Completely independent of any expectation!

I had chosen not optimal cost, as I increasingly interested me the release of "Ultra", in 1997 for the band I already knew because of my brother since childhood - Depeche Mode. Stuck were naturally hits like "Just Can not Get Enough", "Everything Counts", "People Are People", "Never Let Me Down Again", "Personal Jesus" or "Enjoy The Silence". The DM were in the 80 - almost a pure synth band that held little or nothing of instruments such as a guitar. The gloomy jewel, "Songs of Faith & Devotion", I had by this time hardly noticed. Already here the sound of the band changed increasingly in a different direction.

Meanwhile, we know of course of the drug escapades of Dave Gahan in 1996 for a short time cost him his life. But how "Phoenix from the ashes" was the band that got your creative sound wizard Alan Wilder by phasing back on and published in April 1997 a cool album, for their circumstances, radical songs like "Barrel Of A Gun" and impressively demonstrated the dead live longer.
Meanwhile, I hang on "Ultra", it was on the one hand their resurrection and, musically speaking, a good conclusion of the 90.

EXCITER:

Depeche Mode pledged for your next record producers Mark Bell, who had produced, among others, the Icelandic musician Björk. So it was not necessarily surprising as light and delicate, most songs on "Exciter" were coming. Dominant acoustic guitar on the opener "Dream On", floating synth layers in "Shine On", the instrumental track "Love Theme" or weird arrangements like "The Sweetest Condition" or "Comatose".

On the other hand sweetly as rare (When The Body Speaks, Freelove) and unusually dirty (The Dead Of Night). Even the "pseudo-techno stomper" (I Feel Loved) can not diminish their status. A real treat but remains for me one of the most slowest songs of their history - "I Am You". Last but not least then remains "Goodnight Lovers", which I, in addition to "Comatose" can mean the only real weak point on this album.

CONCLUSION:

One can still divided on the way to be, the band has embarked on in 2001, but unlike your current disc, "Sound Of The Universe" I hear on "Exciter" still a band that is rightly called Depeche Mode bears. Your greatest strength has always been the certain pop appeal hovered despite all the gloom of their albums. The direct successor "Playing The Angel", had still to a large extent, what I miss today from the guys. Great moments, interesting sounds and - just pop appeal. EXCITER may be one of the most radical albums of the band, but even though it technically sound sounds different from the glorious Hitmomente of "Violator", it still belongs to me to the best works of the guys.

This album sounds relaxed and exciting, there is a lack of security the central theme of an album as "Black Celebration", still stands every single song on its own atmosphere radiates the real atmosphere. Perhaps DM should actually be producing times by her ex-member Alan Wilder. Necessary, it would not necessarily as well as producer Tim Simenon (Ultra) or said Mark Bell, press a convincing stamp on the respective albums were. Ben Hillier is but for a decent debut (PTA) is now a little too involved, I have the impression. Even the hardcore fan should know by now that just the production of Depeche Mode albums always was very much on the respective man at the controls depends.