Dave Gahan
Hourglass

It has been 4 years since "Paper Monsters," the solo debut of Dave Gahan, and now the frontman of Depeche Mode is trying again. And if the first work was not a masterpiece, but rather a collection of inconsistent and mostly soulless pieces, this "Hourglass" proves to be an "almost" masterpiece.

It's necessary to make a promise, which is that expecting an album entirely different from any of the Depeche Mode ones is pure madness, especially considering Dave's ego, intent on proving to the good old Martin L. Gore that he, too, is capable of writing true electronic masterpieces. And then 25 years of career alongside a genius like our blond one cannot have failed to influence him in some way. Based on these considerations, this album sounds very "Depeche-like," much to the dismay of those hoping for something more personal or more distinctive. Perhaps in the future, there will be room to try some other sonic direction...

It's an album that exudes class and soul from all of its songs, this "Hourglass", with the exception of "Miracles", somewhat intangible; but for the rest, there are pieces worthy of the best Depeche Mode albums, starting right from the opening, "Saw Something", with its poignant melody that caresses the listener and Dave's voice at its peak. Certainly one of the best tracks on the album along with "Use You" (seems out of the "S.O.F.A.D." session, captivating rhythm, heavy drums and simply stunning chorus), "Little Lie" (another "S.O.F.A.D." piece, very heavy beginning, almost whispered verse and a chorus to sing out loud: chilling) and "Endless" (a very acidic piece, with the bass providing energy and a great melody). These 4 songs alone would be worth the purchase, but there's more with tracks like the well-known single "Kingdom" (very acidic bass), "21 Days" (sounds and melody intertwine in a very electro-dark atmosphere), "Deeper And Deeper" (the boldest on the album, resulting in a very vicious electro-rock somewhat reminiscent of Marilyn Manson) and "Down" (track with a very dark chorus) that are absolutely not fillers, quite the contrary, they are high level. It drops a bit in tone only with the aforementioned "Miracles" and, to a lesser extent, with "Insoluble", a bit repetitive, but not to be discarded.

In conclusion, a fantastic and less forced work than the debut, more natural compared to "Paper Monsters" where Dave tries to be introspective with too much insistence, while here he lets his creativity and vitality flow freely, highlighting what many envy him for: his voice, warm, sensual and deep that makes these 10 tracks so dark, electric and deeply felt simply a fabulous album.

P.S.: It is recommended to listen at high volume to fully enjoy the sounds of this album. There are some very 80s sounds mixed with others that are very current, a truly fantastic alchemy, an added value of this album, which keeps the listener glued to the speakers and surprises them every time.

Rating: 4.5/5

GREAT DAVE!!!