1993
Articles,
reviews of concerts and releases, and band member interviews from
magazines and newspapers.
Singles:
'I Feel You', 'Walking In My Shoes', 'Condemnation'
Albums: 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion', 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion
(Live)'
Video: 'Devotional'
Martin becomes a father for a second time. Beginning of the excessive marathon-length Devotional world tour: Dave suffers a drug-induced heart attack on stage (8th October). 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' becomes their first UK No. 1 release.
Devout
Moded
[Vox, February 1993.
Words: Martin Townsend. Pictures: Uncredited / Anton Corbijn.]
Article
interviewing Martin, Alan and Dave (separately!) regarding the
forthcoming Songs Of Faith And Devotion album and looking back
at their career given that the members had just entered their
thirties. The band members open up more than previously regarding
their personal lives, but the views aren't always balanced and with
hindsight you can scrape the irony off of some of Dave's comments with
a trowel.
[3140 words]
The
Guardian, 12th March 1993
[Words: Adam Sweeting.]
Very short review of SOFAD in a UK
national newspaper. The writer is wildly enthusiastic and does a grand job
of capturing the feel of the album in the small space he had.
[144
words]
Ich
Bin-Liner Berliner
[NME, 13th March 1993. Words: Danny Kelly. Pictures: Steve Pyke.]
A journalist with an obvious appreciation for and knowledge of Depeche Mode questions them on the possibility of producing more extreme, less precise music in this reprinted article from 1985. While at times he grinds his axe a bit too hard, he makes his points thoroughly, and the whole article pre-empts Dave's push for a looser, more organic feel a whole seven years later.
[2572
words]
That'll
Be The Deity
[NME, 20th March 1993. Words: David Quantick. Illustration: Run.]
An enthusiastic review of Songs Of
Faith And Devotion by an author who seems to have tapped into why Depeche
Mode have retained their appeal and who doesn't start by having to explain
why they aren't synth wusses. Positive without dropping into idolising the
band.
[635
words]
[L.A. Times, 21st March 1993. Words: Chris Willman / Mike Boehm. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
An engaging discussion of Songs Of Faith And Devotion which focuses especially on Martin's songwriting and what makes him tick. Martin opens up to an unusual degree here, and the piece is pleasantly free of the usual love-it-hate-it 1993 fare. The somewhat dismissive album review that accompanies it is another matter.
[1908 words]
Mode
Squad
[Creem, April 1993. Words: Jeremy Helligar. Pictures: Anton Corbijn.]
Don't
let the uninspired, cliche-ridden opening fool you. What follows is a
thorough interview full of intelligent questions examining the band from
every conceivable angle: songwriting, studio, touring, fanbase, personal
lives, business. The interviewer keeps his questioning unobtrusive and
allows the band to come out with detailed answers, which is the real
strength of this piece.
[4068 words]
In
The Mode
[Details, April 1993. Words: William Shaw. Pictures: Anton Corbijn.]
A detailed interview in which all the band members get the opportunity to speak candidly about both the making of Songs Of Faith And Devotion and the changes in their personal lives. I never understood Dave's perspective on his first divorce until I read what he has to say here. At times the interviewer's approach can become uncomfortable as he doesn't quite seem to know when to leave a sensitive matter alone, but overall the band open up considerably, making for a rewarding read.
[4672 words]
Interview:
Daniel Miller
[Independent
Catalogue, April 1993.
Words: Brenda Kelly. Pictures: Uncredited.]
Depeche
Mode's doting father looks back on his discovery of the band and their
approach to developing their sound, their studio "rules" and how
an independent label helped them flourish. Next to a terribly emaciated
shot of Dave, it does all sound a bit like the parent late at night at the
police station sighing, "Whatever he does, he's still my little
boy...". Still, an unusual reverse-angle view of the band through the
eyes of someone who knows them best.
[1321 words]
Purged
[Q,
April 1993. Words: Andy Gill. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
The
author waxes lyrical about the religious imagery in this generally
glowing review of Songs Of Faith and Devotion, in which every
song except Mercy In You gets a mention.
[427
words]
"I
Never Wanted To Destroy Depeche Mode"
[Melody Maker, 3rd April 1993. Words: Jennifer Nine. Pictures:
Anton Corbijn / Uncredited.]
Dave
buzzes with enthusiasm for Songs Of Faith And Devotion, showing some of
the relentless drive which so alarmed the rest of the band in the studio
the year before. He lets out the full details of the upheavals in his
personal life and how these influenced the recording of the album -
reading this intense, energetic piece you realise his soul-baring four
years later wasn't "just a phase" after all. Currently the best
item I have for 1993.
