Post by DSD April 3, 2010 (21 of 34)
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Post by danfaz April 3, 2010 (22 of 34)
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Johnno said:
Pardon my extreme ignorance, guys, but who is (are?) the Depeche Mode and, more importantly, what sort of music is it? Who would it be like?
Thanks, as I'm obviously intrigued.
I'd describe Depeche Mode as techno pop/rock (but if I say techno you shouldn't think of the sort of techno that's short of techno house -- this was at least 10 years earlier) or rather 'industrial' music.
I can't think of any music (that you may know if you don't know DM) that's similar, but like all artists making lots of use of electronic instruments they are naturally influenced by Kraftwerk.
Conversely, I noticed that several songs on Kraftwerk: Minimum-Maximum (GSA Version) -- specifically the songs from their last studio album 'Tour de France' -- sound like they're paying tribute back to Depeche Mode.
You'll find some other influences in section 2 of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode
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Post by Johnno April 3, 2010 (24 of 34)
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The Seventh Taylor said:
I'd describe Depeche Mode as techno pop/rock (but if I say techno you shouldn't think of the sort of techno that's short of techno house -- this was at least 10 years earlier) or rather 'industrial' music.
I can't think of any music (that you may know if you don't know DM) that's similar, but like all artists making lots of use of electronic instruments they are naturally influenced by Kraftwerk.
Conversely, I noticed that several songs on Kraftwerk: Minimum-Maximum (GSA Version) -- specifically the songs from their last studio album 'Tour de France' -- sound like they're paying tribute back to Depeche Mode.
You'll find some other influences in section 2 of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Mode
Thanks for your reply. I'm certainly familiar with Kraftwerk, having the 'minimum-maximum' SACD set. I'm also familiar with Tangerine Dream (have the 'Rubycon' SACD plus literally hundeds of other albums), Klause Schulze (almost everything he recorded, including those with Lisa Gerrard)), Rainbow Serpent (most) and many other German electronic groups so wonder whether there would be any similarity with them realising, of course, that their sounds differ appreciably.
Are the DM SACDs still available?
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Post by Johnno April 3, 2010 (25 of 34)
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I neglected to mention that I checked out that Wikipedia reference but it didn't help me to form an association with a group I am familiar with.
Ultimately, I think it's probably going to be a matter of listening to something of the band's and deciding if I like it. I took a punt on the Dead Can Dance SACD box, having only heard "Aion" before, and have come up trumps with that. I really love it.
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Johnno said:
it didn't help me to form an association with a group I am familiar with.
Ultimately, I think it's probably going to be a matter of listening to something of the band's and deciding if I like it.
I agree. If you don't know Depeche Mode it's unlikely you'll know any band that 'sounds like them' because they've really developed (and evolved) quite a sound of their own.
If you like electronic music you can't really go wrong with buying any of their compilation albums but if you're hesitant I'd suggest to simply listen to samples of their songs on Amazon, or watch videos of their hits on YouTube. I'd start with songs from the mid-eighties till the early nineties.
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Post by Johnno April 4, 2010 (27 of 34)
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Thanks. I went over to the local CD store this morning and it had three CDs of Depeche Mode there. One was "The Best Of" that (I think) was a 2-CD set with a DVD. Then there was a single disc woth "Universe" in the title. I guess I should have been a bit more observant about that, or written it down. I can't remember the title of the third disc. None of them were SACDs. "The Best Of" was a pretty good price, so maybe I should buy that and get to know the music first. If I like it I can check out the SACDs.
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Johnno said:
Thanks. I went over to the local CD store this morning and it had three CDs of Depeche Mode there. One was "The Best Of" that (I think) was a 2-CD set with a DVD. Then there was a single disc woth "Universe" in the title. I guess I should have been a bit more observant about that, or written it down. I can't remember the title of the third disc. None of them were SACDs. "The Best Of" was a pretty good price, so maybe I should buy that and get to know the music first. If I like it I can check out the SACDs.
There are about eight compilation albums by Depeche Mode I could recommend:
1) The Singles 81>85
Actually a 1985 release but reissued in 1998 to coincide with the release of:
2) The Singles 86>98
This is a 2CD. The tracks are in chronological order and personally I'm very fond of just about all tracks on CD1.
These two albums are also available together as:
3) Singles 81>98
A nice collectors box. Probably only nerds like me have all of the above...
Then there is
4) Videos 86>98
The DVD companion to (2). Very nice although sadly when this came out the 5.1 mixes had not yet been made so this disc is entirely in 2.0.
There's also a 'deluxe' edition of this DVD, called 'VIdeos 86>98+'
6) The best of Depeche Mode vol. 1
A new compilation issued in 2006. Not sure whence the 'volume 1'
This has also been issued as a CD+DVD, and separately on DVD alone.
The CD is a single disc so obviously it's less complete than the previous compilations except it covers the 1999-2006 era.
If you're thinking of starting your Depeche Mode SACD collection I'd advise to begin with the following, in order of personal liking:
1. Depeche Mode: Violator
2. Depeche Mode: Music For The Masses
3. Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward
4. Depeche Mode: Black Celebration
Basically after 'Violator' they discovered guitars and went all 'rock'. Only by the time of Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel, a sort of comeback album, they more or less returned to their synth-pop roots.
'Sounds of the Universe' which you've seen in your record store is their latest album. It was released also in 5.1 on a CD+DVD package but sadly not on DVD. I got mine last Christmas but I haven't played it more than once yet. It's supposed to be a further revisiting of their eighties sound but it hasn't pleased me much thus far.
I hope this helps.
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Post by Johnno April 5, 2010 (29 of 34)
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The Seventh Taylor said:
(Excerpt)
If you're thinking of starting your Depeche Mode SACD collection I'd advise to begin with the following, in order of personal liking:
1. Depeche Mode: Violator
2. Depeche Mode: Music For The Masses
3. Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward
4. Depeche Mode: Black Celebration
Basically after 'Violator' they discovered guitars and went all 'rock'. Only by the time of Depeche Mode: Playing the Angel, a sort of comeback album, they more or less returned to their synth-pop roots.
'Sounds of the Universe' which you've seen in your record store is their latest album. It was released also in 5.1 on a CD+DVD package but sadly not on DVD. I got mine last Christmas but I haven't played it more than once yet. It's supposed to be a further revisiting of their eighties sound but it hasn't pleased me much thus far.
I hope this helps.
Many thanks, Yoeri, for all your comments. Much appreciated.
I now find that the local store has headphone listening facilities (try before you buy) so I think I'll pop over there this afternoon and have a listen to what they've got. From your comments, "Sounds of the Universe" mightn't be the best one for me to start with so I think I'll listen to some of "The Best Of" first. For what it's worth, I asked my brother if he had heard of the group and it turned out he had but the music hadn't made much of an impression on him at the time and he wouldn't comment further.
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Post by ColinB April 6, 2010 (30 of 34)
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Johnno said:
Many thanks, Yoeri, for all your comments. Much appreciated.
I now find that the local store has headphone listening facilities (try before you buy) so I think I'll pop over there this afternoon and have a listen to what they've got. From your comments, "Sounds of the Universe" mightn't be the best one for me to start with so I think I'll listen to some of "The Best Of" first. For what it's worth, I asked my brother if he had heard of the group and it turned out he had but the music hadn't made much of an impression on him at the time and he wouldn't comment further.
If you do decide to buy I found a number of them at 101cd.com at £11 each (after I'd already paid £14 at Amazon). Just look for the catalogue numbers in the format:
DMCD1, DMCD4 etc and release dates should be 2006-ish. If it's DMCDX4 or 2009 it won't be the SACD...
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