•
Rating: The word "Devotional" encompasses not only the solemn, majestic, and nerve and psychophysical strengthening tour that the four Depeche Mode embarked on between 1993 and 1994, following the release of the historic album "Songs of Faith and Devotion", the rock-sacred gem of the Basildon group, with all its annexes and connections, but it also means talking about a live album of the same name as the studio album (considered by many to be unnecessary - perhaps it was the only live album in history that repeated the tracklist of a studio album, with interpretations that, however, must not be overlooked, see "I feel you", "Condemnation" (the frontman Dave Gahan's favorite song among the group's), the superb "In your room", "Higher Love", etc.
It's more relevant, however, to review the DVD (in '93 the VHS of the same concert was released). The DVD is an exception because it includes bonus tracks like "Policy of truth" and "Halo", and special content on disc 2. But what I want to review for you is the concert, perhaps one of the most beautiful and memorable of Depeche Mode alongside the "For the Masses" documented in 101 (with the same double DVD format) and the "Singles Tour 1998".
This was the period when Dave Gahan began to enter the heroin tunnel. The bandmates later often declared:
"We thought certain attitudes were made on purpose to imitate rockers of Mick Jagger's caliber (highly esteemed by Gahan), but then everything went back to normal, both during the studio album recordings and in concerts, until the last date of the tour when Dave threw himself into the crowd at the end of the concert, risking breaking his bones against the barriers".
A Gahan increasingly mysterious, of few words, with pure rocker attitudes, with the punk spirit of a time never dormant now at its peak, an unconscious Gahan, too often with a bottle in his hand. Then we all know how it ended....
But those years (1993-1994) were truly picturesque in their tragicomedy, more tragic obviously than comic. Dave, the kid from Basildon, who launched terrifying screams. He wanted a more rock sound for the group. Martin Gore and Alan Wilder obliged, otherwise, the last Depeche Mode record would have been "Violator". Now he had to interpret those pieces, that masterful "I feel you", which just by watching the video of "I feel you" you realize you are no longer facing the Dave Gahan who acted king in "Enjoy the silence", but a junkie posing as a sex symbol in his own way, linking the sacred material of Gore's new pieces to the damned spirit of rock.
Enough with the beating around the bush. These are attitudes that only if seen through a fan's eyes can perhaps be understood. Long-haired him, Dave, played at being the myth, and for me, he became one, even before he almost tasted death from overdose. He, deep down in his total unconsciousness, sang for us.
That concert masterfully filmed by Corbijn is a testimony, a document, a merit. Perhaps one of the best performances of the '90s. You can already tell from the opening song "Higher Love" that Dave sings covered by a veil (a breathtaking scenography!). And then, without having to scrutinize the individual songs, the new torment "Walking in my shoes" stands out, with Corbijn's demonic creature moving in the background, and again "Condemnation", "I feel you", experienced like an orgasm.
Among the past pieces emerge "Stripped", interpreted with the same emotion as always, "World in my eyes", which sees the other three Depeche working hard at the keyboards, and again "Enjoy the silence", with Martin Gore's solo missing in the "Violator" version, another reason for excitement, and again, how not to mention "Personal Jesus", which the Depeche have now turned into their "rock" banner, with those Gahan's shouts, that blues riff, mixed with the intoxication of electronics.
"Everything counts" here feels a bit like '90s dance (just kidding), but it's the testimony that DM know how to reinvent themselves every time. Indeed, because Alan Wilder improvises as a drummer (listening to him you'll say: but he doesn't improvise, he is a born drummer!). In short, the Depeche picture does not miss a beat. Fletch, despite about to experience the darkest depression of his life, appears focused.
The Fab Four of electronics appear as stars under the spotlight and in front of Anton Corbijn's camera which signs a masterpiece. "Devotional" is all this. A DVD to have and watch 101 times until you understand the moment the British band was going through: the acme of success that, as always, coincides with stress and depression (from those years there is also the specter of alcohol for Martin and Fletch). Everyone will emerge from this tour tried and tested. Dave Gahan will play the heroin star in a hotel in Santa Monica first, seen in his pitiful conditions even by REM's singer Michael Stipe, who was passing by, and who warns Corbijn and the others, in proximity to the suicide attempt in 1995. The specter of the damned rocker will loom until the clinical death from overdose in 1996, with a miraculous case of resurrection. The rebirth for Depeche Mode, orphaned from older brother Alan Wilder, will be suffered with "Ultra" (1997).