[3178 words]
"Reach
Out, Touch Mode - The History"
[Melody Maker, 3rd April 1993. Words: Simon Price.]
Energetic
review of Depeche Mode's albums to Songs of Faith and Devotion, tracing
their changes and developments through the songs. The author glows with
enthusiasm, and picks up on aspects of some songs many reviewers often
miss; on the other hand some of his analyses make me wonder how closely he
has actually listened to the songs (Enjoy The Silence a
"straightforward pop love song", anyone?) Food for
thought.
[966
words]
NME,
3rd April 1993
[Words: Martin Talbot. Pictures:
Anton Corbijn.]
Collection of snippets from the NME: Brief
news article on the forthcoming Songs Of Faith And Devotion
tour, advert for the Crystal Palace date, and first part of a
discography with accompanying text.
[339
words]
Depeche
Moody!
[NME, 10th April 1993. Words: Uncredited. Pictures: Jill
Furmanovsky, John Stoddart.]
A brief news article on the theft and bootlegging of a box of SOFAD
CDs, and the second part of the discography begun the previous week.
[159
words]
The
Highs And Lows And Rise Of Depeche Mode
[FHM, June 1993. Words: Andy Darling.
Pictures: Anton Corbijn.]
Intelligent article, with a lot of input from Dave, focussing up on
the inspiration behind Songs Of Faith And Devotion. Dave is rather
rambly in this article and in hindsight not everything he says can be
relied upon. However there is a lot here about how their work with
Anton Corbijn improved their image, and also on the band members'
roles within the studio.
[3118
words]
What
Can You Do With A Raging Hanover?
[NME, 19th June 1993. Words: Paul Moody. Pictures: Ed Sirrs.]
A
lavishly-photographed review of a concert at Hanover's Garbsen stadium by
a clearly very impressed author. While short, it's very picturesque with
some amusing descriptions, and the author is particularly amazed at how
well an electronic band can hold its own in the guitar-dominated world of
the stadium.
[575
words]
Modus
Operandi
[Sound On Sound, July 1993. Words: Robert L. Doerschuk. Pictures:
Anton Corbijn.]
Specialist
musician's magazine interview of Alan, concentrating on studio technique.
Alan talks enthusiastically and informatively about the band's attitude to
their technology and equipment with
particular attention to the mixing process. While musician's heaven, the
article is not so unremittingly technical as to put off a general reader,
and some might find their appreciation of the songs heightened when they
see the details in a new light.
[3221
words]
Reign
In Spain
[Time Out, 28th July 1993. Words: Laura Lee Davies. Pictures: Anton
Corbijn.]
Enthusiastic,
almost breathless at times, article set during and after the band's Madrid
performance on the SOFAD tour. Dave does most of the speaking here, with a
little help from Alan, with the result that the cracks in the band are
self-evident. Notwithstanding, the author bends over backwards at times to paint
everything as hunky-dory. A scintillating atmosphere, but whom does it fool?
This one tries too hard.
[2557
words]
Dark
Forces In The Limelight
[The Times, 1st August 1993. Words: Louise Gray. Picture: Julian
Herbert.]
A
review of the Crystal Palace performance giving reasonable space to the
support act Sisters Of Mercy. Coming from an ordinary newspaper, the angle
is a lot more straightforward and sticks almost entirely to the show
itself with no probing or cockiness. The reviewer is wholeheartedly amazed
by the entire show, and this piece is an antidote to the grimness of
weightier writing from this era.
[534
words]
[Melody Maker, 7th August 1993. Words: Chris Roberts. Pictures: Phil Nicholls.]
Persevere with this unusually thoughtful review, because it goes from an inauspicious start to a disarmingly open (and rare) confession from the writer that he has changed his mind about Depeche Mode. The writer feels that Depeche Mode's line in darkness and strangeness have hit the mark and despite some reservations - mainly around arena posturing - is genuinely complimentary about the band's development.
[1326 words]
Good
Violations
[NME, 7th August 1993. Words: Dele Fadele. Pictures: Stefan de
Batselier.]
Appreciative and measured review of
the Sisters Of Mercy / Depeche Mode concert at Crystal Palace, weighted
towards Depeche Mode. The author occasionally comes out with a few
cringeable DM stereotypes, but still manages to encapsulate how the band
managed to have such a profound effect on their audiences during the
Devotional Tour. Also scanned is an advert for the December UK dates.
