Depeche Mode Violator
[Record Mirror, 17th March 1990, Words: Tim Nicholson. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
After years of struggling, Depeche Mode have finally succeeded in making “The Black Album”. Their career has been a progressive darkening of their art. From the garish red of “Speak And Spell” to the harder blue of “Construction Time Again”, and darker still on “Black Celebration” and “Music For The Masses”, where they carelessly allowed streams of coloured light to permeate the eclipse.
Finally, with “Violator”, they have fashioned a veritable dungeon of songs for you to jangle your manacles to. Nine black songs that go bong rather a lot and rarely go bing. “World In My Eyes” is at the cellar door and is the perfect introduction to this compromise between pop music and something a little more sinister.
Of course, they’re only playing pretend, but that is their strength. The ability to follow the fabulous black comedy of “Personal Jesus” with the seriously masterful “Enjoy The Silence” is a gift few would have credited them with three years ago. Naturally the joke is extended here, “…The Silence” trailing a couple of minutes of silent noises after it. All other tracks here live in suspended animation somewhere between the two singles.
There are no noises out of place in this perfectly formed void. The songs are like bright stars in a black sky, or silver studs on a soft black leather jacket. The wonder is that the more they strip it down the bigger they get. How low can they go?
[Record Mirror, 17th March 1990, Words: Tim Nicholson. Picture: Anton Corbijn.]
After years of struggling, Depeche Mode have finally succeeded in making “The Black Album”. Their career has been a progressive darkening of their art. From the garish red of “Speak And Spell” to the harder blue of “Construction Time Again”, and darker still on “Black Celebration” and “Music For The Masses”, where they carelessly allowed streams of coloured light to permeate the eclipse.
Finally, with “Violator”, they have fashioned a veritable dungeon of songs for you to jangle your manacles to. Nine black songs that go bong rather a lot and rarely go bing. “World In My Eyes” is at the cellar door and is the perfect introduction to this compromise between pop music and something a little more sinister.
Of course, they’re only playing pretend, but that is their strength. The ability to follow the fabulous black comedy of “Personal Jesus” with the seriously masterful “Enjoy The Silence” is a gift few would have credited them with three years ago. Naturally the joke is extended here, “…The Silence” trailing a couple of minutes of silent noises after it. All other tracks here live in suspended animation somewhere between the two singles.
There are no noises out of place in this perfectly formed void. The songs are like bright stars in a black sky, or silver studs on a soft black leather jacket. The wonder is that the more they strip it down the bigger they get. How low can they go?