New Depeche Mode In April

Depeche Mode's next album is scheduled to come out in North America on April 21, and will be their first with EMI Music, which has signed a worldwide deal with the group via the major's Mute label.

"We are so pleased to be continuing our relationship with Mute, and we feel very positive about the new team and set-up at EMI," says keyboardist Andy Fletcher. "This is going to be an exciting new chapter."

Fletcher, singer Dave Gahan and keyboardist/guitarist/singer Martin Gore are in New York City working on their 12th studio album, and first since 2005's Playing The Angel, which topped sales charts in 18 countries. They expect to finish recording the still-untitled LP by the end of the year.

Depeche Mode will launch the first leg of their "Tour Of The Universe 2009" in Tel Aviv, Israel on May 10. The stadium tour will encompass 28 cities in 21 countries. No North American dates have been announced yet.

Depeche Mode formed in Basildon, England in 1980 and have since sold over 72 million albums worldwide.