[627
words]
A
Taste Of Rock-Beast Behaviour A La Mode
[The Independent, 8th August 1993. Words: Ben Thomson.]
Positive
yet reserved review of the Crystal Palace performance on the Devotional
tour, with the writer's main criticism being the band's new found rock
style and Dave's posturing. A fairly written piece.
[384
words]
Basildon
Boys Show New Life
[The Observer, 8th August 1993. Words: Sam Taylor. Picture:
Uncredited.]
Reserved review of the 1993 Crystal Palace performance. It suffers a
little from the common pitfall of wanting to squeeze in a biography (and a
poor one at that) before getting down to business. Useful nonetheless, as
it takes the unusual angle of viewing Dave's rock god antics as the
salvation and not the embarrassment of the show.
[663
words]
Penance
Extra
[NME, 18th September 1993. Words: Gavin Martin. Pictures: Stefan de
Batselier / Anton Corbijn.]
First
of two articles following Depeche Mode on tour in Hungary. The author
observes internal relationships and backstage goings on sharply and
critically, measuring up what the band, especially Dave, have to say to
him with what he sees. The result is the plain and awful truth about the
condition of the band, and the only article I have seen that states it so
reliably. You need to read this.
[5328
words]
Tattoo
Unlimited
[NME, 25th September 1993. Words: Gavin Martin. Pictures: Stefan de
Batselier / Alison Turner / Steve Pyke.]
Second article of an excellent two-parter
behind the scenes with Depeche Mode in Hungary. Here, Dave comes close to
breaking the world record for the longest unhindered spouting of complete
tripe, as the writer allows Dave's own words to lay bare his mental state
at the time. Contrasted with a fan's intelligent reflections on the band's
appeal and the murmurings of the Mode's tour officialdom, this makes for
sordid and harrowing reading.
[5010
words]
The
Life And Loves Of Depeche Mode
[I-D, October 1993. Words: Michael Fuchs-Gambock. Pictures:
Anton Corbijn.]
Sober,
intelligent and thorough article tracing the band's history through the
development of their sound and popular appeal. Martin speaks about his
reaction to musical changes within the band, especially for Songs Of Faith
And Devotion. One of the few articles not to assume that the reader knows
nothing about Depeche Mode. Balanced, quality writing.
[3293 words]
Mope
Now, Party Later
[Musician, October 1993. Words: Jon Pareles. Pictures: Anton
Corbijn.]
As an article, this one is something of a
mixed bag. It's from a magazine with a slightly more technical bent but
goes around standard themes of the band's stadium appeal and Martin's
distinctive subject matter before finally getting down to some studio
details. What's there is good enough, but don't expect focussed discussion
of any one subject.
[3099
words]
[L.A. Times, 22nd November 1993. Words: Axel Koester.]
A thought-provoking concert review doubling as an examination of Depeche Mode's place in 1993's music scene. The review is generally disappointed with the subject matter of Martin's songs and has his doubts about the band's relevance - yet the review is far from damning and strives to be fair. In fact, the author's broadly sympathetic tone in places seems almost regretful.
[628 words]
Depeche Mode Artificial, Mediocre
[L.A. Life, 23rd November 1993. Words: Adam St. James.]
A quietly damning review of a U.S. show, which sees through the showmanship to something rather tawdry, and that's without any comment on the band backstage. Not a pleasant read, but all the better for being so soberly written.
[269 words]
[Melody Maker, December 1993. Words: Taylor Parkes. Picture: Stephen Sweet.]
A journalist with evidently no interest in or knowledge of Depeche Mode has reviewed the Birmingham show, resulting in a barrage of cheap and largely unwarranted personal abuse directed at Dave, Martin and the crowd. Quite simply, nothing to redeem it and included here purely as a lesson in how not to write a review. A disgrace.
[957 words]
Pomp
Will Eat Itself
[NME, 25th December 1993. Words: Johnny Cigarettes. Pictures: Steve
Double.]
A
sizeable number of fans regard Songs Of Faith And Devotion as a flawed
album or even a sell-out. While a number of reviews at the time and since
resort to plain mud-flinging, this is about the best review I've seen to
state the case. The author is scathing in his review of the Birmingham NEC
performance, but (except for waking the ghost of "Just Can't Get
Enough") backs up his points fairly and wittily. Many fans will hate
this review, but hindsight - uncomfortably - bears it out.
[608
words]
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