The best innovation doesn’t merely survive but morphs into something better. Such is the case with Depeche Mode, one of my all time favourite bands. Even if you are a fan, their latest album is a hard listen. They do stuff that grates and makes me want to throw things at the wall. They get my attention.
If you do a Limewire search on the band up pops a bunch of recordings by one of my other faves – Paul Oakenfold. They’re what techies might call a mashup and along with folk like John Digweed and Sasha, Paul’s been doing musical mashups for many years. Some of the songs get a great treatment – if DM/Oakenfold is your thing. Which makes me think Niel Robertson is spot on when he says we have a lot to learn from what’s happening in the music business.
With that in mind, yesterday I watched an interview from DMs video collection 86-98 and part way through, Martin Gore says: “We’re supposed to say this is the greatest work we’ve ever done but the truth is it’s impossible to be objective.” That made me sit up. A musician with perspective.
I’ve seen preview videos from DMs current world tour. They’re free. How those guys do it is beyond me. I’ll be seeing them in Torrevieja 25th July. After all the years I’ve listened to DM, it will be the first time I’ve made it to one of their gigs. I expect to be thrilled. But then I’m always thrilled by the unexpected – check out the VCs anthem: Everything Counts (not in this case). Listen for Dave Gahan saying: ‘Wow – we suck!”
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