•
Rating: Hello everyone, greetings to the "legendary" people of this site who truly love music. I was reading a great report on the homepage about the 30 years of punk '77, a historical event now dead and overused by the mouths of stupid kids who do not hesitate to tell the press: "Oh.... look, we are the new Clash!" Poor us.....
If only they knew the anger, the burst of energy that punk '77 brought with it, what a charm.... even what filth, but when you played and took a hard-nosed attitude for a just cause, everything else became secondary. It was a British-German-American phenomenon, we cannot deny it..... and yet the entire world was left speechless because of punk. If punk '77 had not existed, the new wave wouldn't have existed, thus neither would Depeche Mode (few know that while Martin Gore and Fletch were volunteering as perfect "teacher's pets" of the Basildon pastor, splitting time between school, home, and church, the dandy Dave Gahan was always getting caught by the police with his hands in the cookie jar..... drugs, graffiti, vandalism, wrecked cars, rebellious attitude.... the perfect punk indeed.... Dave).
But other Depeche members in time also embraced a very New Wave cause..... just think of those Mohican haircuts, which even the curly-haired Martin Gore did not resist). The fact is, they were not Duran Duran or Spandau, perfectly groomed in the neo-romantic fashion.
They were dark, playing synth-pop like OMD, Human League, Softcell, New Order, Ultravox, Fad Gadget. They admired David Bowie, who in those years was at the peak of his recording fertility..... Gore liked Kraftwerk (German electronic-industrial), Gahan has always liked heavy rock, hard sounds suitable for his rasping voice, and Fletch liked..... stuffed turkey.
Many will say: 'When will this guy stop annoying us with this nonsense and hurry up to review "Playing the Angel"'? You're right, but if that album is here, it is thanks to many years of stories and enduring from the colorful members of a cursed and fascinating band (but also blessed by Providence), a band that has been talking about death, "pain," darkness, regret, suffering, and hope for more than 20 years. It was '85 the year of "Shake the Disease", a sad but meaningful song. And with these adjectives we can also describe the latest album, PTA. It is an album with dark tones and once again dark as in the past, it makes you contemplate suicide for a few minutes, then you regain your senses and say.... the Depeche are still here, my life is still as it was before..... Yes, and it has even more emotion!
The sound of this album does not remind us of the past (a great load of nonsense says anyone who claims it sounds like an '80s album and that the hit "Precious" recalls "Enjoy the Silence"). There are other sounds, more subdued, sometimes harder and more rock than before, other motivations..... the three guys have matured... Gore first, but also the handsome Gahan, author of three beautiful, catchy, and appreciable songs ("Suffer Well" (excellent 3rd single, beautiful), "I Want it All", a bit more melodious, and "Nothing's Impossible" (very beautiful and raw). Those written by Gore are some gentle, others more wild but all have much more catchy sounds, compared to the long loops of "Exciter," which still needs to mature in our ears. "A Pain that I'm Used to", very lively, indicates suffering (like "Suffer Well", lends itself to listening, so much that radios play it 200 times a day), a good single.
Many argue that a rock riff would have been better instead of distorted sirens, but I sincerely like this initial rawness very much. Then, the mystical and equally exhilarating "John the Revelator", dense text, disco rhythm, makes even the walls dance, single awaited at the beginning of June. Completing the "lively" picture is the sentimental "Lilian", which will be the B-side of "John the Revelator", the catchiest. Then there are the songs sung by Gore, "Macro", beautiful, very orchestral in its progression, electronic and subtle, a typical DM trademark. The second song sung by the blonde Martin is the touching "Damaged People", very intimate in text and sound.... a song from another time..... congratulations Martin! Then there are the slightly dark songs..... like the rough "Sinner in Me", text by Gore, rough, well-done, already proposed on tour, because it made arms swing despite the rather angular sound and perhaps the most electronic....
