Overall a good album, with some through hangers above all but also many highlights (WELCOME TO THE WORLD, SECRET TO THE END, THE CHILD INSIDE, SHOULD BE HIGHER, ALONE, SOOTHE MY SOUL) that work on both the headset as well as hopefully in the stadium be. For those who need a little more arguments, please should preview or more sorry, I can sometimes just not really brief ;-)
WELCOME TO THE WORLD, the first bars of the album come cool and technoid therefore, nothing recalls the sound of DM. But then sets Gahan's singing and you know immediately where you are, the first chorus acts like a release and is heavenly. A very very successful start to the album.
ANGEL there were already previously heard. It is harder than the first song, guitars are only distorted. Somehow the sound does not sound familiar, but then again. This balancing act is something fascinating getting up the tension even with repeated listening.
HEAVEN is also already known as the first single of the song was indeed received very mixed. For me it is very well done, reminiscent of old Lennon songs, but of course also to Gahan's outing with the Soul Savers. Who until now did not like the song, it should again give a chance in the sequence of early song by Delta Machine. HEAVEN comes after the first two songs as a welcome breather.
SECRET TO THE END is a classic DM song, a driving bass, a simple, often repeated chorus, sings Gore as co-lead. It can be as simple, simply beautiful.
MY LITTLE UNIVERSE is a bit hectic and confusing. One particular song, which is not yet available to me, however. Sounds a bit like the first solo album by Thom Yorke.
SLOW then can the heralded Blues hinted for the first time, with Gore on guitar, mixing these organic sound but with electronic elements and an almost lascivious Beat. What really makes the song interesting again.
BROKEN reveals itself to me not quite, maybe this song needs just longer. Somewhat reminiscent of Behind The Wheel
THE CHILD INSIDE is the Gore song of this album. As almost always when Gore takes the lead vocals, it is a ballad. And as almost always, it is very well done.
SOFT TOUCH / RAW NERVE unpacks the guitar and has discreet Rockabillity bonds, not necessarily my cup of tea, but also now part of the DM sound universe. Reminds a bit on John the Revelator.
SHOULD BE HIGHER is another strong song, Gahan with unusually high vocals, sounds like on Ultra and a brilliant chorus. This is something that strikes me at all, at all variety of sounds, it is above all the choruses and melodies that always turn things around. A Eigenschafz of DM that maybe came a little too short in recent albums.
ALONE is a very minimal synth-heavy ballad that goes to Mark. The textual subjects of Gahan have long been known, yet they never seem trite. Another highlight of the album.
SOOTHE MY SOUL increases speed again considerably and has become a wonderful Technopop number. The song simmers formally Gahan sings threatening, but the great chorus then everything starts again.
GOODBYE is then a matter of taste, a bluesy cowboy song that somewhat looks as if he has been too bad for the Soul Saver album (sorry for the tip, I like the album simply too much). I myself would not have been angry if the album would have ended with another song.
