It’s been five years since Depeche Mode released their previous album, Spirit, which divided their audience’s opinions. Personally, I thought it was lazy as I knew the band could do so much better; many of the songs were lyrically weak and musically quite irritating.
The album released prior to that, Delta Machine (in 2013), also didn’t hit the mark for many as the band seemed to be venturing along a new path with twangy, bluesy guitars. Therefore, I didn’t have the highest of hopes for their current release Momento Mori literally meaning ‘remember we all must die’.
The album was written before the sad demise of Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher, the band’s keyboard player and who was described as ‘the glue that held the band together’. Many fans wondered whether Martin Gore and Dave Gahan would continue working together as Depeche Mode, so consequently when the band announced that they were about to release Momento Mori along with news of a global tour, the fans were extremely happy.
I tried to keep an open mind whilst listening to the album. I’d already heard a few tracks and wasn’t overly excited about the new release, but now hearing all the songs within the context of the album, I’m pleased to report that all is very well. The album opens with My Cosmos is Mine which was released as a single. The catchy backing synths are beguiling and then Gahan’s deep vocals kick in telling us in no uncertain terms not to involve oneself with his personal world. It’s not my favourite track on the album as it reminds me of Where’s the Revolution from Spirit in parts, with the same annoying middle eight section. Thankfully the album improves after this small hiccup in the proceedings!
Wagging Tongue is however my favourite song on the album, and I’ll wager that this will be a future single release as it has all the ingredients to be a very successful, with thoughtful lyrics, clean multi-layered synths and effective drumbeats. It has hints of Delphic or the much missed Mirrors in its backing melody which was instantly recognisable to me.
Ghosts Again has a strong multi-layered melody and was used to accompany the teaser video to introduce the album to the masses. The band are exploring new cleaner avenues of synth sounds which are nearer to the aesthetics of ‘classic Depeche Mode’, which for me, is a welcome approach. The continuing theme of love and death is especially poignant in this song with the thought-provoking lyric “everybody says goodbye”. An excellent song.
In contrast, Don’t Say You Love Me is a melancholic tune which has all the aura of Depeche Mode of old. ‘You are the singer, and I am the song’ is a powerful lyric which differentiates between two lovers and what love means from one to the other. It’s a beautiful track which I feel will be a grower.
The pace picks up again with My Favourite Stranger and is a track that wouldn’t be out of place on their turn of the millennium albums Ultra or Exciter. Its perfunctory looping melody interspersed with electronic cries keeps you interested and carries the song along.
Meanwhile Soul with Me is the Martin Gore delivered track of the album, delivering this lamentable tune with all the melancholic soul he usually attributes to his songs. Its almost hymn-like and has some ‘very 1980s’ chord changes. “I’m going where the angels fly” he croons so matter of fact, whilst the accompanying music is like a choir of seraphim and cherubim singing from on high, welcoming the soul to its final resting place, as the track morphs into a crescendo emphasising the point.
Caroline’s Monkey is a strange song lyrically and I don’t really know what to make of it! Who is Caroline, and why are Depeche Mode singing about her monkey?! Is it a metaphor? Who knows? It’s a bit of a curveball to be honest. Lyrically, it reminds me of Caroline Says by the Velvet Underground but with the added synths to make it completely Depeche Mode’s own.
Before We Drown utilises a range of synth sounds that we haven’t heard Depeche Mode use before however if this is the new direction that they’re moving towards, then I approve. It has elements for Kraftwerk in its musicality, with its stripped down and clean delivery.
The latest song to be released prior to the album release is People are Good. Again it wouldn’t seem out of place on one of Depeche Mode’s previous albums from the last century with familiar heavy synth sounds and a song construction that is all too familiar. This will be an excellent track played live as it contains a lot of strong sounds that would surely work extremely well in a stadium setting. I can almost see Gahan gyrating to it now!
Always You is another favourite on the album, exploring many new punchy, toe-tapping synth sounds and endearing lyrics suggesting a togetherness and closeness only shared between two long term lovers who completely are into each other. The chorus is a bound to be an earworm with its repetitive, heart-searingly, longingly and urgently repeating ‘it’s always you’ leaving the listener in no doubt of the love felt for their significant other.
Next, we have Never Let Me Go which seems like a familiar song title with a slight nuance. Whether this is deliberate or accidental, I don’t know, but once more we’re transported to a time when Depeche Mode were at their peak in the mid-1990’s and now they are seemingly returning to this halcyon era. It has hints of The Cult in its musical styling thanks to an urgent guitar melody which intersperses the vocal delivery. This is a Depeche Mode track that doesn’t sound like a Depeche Mode track in many ways, but still seems to work very well for them and fits in well with the overall ethos of the album.
Speak to Me slows down the pace once more, and is a track which once played live, will surely have the mobile phone lights swaying in the crowd (not quite the same as lighter’s flames burning brightly but hey, we’re in the 21st century now!) The ultimate track leaves the listener feeling like they’ve been on a journey of a foretelling of the afterlife, a place which is filled with deep love and acceptance. Ultimately the grim subject of our collective inevitable death, but delivered with such panache it doesn’t feel like anything to be frightened by.
At the time of writing the band have just embarked on their accompanying global tour, starting in America where both band members now live. I’m sure this album will be better received by Depeche Mode fans who weren’t so keen on their previous two albums, and it will find a place in their hearts and listening devices of choice, once again.
Momento Mori by Depeche Mode is released on Friday 24thMarch 2023 and is available via all the usual retain outlets.
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