The recent leak of the video of the forthcoming Depeche Mode single 'Precious' has appeared to indicate that Depeche Mode is finally returning to its form of electronic darkness of the late eighties and early nineties. This is welcomed.
Hopefully, 'Precious' will signal a shift from the bland electronic-blues which Depeche Mode has been peddling after the 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' to something along the lines of the singles from 'Violater' and 'Music for the Masses'. 'Ultra' and 'Exciter' were electronic valium. Competent lounge music but lounge music all the same. As my friend, Eugene has succinctly observed, 'In your Room' was the last Depeche Mode single to send 'shivers down your spine'.
St Etienne has appeared to be serving its own dish of electronic valium in the last three albums. These albums, while pleasant, lacks the immediacy of their previous pop singles. A few talking and rap tracks simply do not add an edge, being discordant and distracting."Work stops at sunset. Darkness falls over the building site. The sky is filled with stars. 'There is the blueprint,' they say. "
Exerpt from Italo Calvino's 'Invisible Cities'
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