"Devotional": a myth documented on a DVD.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Policy of Truth (05:03)
You had something to hide
You should have hidden it, shouldn't you
Now you're not satisfied
With what you've being put through
It's just time to pay the price
For not listening to advice
And deciding in your youth
On the policy of truth
Things could be so different now
It used to be so civilized
You will always wonder how
It could have been if you'd only lied
It's too late to change events
It's time to face the consequence
For delivering the proof
To the policy of truth
Never again is what you swore, the time before
Never again is what you swore, the time before
Now you're standing there tongue tied
You'd better learn your lesson well
Hide what you have to hide
And tell what you have to tell
You'll see your problems multiplied
If you continually decide
To faithfully pursue
The policy of truth
Never again is what you swore, the time before
03 World in My Eyes (06:11)
Let me take you on a trip
Arround the world and back
And you won't have to move
You just sit still
Now let your mind do the walking
Let my body do the talking
Let me show you the world in my eyes
I'll take you to the highest mountain
To the depths of the deepest sea
And we won't need a map, believe me
Now let my body do the moving
Let my hands do the soothing
Let me show you the world in my eyes
That's all there is
Nothing more than you can feel now
That's all there is
Let me put you on a ship
On a long, long trip
Your lips close to my lips
All the islands in the ocean
All the heavens in the motion
Let me show you the world in my eyes
That's all there is
Nothing more than you can touch now
That's all there is
Let me show you the world in my eyes
(repeat 6x)
04 Walking in My Shoes (06:50)
I would tell you about the things they put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise now, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see
I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
05 Behind the Wheel (05:53)
My little girl
Drive anywhere
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight
I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself
Over on a plate
Now
Oh little girl
There are times when I feel
I rather not be
The one behind the wheel
Come
Pull my strings
Watch me move
I do anything
Please
Sweet little girl
I prefer
You behind the wheel
And me the passenger
Drive
I'm yours to keep
Do what you want
I'm going cheap
Tonight
You're behind the wheel, tonight
06 Halo (04:40)
You wear guilt
Like shackles on your feet
Like a halo in reverse
I can feel
The discomfort in your seat
And in your head it's worse
There's a pain
A famine in your heart
An aching to be free
Can't you see
All love's luxuries
Are here for you and me
And when our worlds they fall apart
When the walls come tumbling in
Though we may deserve it
It will be worth it
Bring your chains
Your lips of tragedy
And fall into my arms
And when our worlds they fall apart
When the walls come tumbling in
Though we may deserve it
It will be worth it
07 Stripped (05:27)
Come with me
Into the trees
We'll lay on the grass
And let the hours pass
Take my hand
Come back to the land
Let's get away
Just for one day
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Metropolis
Has nothing on this
You're breathing in fumes
I taste when we kiss
Take my hand
Come back to the land
Where everything's ours
For a few hours
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me hear you
Make decisions
Without your television
Let me hear you speaking
Just for me
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me hear you speaking
Just for me
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me hear you crying
Just for me
Let me see you
Stripped down to the bone
Let me hear you speaking
Just for me
08 Condemnation (03:55)
Condemnation
Tried
Here on the stand
With the book in my hand
Truth on my side
Accusations
Lies
Hand me my sentence
I'll show no repentance
I'll suffer with pride
If for honesty
You want apologies
I don't sympathize
If for kindness
You substitute blindness
Please open your eyes
Condemnation
Why
Because my duty
Was always to beauty
And that was my crime
Feel elation
High
To know I can trust this
Fix of injustice
Time after time
If you see purity
As immaturity
Well it's no surprise
If for kindness
You substitute blindness
Please open your eyes
Loading comments slowly
