•
Rating: Already the "naturalistic" cover aims to provide the listener with a faint hint of frivolity and positivity. Exciter, in fact, represents the "other side of the coin" for the Basildon trio: definitely relegating the disastrous and catastrophic vicissitudes of the '90s, Gahan & Company conceive a work oriented towards emotional lightness, which can even be classified as serenity and carefreeness. Temporarily sacrificing that aura of darkness and mystery, "travel companion" since 1986 (Black Celebration), the Mode inaugurate the third (?) period of their glorious career, characterized by the all-encompassing recovery of pure electronics and sophisticated synths. A new and unmissable shift that will also involve the first real solo albums by Gahan and Gore (published during the necessary Exciter - Playing The Angel break), Paper Monsters and Counterfeit².
There was a previous mention of Depeche Mode's return to more distinctive electronic sounds and the abandonment of rock & derivatives, the counterpart to "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" and "Ultra", even "softening" the classic vigor of the synths in the direction of sonic vibes flirting with ambient and atmospheric lounge. The latest considerations can easily describe the first extract Dream On, a sunny and summery track in which the slight electronic direction is interspersed with a pseudo-country guitar, a mix that gives the single a more poppish imprint compared to past less "commercial" hits like Barrel Of A Gun, I Feel You, Never Let Me Down Again, Stripped, and Walking In My Shoes. The subsequent Shine and Freelove, calm, carefree, melancholic, devoid of distortions and heavy synths in favor of a singular electro-ambient combination, faithfully follow the same discourse.
With I Feel Loved you plunge into a delightful electro-house mix, absolutely danceable and engaging, perfect for clubs, while the bizarre (and exceptionally rocking) The Dead Of Night introduces psychedelic synths and "robotic" aberrations among the most pulsating and dynamic of the album, simultaneously the scratching and rough voice of Gahan collaborates passionately to hyperbolize the track in unison. Comatose and Breathe intend, as per tradition, to marry refined and sophisticated electronic sounds with Gore's high-pitched vocal tones, in the first case arranged to repudiate percussion; even the "Gahan-oriented" I Am You and When The Body Speaks pursue the lightness and tranquility of the previously mentioned counterparts. Goodnight Lovers, "lullaby" à la Depeche Mode, lyrically and even more quietly closes the album: sweet bleeps and a gospel choir are the perfect background to a less "angry" Gahan than usual.
Although "Exciter" is often acclaimed as the band's least successful work, a good rating cannot be denied, more than anything due to the almost absolute positivity of the general mood, unheard of for those Depeche Mode, for years in the grip of "artistic" darkness. A mini-revolution in favor of a band repeatedly on the brink of collapse, necessarily to be reinvigorated and put back on track without further derailments.
Depeche Mode, Exciter (2001)
Dream On
Shine
The Sweetest Condition
When The Body Speaks
The Dead Of Night
Lovetheme
Freelove
Comatose
I Feel Loved
Breathe
Easy Tiger
I Am You
Goodnight Lovers
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Shine (05:32)
Put on your blindfold
And a dress that's tight
And come with me
On a mystery night
Open your eyes
�
Follow our stars under a painted sky
We'll leave the world behind
We're learning to fly
We used to get by
�
Forget the pictures on your TV screen
We'll steal the visions
That you keep for your dreams
You can turn me on
�
I was blind and I saw the light
My angel coming
In a brilliant white
Shine for me
�
You've been hanging from a rope of mediocrity
Strung up by your insecurities
You can shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
�
Follow our stars under a painted sky
We'll leave the world behind
We're learning to fly
We used to get by
�
Forget the pictures on your TV screen
We'll steal the visions
That you keep for your dreams
You can turn me on
�
You've been hanging from a rope of mediocrity
Strung up by your insecurities
You can shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
03 The Sweetest Condition (03:42)
Taken in by the delicate noise
Knocked to the ground by the subtle thunder
Shackled and bound by the sound of your voice
Wandering around in silent wonder
�
What chance did I have
With the silver moon
Hanging in the sky
Opening old wounds
�
Taking hold of the hem of your dress
Cleanliness only comes in small doses
Bodily whole but my head's in a mess
