Depeche Mode Exciter CD

Depeche Mode: Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher.
Additional personnel includes: Knox Chandler (cello); Todd C. Reynolds, Joyce Hammann, Natalie Cenovia Cummins, Ralph H. Farris, Lee Grinhauz (strings); Airto Moreira (percussion).
Recorded at RAK, Sarm West, London, England; Sound Design, Santa Barbara, California; Electric Lady, Sony Studios, New York, New York.
"I Feel Loved" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Dance Recording and for Best Remixed Recording.
Personnel: Leo Grinhauz, Natalie Cenovia Cummins, Joyce Hammann (strings); Christian Eigner (drums); Airto Moreira (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Steve Fitzmaurice.
Recording information: Electric Lady, New York, NY; RAK, London, England; Sarm West, London, England; Sony Music Studios, NY; Sony, New York, NY; Sound Design, Santa Barbara, CA.
Photographer: Anton Corbijn.
It's rare to find bands capable of keeping their own best qualities to the fore while trying something new each time out, but Depeche Mode demonstrate that balance in full on the marvelous Exciter. Arguably the first album made by the group as a cohesive unit since Violator (and bearing some resemblance to that record in overall title and song names -- compare "The Sweetest Condition" with "The Sweetest Perfection"), Exciter finds the trio again balancing pop catchiness with experimental depths. As with Ultra, an outside producer helps focus the end results in new, intriguing directions -- in this case, said producer is Mark Bell, known for his work with Björk but also as part of Warp Records' flagship act LFO, which always acknowledged their own debut to Depeche. Bell's ear for minimal, crisp beats and quick, subtle arrangements and changes suit Martin Gore's songs beautifully. If there are few storming arena-shaking numbers this time out, the exquisite delicacy throughout is addicting, with Gore's guitar providing slippery and stinging leads to the smoky, romantic flow of Exciter. "When the Body Speaks" is a particular winner, his gentle work and a backing string section combining just right. David Gahan's voice, already audibly benefiting from lessons on Ultra, is even more supple and passionate than before, ranging from the fuller delivery on the snaky charm of "Shine" to the haunting album-closer, "Goodnight Lovers," a romantic lullaby with perfect counterpoint backing vocals. Gore's own singing remains equally fine, as does his lyrical obsessions on, well, obsession -- "Breathe," which quotes more Bible names per verse than most preachers, makes for a good example on both fronts. When the band fully crank it up, the results work there too -- "The Dead of Night" makes for a far superior nod to Gore's glam roots and Depeche's own industrial dance descendants than Songs of Faith and Devotion's "Rush" did. ~ Ned Raggett
With all its understated vocals, hushed instrumentals, and lyrical declarations of/investigations into love, EXCITER is undoubtedly the warmest and most "adult" Depeche Mode album to date. "When the Body Speaks" is an effectively poignant ballad complete with graceful string section. "Lovetheme" is a gentle ambient instrumental that wouldn't sound out of place next to any German electronicat you care to mention. Later another, slightly more melodic, instrumental ("Easy Tiger") pops up. "Goodnight Lovers" is a bittersweet tune full of open-hearted sentiment and heart-tugging melodicism.
While "Breathe" is underlaid with low-key breakbeats, the group largely sticks with the sonic language they helped create in the '80s and early-'90s, leaving the trappings of latter-day electronica to the youngsters. With it's club-worthy beat, "I Feel Loved" is certainly the most danceable track on EXCITER, but its complex lyrical scheme and gnarly synth textures make it unlikely house party fodder. The harsh, bluesy tone of "The Dead of Night" harks back to "Your Own Personal Jesus," and finds David Gahan reveling in the kind of studied decadence that helpedRolling Stone (6/7/01, p.115) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Glimmers like a gentle ambient doodle with vocals....the softest songs leap to the foreground like a whisper from a lover....maintaining an otherworldly mood and purity of purpose..."
Entertainment Weekly (6/8/01, p.76) - "...Producer Mark Bell smartly leaves the retro melodies intact, while decorating them with experimental, electronic gloss..." - Rating: B-
Alternative Press (6/01, p.67) - 4 out of 5 - "...Embraces the latest electronic substrata within the context of cheif songwriter Martin Gore's well-crafted pop tunes....this mesh of men and machinery is definitely not your parents' Depeche Mode..."
CMJ (5/28/01, p.4) - "...Like an amalgamation of all of its '90s incarnations....The band is in good form...Dave Gahan's voice...is now as confident as ever, and Gore's guitar playing blends with DM's electronics in a way it hasn't since VIOLATOR..."
Mojo (Publisher) (6/01, p.108) - "...Innovative, enigmatic and passionate...it's also Martin Gore finally achieving the pop perfection he'd locked inside for so long..."
NME (Magazine) (5/12/01, p.41) - 8 out of 10 - "...Fresh and confident....Producer Mark Bell has coaxed a kind of electro-acoustic mix from the Mode putting clear blue water between EXCITER and their most recent experiments..."