Then the instrumental "Introspectre", the darkest side of darkness, very simple, like all (or almost) DM instrumental pieces, but very deep. Completing the dark picture "The Darkest Star".... well the title says it all.... this song is darkness personified, a slow and dark piece, not very catchy, but a great piece for fans of the DM Premium Factory. And then of course "Precious", beautiful, calm, commercial in sound, which has NOTHING to do with "Enjoy the Silence", except for the chords and the guitar performance. If the 1990 hit had an almost "disco" and exciting rhythm, with the arrangements of the legendary Alan Wilder on the drum machine, "Precious" is a mature piece, which talks about regret, and hope almost suffocated, but not dead. Constant reference to God, Gore wrote it thinking about his young children now that he is about to divorce his wife. It is an emotion, just like the whole album, which reaches the heart possibly before "Exciter."
PTA is not up to legendary and historical albums (few words for knowledgeable fans!), however, why always yearn for the past? PTA is still a superb album.... many complain about the cover..... but listen to the songs instead.... moreover, the cover is also fascinating and well handled by the "fourth Depeche" Anton Corbjin, also director of the "Suffer Well" video (a cheer for Anton, as always!). What more can I say..... the dark angel, the darkest star, the emotions stirred by Martin Gore's lyrics, and this time also by the now mature Dave, have hit the mark both with the broad audience and with connoisseurs of finer tastes. Comparisons are not necessary, and this album has demonstrated that Depeche are still here, the risk of disbanding is erased, at least for now, because these guys (in their forties) are capable of managing a good musical work along with everything it entails (tours, videos, record promotions, marketing, merchandising...)
Great Depeche Mode "Pain and Suffering" For Fletch: Andy, you're great, try eating less chocolate..... and you'll see you'll become the fit figure of not so long ago! For Dave: keep it up For Martin: Master, once again I am speechless!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 A Pain That I'm Used To (04:11)
I'm not sure what I'm looking for anymore
I just know that I'm harder to console
I don't see who I'm trying to be instead of me
But the key is a question of control
Can you say what you're trying to play anyway
I just pay while you're breaking all the rules
All the signs that I find have been underlined
Devils thrive on the drive that is fueled
All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true
There's a hole in your soul like an animal
With no conscience, repentance, oh no
Close your eyes, pay the price for your paradise
Devils feed on the seeds of the soul
I can't conceal what I feel, what I know is real
No mistaking the faking, I care
With a prayer in the air I will leave it there
On a note full of hope not despair
All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true
All this running around, well it's getting me down
Just give me a pain that I'm used to
I don't need to believe all the dreams you conceive
You just need to achieve something that rings true
02 John the Revelator (03:42)
John the Revelator, put him in a elevator
Take him up to the highest high
Take him up to the top where the mountains stop
Let him tell his book of lies
John the Revelator, he's a smooth operator
It's time we cut him down to size
Take him by the hand, and put him on the stand
Let us hear his alibis
By claiming God as his holy right
He's stealing a God from the Israelites
Stealing a God from a Muslim too
There is only one God through and through
Seven lies multiplied by seven
Multiplied by seven again
Seven angels with seven trumpets
Send them home on the morning train
Well who's that shouting, John the Revelator
All he ever gives us is pain
Well who's that shouting, John the Revelator
He should bow his head in shame
By and By
By and By
By and By
By and By
Seven lies multiplied by seven
Multiplied by seven again
Seven angels with seven trumpets
Send them home on the morning train
Well who's that shouting, John the Revelator
All he ever gives us is pain
Well who's that shouting, John the Revelator
He should bow his head in shame
By and By, By and By
John the Revelator
By and By, John the Revelator
By and By, John the Revelator
03 Suffer Well (03:49)
Where were you when I fell from grace,
a frozen heart an empty space
Something's changing it's in your eyes,
please don't speak they're only lies
I found treasure not where I thought
peace of mind that can't be bought,
Still I believe
I just hang on, and suffer well
sometimes it's hard, it's hard to tell
An angel lead me when I was blind
I said take me back I changed my mind
and now I believe
From the blackest room I was torn
you called my name, a love was born
So I believe
I just hang on, and suffer well
sometimes it's hard, it's hard to tell
I just hang on, and suffer well
sometimes it's hard, so hard to tell
04 The Sinner in Me (04:56)
If I could just hide
The sinner inside
And keep him denied
How sweet life would be
If I could be free
From the sinner in me
I'll never be a saint
That's not a picture that your memory paints
Not renowned for my patience
I'm not renowned for my restraint
But you're always around
You can always be found
To pick me up when I'm on the ground
If I could just hide
The sinner inside
And keep him denied
How sweet life would be
If I could be free
From the sinner in me
I'm still recovering
Still getting over all the suffering
More known for my anger
Than for any other thing
But you've always tried
To be by my side
And catch my fall when I start to slide
If I could just hide
The sinner inside
And keep him denied
How sweet life would be
If I could be free
From the sinner in me
05 Precious (04:10)
Precious and fragile things
Need special handling
My God what have we done to You?
