In 1997 "Ultra" came on the market, I was at first but a bit disappointed. The album was much too slow, it lacked proper Hits - everything seemed to me, like a silent farewell to heroic past days. Now almost 10 years later, I have to say that I was wrong. "Ultra" is not paralyzed - it is melancholic and it is especially not a farewell to the past. Quite the contrary: Ultra sounds still fresh, as if it had been produced only a few weeks ago. It as actually every Depeche Mode album, completely independent in his sound. No other band manages such diverse musical styles such as electro, Dance, Minimal Techno, Trip Hop, Rock or Blues to link to so sovereign manner. The quality of the songs is consistently fantastic. For a shy ballad like "The Bottom Line" or "Free State" with its steel guitars, many highly touted songwriter would cut off both hands. "Barrel of a gun" is a brittle Pops, the going still correct today in the Indie Disco. For this purpose a bit oldshool-Depeche Mode with "Its no good" that trendy "Useless", the wonderful conclusion song "Insight" or Martins "Home" for me the perfect Depeche Mode song ever ...
I could actually make hours so on.
My conclusion: For me, "Ultra", next to "Violator" or "Songs of Faith and Devotion" is clearly one of the top 3 Depeche Mode albums. The order of precedence here is actually irrelevant. Ah yes, - I am the way, also one of Depeche Mode fans who love Martins guitar sounds and at the Depeche Mode Party still upset about that too much 80 Synthikram will played.