Fuelling obsession that borders psychosis
�
It's a sad disease
Creeping through my mind
Causing disabilities
Of the strangest kind
�
Getting lost in the folds of your skirt
There's a price that I pay for my mission
A body in heaven and a mind full of dirt
How I suffer the sweetest condition
�
Taken in by the delicate noise
Knocked to the ground by the subtle thunder
Shackled and bound by the sound of your voice
Wandering around in silent wonder
04 When the Body Speaks (06:01)
To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned
�
What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow
�
I'm just an angel
Driving blindly
Through this world
�
I'm just a slave here
At the mercy
Of a girl
�
Oh I need your tenderness
Oh I need your touch
Oh I dream of one caress
Oh I pray too much
�
To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned
�
What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow
�
You keep me waiting
For the promise
That is mine
�
Please stop debating
Please stop wasting
Your time
�
Oh I need your tenderness
Oh I need your touch
Oh I dream of one caress
Oh I pray too much
07 Freelove (06:10)
If you've been hiding from love
If you've been hiding from love
I can understand where you're coming from
I can understand where you're coming from
If you've suffered enough
If you've suffered enough
I can understand what you're thinking of
I can see the pain that you're frightened of
And I'm only here
To bring you free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
I've been running like you
I've been running like you
Now you understand why I'm running scared
Now you understand why I'm running scared
I've been searching for truth
I've been searching for truth
And I haven't been getting anywhere
No I haven't been getting anywhere
And I'm only here
To bring you free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
Hey girl
You've got to take this moment
Then let it slip away
Let go of complicated feelings
Then there's no price to pay
We've been running from love
We've been running from love
And we don't know what we're doing here
No we don't know what we're doing here
We're only here
Sharing our free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
08 Comatose (03:23)
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And Sliding out
Of conscious feeling
�
Take a light
Start the flame
Play the game
I am lost
In your eyes
Hypnotised
Here I believe
Dreams never deceive
�
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And sliding out
Life has no meaning
�
Bodies move
Colours change
Girl you're strange
Here inside
I'm at home
I'm alive
�
Don't be afraid
I'm floating away
�
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And sliding out
Of conscious feeling
�
Comatose, almost
�
Comatose, almost
�
Comatose.
12 I Am You (05:09)
You have bound my heart with subtle chains
So much pleasure that it feels like pain
So entwined now that we can't shake free
I am you and you are me
No escaping from the mess we're in
So much pleasure that it must be sin
I must live with this reality
I am yours eternally
There's no turning back
We're in this trap
No denying the facts
No, no, no
No excuses to give
I'm the one you're with
We've no alternative
No, no, no
Dark obsession in the name of love
This addiction that we're both part of
Leads us deeper into mystery
Keeps us craving endlessly
Strange compulsions that I can't control
Pure possession of my heart and soul
I must live with this reality
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
There's no turning back
We're in this trap
No denying the facts
No, no, no
No excuses to give
I'm the one you're with
We've no alternative
No, no, no
13 Goodnight Lovers (03:49)
Here, somewhere in the heart of me
There is still a part of me
That cares
And I'll, I'll still take the best you've got
Even though I'm sure it's not
The best for me
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
I, I can see the danger signs
They only help to underline
Your beauty
I'm not looking for an easy ride
True happiness cannot be tried
So easily
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
You can take your time
I'll be waiting in line
You don't even have to give me
The time of day
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
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Other reviews
By Perez12
Exciter is a soft nocturnal fresco of electro-pop elegantly interpreted with class and soul.
Depeche Mode are still a model to follow and are still light years away from clashing into commercial cliché stereotypes.
By Demo1069
It’s quite amusing to observe how fans were rather baffled by this album, so far from its predecessors.
Dead Of Night is definitely worth listening to.