We always try to share
The tenderest of care
Now look what we have put You through...
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
Angels with silver wings
Shouldn't know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for you
If God has a master plan
That only He understands
I hope it's your eyes He's seeing through
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
I pray you learn to trust
Have faith in both of us
And keep room in your hearts for two
Things get damaged
Things get broken
I thought we'd manage
But words left unspoken
Left us so brittle
There was so little left to give
06 Macro (04:03)
Overflowing senses
Heightened awareness
I hear my blood flow
I feel its caress
Whispering cosmos
Talking right to me
Unlimited, endless
God breathing through me
See the microcosm
In macro vision
Our bodies moving
With pure precision
One universal celebration
One evolution
One creation
Thundering rhythm
Pounding within me
Driving me onwards
Forcing me to see
Clear and enlightening
Right there before me
Brilliantly shining
Intricate beauty
See the microcosm
In macro vision
Our bodies moving
With pure precision
One universal celebration
One evolution
One creation
11 Lilian (04:49)
Oh Lilian
Look what you've done
You've stripped my heart
Ripped it apart
In the name of fun
Oh Lilian
I'm a poor man's son
And precious jewels
Weren't found in schools
Where I came from
Pain and misery
Always hit the spot
Knowing you can't lose
What you haven't got
Oh Lilian
I should have run
I should have known
Each dress you own
Is a loaded gun
Oh Lilian
Oh Lilian
I need protection
I hear your voice
And any choice I had is gone
Oh Lilian
Once I'd begun
I couldn't stop
Till every drop
Of blood was sung
Pain and misery
Always hit the spot
Knowing you can't lose
What you haven't got
Oh Lilian
Look what you've done
You stripped my heart
Ripped it apart
In the name of fun
Oh Lillian
Oh Lillian
Oh Lillian
Oh Lillian
12 The Darkest Star (06:55)
Oh you sad one
Playing the Angel
Isn’t so easy where you’re from
Oh you wild one
Devil’s companion
You won’t stay satisfied for long
I don’t want you to change anything you do
I don’t want you to be someone else for me
Oh you dark one
Eternal outsider
Caught in the spider’s web you’ve spun
Oh you blind one
Gentle and kind one
Seeing the world as a loaded gun
I don’t want you to change anything you do
I don’t want you to be someone else for me
Stay as you are the darkest star
Shining for me
Majestically
I don’t want you to change anything you do
I don’t want you to be someone else for me
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
The first notes of the new work announce a return to the origins, a balanced piece that is at the same time simple and brilliant.
Honoring the mysterious charm that still envelops this immortal band and its devotees even after 25 years.
By ma3x
Once the CD was put in the CD player, I shut up (which for some is really an event...).
It’s rough, dirty just right (probably the hard covers from various Manson types added a bit of spice)...
By Torre Ste
"The first track must capture the listener’s attention, and this song succeeds completely, marking a return to the golden years of the group’s sound."
"‘Precious’ is somewhat the new ‘Enjoy The Silence,’ with the same bite, the same melancholy, the same minimalism, yet at the same time as bright as few."
By Boris
"Playing the Angel seems to be a synthesis of two distinct periods of DM: those of the early ’80s and those of the late ’80s and early ’90s."
"DM have conceived an album worthy of their best works, capable of synthesizing 25 years of music as only a few bands can do."
By Giordyboy
"PAIN AND SUFFERING IN VARIOUS TEMPOS" perfectly summarizes the album.
"Perhaps it’s one of the most beautiful Depeche Mode songs ever."
