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Rating:
THE REVIEW
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.
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Summary by Bot
Depeche Mode’s Exciter, released in 2001, reflects the band’s ability to remain innovative after two decades. The album blends soft, nocturnal electro-pop with emotional depth and sophisticated soundscapes. Martin Gore’s songwriting shines with inventive compositions while Dave Gahan delivers refined vocals. Though less powerful than earlier masterpieces, Exciter stands out with calm, reflective atmospheres and confirms Depeche Mode's status as electro-pop pioneers.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music group formed in Basildon in 1980, led by Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. They built a global audience with synth‑based albums and large-scale tours and remain influential in synth‑pop and alternative electronic music.110 Reviews
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.
