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Rating: After twenty years of honorable and tumultuous career, it is not easy to stay on top, at least not for just any artist, but it is for the group in question.
Finding inspiration after so many great albums, striving to still deliver emotions after squeezing everything out down to the peel does not seem like a good omen... but here is Martin Gore, he, the mind and the pen of Depeche, a synonym for total guarantee with his monstrously always up-to-par compositional vein. The product and what comes out in 2001, exactly twenty years after the debut Speak and Spell, is this Exciter!
What is Exciter? ... it is a soft nocturnal fresco of electro-pop elegantly interpreted with class and soul.
A gentle hand that caresses you after tucking you in, kissing you on the forehead and bidding you goodnight in the autumn breeze, whispering in your ears "Can you feel a little love".... that knows how to pamper you with "When the Body Speak", "Freelove" and "Goodnight Lovers" but also knows how to motivate and encourage the listener with more intense pieces like "I Feel Love" and "The Dead of Night"; all masterfully interpreted by Dave Gahan here less shameless and foul-mouthed but a refined interpreter of the evocative nuances created by Gore who on his part always finds effective and innovative sounds managing to associate them with the more classical and acoustic ones as in the single "Dream On".
The work in question once again presents itself as superior to the average releases of the period, it may not have the strength of the last previous masterpieces, but it still manages to be listened to excellently, focusing more on inspiration and almost trip-pop, calm and deep atmospheres.
The class is all there, and there is no need to convince anyone; indeed, it is the confirmations that lead us to deduce that Depeche are still a model to follow and are still light years away from clashing into commercial cliché stereotypes. They may know how to sell themselves, there's no denying a work like this, but never shamelessly and banally.
Expressive and nocturnal, reflective and intimate.
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 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.
By Darius
Exciter represents the 'other side of the coin' for the Basildon trio: emotional lightness, serenity and carefreeness.
Although 'Exciter' is often acclaimed as the band’s least successful work, a good rating cannot be denied due to the almost absolute positivity of the general mood.
