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With Alan Wilder now gone, ULTRA is Depeche Mode's first album as a trio. But in many ways it marks a return to form for the band. Producer Tim Simenon gives ULTRA a rich, lush sound that rejects the straight-ahead rock and analog experimentation of VIOLATOR and SONGS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION. Instead, ULTRA moves deftly between the sparseness of Depeche Mode's legendary early work and the complex, hard-edged sounds the band came to experiment with. The wide dynamic range allows for seamless interplay between thick, atmospheric keyboards; snaking intertwining programming lines; and an expansive palette of guitar textures.
"The Bottom Line" features a blend of sweet pedal-steel guitar (played by session great B.J. Cole) and plaintive, soaring synth sounds alongside two DM trademarks: ominous, low-end synth and David Gahan's reverb-soaked baritone. "Barrel Of A Gun" is driven by raspy distorted vocals and a wild, throbbing backing track. "It's No Good," with its insistent hook hidden in bitter industrial longing, gives the band its deftest pop song in almost a decade. For all that this band has picked up in 17 years, it hasn't forgotten where it came from.
Depeche Mode: Andrew Fletcher, David Gahan, Martin Gore.
Additional personnel: B.J. Cole (pedal steel guitar); Doug Wimbish (bass); Keith LeBlanc, Gota Yashiki (drums); Danny Cummings, Victor Endrizzio, Jaki Liebezeit (percussion); Daniel Miller.
Rolling Stone (5/1/97, pp.53-54) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...Songwriter Martin Gore has plenty of dark passion to document....moody, pulsating ballads such as `The Bottom Line' and `The Love Thieves' are ideal vehicles for Gahan's brooding baritone and for the band's ever-increasing sense of tender intuition..." Spin (5/97, pp.110-111) - (6 out of 10) - "...Simeon's pristine production...fits Depeche Mode's need to conceal their age in sleekness. Rather than co-opt drum'n'bass, they do what they've done since VIOLATOR: merge machine aesthetics and corporate machinery into a punkishly forbidding indolence..." Entertainment Weekly (4/18/97, p.66) - "..combines up-to-the-second synth effects...with ripping melodies--all supported by the grim sonic architecture that long ago made DM the darlings of many a sour teen. Imposing spires of synths, industrial rivets of percussion, churchy organs, and grave vocals erect an edifice of reverent dread..." - Rating: B+ Q (1/98, p.112) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997." Q (5/97, p.118) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...ranks alongside...BLACK CELEBRATION as their darkest album to date....dry, dislocated, burnt-out and sometimes beautiful songwriting....Gone are the big, roguishly aggressive hooks, replaced by industrialised trip-hop beats...and widescreen spaces..."
Beautiful! One of the best albums ever :) This was actually my first DM album, and i'm glad to say that its turned me into a DM fan.
The music is so hauntingly beautiful, and backed by such powerful lyrics that you'll be listening to a lot of songs again and again.
My favorite tracks on this album are:
Its No Good, Barrel of a Gun, Home, Love Thieves, FreeState and The Bottom Line.
Each and every song is in a class of its own. If you are new to DM, i highly suggest checking out this album first.
"gonna take my time, i got all the time in the world..!" :) Submitted by Nonami (I wont tell) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
ANother Classic DM Album Ultra is awesome! One of my most fav DM albums Submitted by Linda (Texas,USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
ULTRA...one of the best!!! I bought this album the day it came out on April 8th, 1997 and from that date I wore out three cassettes and two CDs listening to it over and over. Is this the best? Let me tell you, it may have to go head to head with Violator as one of the best Albums ever. Most of all this albums brings back great memories when both Depeche Mode and myself were in our primes, approaching a climax not visited my anyone else... Submitted by rickie_kulpa (Chicago, IL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
One of DMs many great CD's! I can remember the first time listening to this cd. the lyrics and melodies kept me going strong through work in the super early morning. If there was a camera they could have used it in a commerical to advertise the cd hehe. Submitted by ?!Justin?! (Seattle Washington USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Im So Mad about This! Gonna take my time...i have all the time in the world....to make you mine...so so damn cool !
Have you ever wonder why they called the album "ULTRA" ? have it and you will know. Jay of Dgte. City Submitted by jay (Dubai-United Arab Emirates) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Im So Mad about This!
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