•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
"Ultra"
The rebirth of a myth
It's February 1997 when Depeche Mode fans exclaim a miracle upon hearing Dave Gahan's voice and Martin Gore's melodies once again. Because it is indeed a miracle, if not musically, at least humanly.
In fact, after the Devotional Tour and the following years spent between Dave's overdoses, Alan Wilder's departure from the group, Martin's alcohol problems, and even Dave's attempted suicide, no fan possibly believed in the remote possibility of rejoicing over a new DM album again.
"Do you mean this horny creep"... These are the first words that caused Martin and Fletch to exclaim a miracle first, and their fans later... These are the first words Dave uttered upon waking from the coma, and they are the same words that open "Barrel Of A Gun," the first single and track of "Ultra."
Even when listening to the first notes of the single, it becomes clear how "Ultra" is a child of suffering, introspection, and the hoped-for rebirth that somehow affected the group in recent years.
The songs written by Martin seem to fit Dave perfectly ("Whatever I've done / I've been staring down the barrel of gun"), reflecting what the blonde genius also experienced himself ("Oh the tears that you weep / For the poor tortured souls").
The rock notes and hard soul of Gore and associates that emerged from the previous album "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" make way for the reuse of electronics not only as a backdrop but as the main structure of the dark and enveloping melodies of "Ultra."
Listening to Ultra is like traveling at night, in a car, with headlights off, crossing a large deserted city and capturing all the darker and more melancholic aspects that daylight manages to hide.
To the anguished melodies of "Barrel Of A Gun," "Useless," "Home," "The Bottom Line," and "Insight," a well-paced but never exaggerated "It's No Good" joins, along with those splendid ballads like "Sister Of Night," "The Love Thieves," and "Freestate." The instrumental tracks present in every Depeche Mode work are inevitable ("Uselink," "The Jazz Thieves," and the hidden track "Painkiller jr.").
An album among Depeche Mode's best to listen to in one go, perhaps right in the car on a night when you need and can think. Recommended.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
Depeche Mode's album Ultra marks a powerful comeback after personal and band hardships. It fuses electronic sounds with dark, introspective lyrics reflecting the group's turmoil. The album's melancholic and atmospheric mood makes it ideal for contemplative listening, showcasing some of the band's best work. Ultra balances rock energy with electronic sophistication in a cohesive, emotional journey.
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 il gringo
Gahan’s voice rises above the drum/bass/keyboard wall, reminding me that sometimes fate is cruel and brings us back to suffering.
'Home' begins, a ray of light penetrating the darkness of the night: excellently sung by Martin Gore.
By Darius
"Ultra is the dessert, the work that definitively closes that artistic direction taken since 'Music For The Masses.'"
"Barrel Of A Gun is a musical summary of what Gahan was at the beginning of 1997, a fragile individual, psychologically unstable, almost morally impaired."
