Depeche Mode — Playing The Angel

A wailing siren opening on " A Pain That I'm Used To" heralds the return of British new wave kings Depeche Mode, on their eleventh studio album, Playing The Angel. It's a hard-edged album bristling with fuzzy guitars, rusty beats and Dave Gahan's dark lyrics that make current revivalists sound like spoon-fed sissies.

Despite Playing The Angel's electronic bleeps, static ticks and tinny echoes, this is still classic danceable Depeche Mode. First single "Precious" is sweet and melodic. Gahan seems to have found his spiritual side as he sings about devils, paradise and angels and the track "Join The Revelator" even features a gospel choir. The imagery does become heavy on the slower tracks, which are dominated by Gahan's breathy and sighing vocals. Even if Depeche Mode are playing for redemption on this album, they don't need saving.

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