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Rating: I wonder why, when Martin Gore, the soul of Depeche Mode, decides to embark on a solo project, he always opts for a cover album, I asked myself.
After a few minutes of browsing the internet, the answer came. These are tributes to those who have inspired his work, his beautiful lyrics.
Yet all this makes me reflect, makes me think; it's almost as if this reserved and seemingly shy man does not want to reveal his emotions translated into lyrics without the filter of the wonderful interpreter Dave Gahan.
In the end, it was the sympathy towards this artist, always a bit on the sidelines, always a bit overshadowed by the charisma and personality of Gahan, that pushed me to buy this CD.
The first listen is rather bewildering; after the slight movement given by the percussion in "I Cast A Lonesome Shadow" (track 3), one sinks into a chasm of boredom until the end. Moreover, since the names involved are so important: Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, Bowie, Lou Reed, Brian Eno, and Lennon, the mere idea of tribute does not justify this album; perhaps a bit more self-irony would have been appreciated as well.
Surely the pieces are well rearranged and reinterpreted, indeed sometimes as in the case of “Loverman,” they are almost as thrilling as the original, the same cannot be said for "By This River" by Brian Eno, in my opinion, untouchable.
The skilful use of electronics unfortunately does not give the work depth; it completely takes away movement, and in the end, the black and white of the cover becomes somewhat emblematic of what we find inside.
Not even just for fans, in short.
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