25 Oct 2005
Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel
Although their previous album Exciter had great soothing atmospherics and some of their most tender and sensitive ballads to date, it never really lived up to its title and looked rather weak compared with their earlier work. Four years later, Playing the Angel shows a Depeche Mode who are decidedly back on form.
The opening track, A Pain that I’m Used to, begins with searing, cutting blasts of noise, an infectious beat and a catchy melody which is followed by John the Revelator, a loud-and-proud showcase for David Gahan’s superb vocal skills. Suffer Well is a more relaxed, emotional piece that precedes The Sinner in Me, whose raw energy and religious imagery hark back to the glory days of Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion.
Comprising of candid interviews with friends and family and a televised version of the comedian’s final UK performance, at the Dominion Theatre, London in 1993, Totally Bill Hicks is a fitting testament to what proved to be one of the most honest and controversial voices in the stand-up comedy world. The first half, It’s Just a Ride is an insightful documentary concerning his early life and career with clips from old performances; the second half, Revelations, demonstrates his boundless energy and conviction, launching vitriolic and outrageously funny attacks on politics, social standards and the dark flipside to the American Dream.
Mercury Rev are one of those bands who cannot be pigeonholed or subjected to the usual description of “They sound a bit like (insert band name here) crossed with (another band name).” Their big break came with Deserter’s Songs, a quirky, experimental and utterly unique record whose folk-tinged melodies and haunting ambience made the music scene sit up and take notice and shower them with praise. It was always going to be a tough job for the band to write a follow-up but All is Dream is an equally brave and unique experience with an even greater sense of ambition and the desire to experiment.