockwork in releasing a record every 4 years and this time the gap has been just over half a decade at 6 years. As expressed by its title and slightly eerie artwork imagery, this album focuses mostly on mortality (reminiscent of previous songs like Death’s Door, Fly on The Windscreen and Blasphemous Rumours). The songs were written before Fletcher's death at the start of the pandemic as the band members neared their sixties so clearly that is what must have inspired this theme. I wondered whether this could be perceived as a bit crass and overly gloomy before listening, but I realised in typical Depeche Mode style they have yet again succeeded in transforming pain into an uplifting message of making the most of life.The songs sound very vintage, diverse and could have been on a lot of their previous albums. However, most of them (half) sound like their synth music from their early to late 1980s output and including some of the flickering and pulsating production techniques of their most successful album Violator. But the ominous opener My Cosmos Is Mine at the same time sounds a bit different from their previous material and is avant-garde. It is stark and its atmospheric and hypnotic sound ensures it is up there with their finest work. Although it sounds fresh, the other five particularly electronic songs are highly impressive too. While Wagging Tongue and Ghosts Again have some of a Vince Clarke and an early to mid-1980s Depeche Mode feel, it is a mistake to say that they only reference that poppier era as they are melded with the maturity and sophistication of mid and late period DM too (e.g. there are guitars on both). A bubbling and oscillating synth hook drives Wagging Tongue along while Ghosts Again is the best lead single from a DM album since 2005's Precious and the Enjoy the Silence (the band's most popular single) influence can similarly be heard. The somewhat sarcastic People Are Good has quite an anthemic sound and sounds like it could come from the electronic music of Kraftwerk. The majestically melancholic Caroline's Monkey (about addiction) and loving Always You are surely up there with the best DM material too. The former is - for me anyway - the finest track of the entire record gorgeously recapturing the classic synthesizer sound of their 1980s/Violator work and the latter is similar with a beautiful, repeated chord change.Two of the tracks hark back somewhat to the electro-guitar music of previous albums like Delta Machine and Spirit for example. My Favourite Stranger is rather rocking while Never Let Me Go is quite optimistic and a hybrid of an electronic hook and guitar riffing. James Ford shows off all his production skills - this is the best sounding DM album since Alan Wilder left - with the way My Favourite Stranger and Never Let Me Go excitingly finish with the songs broken down to just the propulsive drum rhythm.The other four tunes comprise of soulful electronic music. Don't Say You Love Me is an effective bluesy, pedal steel driven ballad while Before We Drown has burbling synths, soaring strings (like on other tracks too) and a lovely melody sung strongly by Dave Gahan. Soul With Me is a quintessential Martin Gore-sung ballad and closer Speak to Me is powerful too. Ford's production values are again amazing (and Marta Salogni's mixing) as Speak to Me - and Before We Drown - features an incredible reverberating echoing effect. If this end of that last track are the final sounds of DM - it sounds slightly like my favourite Violator track Clean too - then what a climax to exit on.But still hopefully DM will continue to record music as a duo and there might be another record in the future. Memento Mori is probably their darkest album - even more so than Ultra - but it is successful again because it is not without hope and is ultimately life affirming. Most tracks are mid-tempo, but Ghosts Again is quite danceable and Never Let Me Go increases the pace too which provides variety. All the songs are comprised of awe-inspiring synth-pop/electro-rock, there is honestly no filler and Martin Gore, Richard Butler, Dave Gahan and all the other co-writers have pulled it off. Although Playing the Angel, Delta Machine and Spirit were all brilliant this is the finest Depeche Mode effort of the 21st century and this legendary, successful and influential band has never failed to make a quality album especially since 1986 and this is yet another excellent one.

Outstanding album once again from Essex's finest band.

Music lyrics production sound all great

Everithing is OK. Fast delivery.

Not a bad album from the modes.certainly not my favourite from them.

Best album since Songs of Faith and Devotion in my opinion. Songs going around in my head for days now, with my favourites ever changing. It's dark but warm, electronic but soulful, catchy but not pop. Dave & Martin's vocals are sublime. The songs fit together well as an album, even though they are all very different. The feeling of everyone pulling in the same direction, enjoying making music & putting everything into it that has maybe been missing from the last couple of albums. Amazing production & sound as always with DM, but this time the quality of songs is up there with their best. It needs several listens all the way through to fully appreciate it. Reward for all fans who stuck through Spirit!

A fan for life, this beats everything to best since 'Songs Of Faith & Devotion'. I'm not saying they were bad albums in-between, just that this is better. First track, 'My Cosmos Is Mine' is the best single since 'Never Let Me Down Again', surprisingly that album was their only #10 chart positioner along with their first album. Worst position #10(!), everything else regularly #1s, #2s & within the 10. Sadly an album that Fletch wasn't able to hear, having passed just before he received his demo copy. A poignant picture in the inlay show Dave & Martin on a building, looking out over a city & there are 3 shadows... Writing credits include the Psychedelic Furs front man too, a first for DM. With albums every 5 years or so, I should imagine there might only be 5 more to go!

good to see them going strong after all the ups and downs over the years and still putting out fantastic music, we salute you