Depeche Mode Everything Counts CD Single

Depeche's proto-industrial/dance/breakbeat anthem still cuts right to the quick, a note-perfect combination of electronic innovation; big, punchy production; a perversely catchy, nursery-rhyme chorus; and Gahan's increasing abilities with a fuller singing voice. As the initial fruit of the band's first recording labors in Berlin, it's perfect, retaining its appeal to the present. The "In Larger Amounts" mix, which also appeared on the American CD version of the Construction Time Again album, extends but otherwise doesn't mess much with the original song -- if anything, its main value is being able to hear such a fine song for a longer period of time. Its flip side, "Work Hard," is even more of an upfront mechanical body slammer, clattered metal, and sometimes hollow production as much the key refinement of Einstürzende Neubauten-styled noise into dancefloor terms as anything. That not a little is owed to DAF's own earlier fusion of electricity and volume is clear enough as well, especially with the chanted chorus and low bass pulse. Similar to the A-side, the "East End" remix extends and plays around with but otherwise doesn't radically reinvent the song, though the collage of clattering and rhythmic machine noise does make for good dance atmosphere. ~ Ned Raggett