Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:06] Speaker B: Welcome to Disability empowerment now season 4 bonus episode number what are numbers?
I'm your host Keith Murphy Diggincini. I'm back with my co host Alaina Mallet. And as we make our way through the wonderful and chaotic music of Depeche Mode through a love and devotion lens. Elena, welcome back. I hope you are well registered.
[00:00:51] Speaker A: Yes, thank you. Finally got some sleep and ready to charge ahead. This is always fun sleep.
[00:00:58] Speaker B: It's so important.
[00:01:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: I mean that should be more commonly known.
[00:01:10] Speaker A: Yeah it is. But yeah when you. When you got somebody in pain and stitches. I'm relieved he's getting through the night now.
[00:01:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
Yeah.
So we left off with Songs of Faith and Devotion and it's.
It was followed by a very chaotic tour. Probably the most chaotic tour they've ever done.
It's a brilliant tour aptly known as the Devotional tour.
It nearly not only almost broke up the band, it almost destroyed them as people.
And for those of you who think I'm judged in.
I'm not.
I'm not. I John so much research into that era of the band history and.
But there was a casualty Alan Wildl the band after that and the whole makeup of the band changed.
Dave overdosed several times, almost died.
Martin was drinking heavily and Fletch was still battling clinical depression.
Not where you would hope any band or any group of people would be in could. They were riding very, very high and if there would anything that would bring them crashing down, it would be this. And we wouldn't see another release from them until four years after Songs of Faith and Devotion.
The brilliant and criminally underrated album Ultra.
Yep.
[00:04:12] Speaker A: Also the only album they did not go on tour with because the Devotional tour was so hard. And they now have protections in place as a band to never do a tour like Devotional again. As they said they had far too many things. You know, bringing extra singers on and you know, gospel singers and the whole shebang and the. The backdrop and the. They just said it was just too.
[00:04:37] Speaker B: Much job of the Devotional tour was out of this world fantastic. And Anton of Chords designed that.
[00:04:55] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:56] Speaker B: What they said like Alan said it made no sense to do a elaborate production like that and only keep it up for a few months.
I believe had they added a few more months are really hats a year more to that tool.
They wouldn't one would hope field so watched so exhausted.
Yeah because towards the end they were really, really, really suffering.
Yeah all of them were in different ways. I mentioned last time that if I could go back if I was their manager. I would have said, make a video album out of Songs of Vegan.
It would have been legendary for the time.
No one thought like that. Yeah, compared to now.
[00:06:31] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:06:32] Speaker B: So Ultra holds a very special place in both of all minds.
[00:06:45] Speaker A: It.
[00:06:45] Speaker B: It's.
It's probably.
Martin says Ultra is probably the successor to Violator in terms of sound, in composition.
He said that in a interview.
[00:07:09] Speaker A: I could agree with that.
So Ultra was designed, when I was watching the documentaries, as a recovery album, quite literally. I mean, so Dave, as we talked about in our last part, you know, was literally OD'd during this period, as well as having previously OD'd in the devotional period. So he was really in the throes of heroin the majority of the 90s. It was rough. And after, you know, barely making this album, the studio had redesigned how it was gonna get finished.
And once Dave got his voice back, because he had literally lost his Voice along with OD, he had lost his voice, went home, then OD'd and, you know, finally got recovery. And so coming back, I had read that they decided on an actual studio album and that the intent was just to have an album that the masses listen to. Yeah. And I really do think that that.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: To take the pledge off.
[00:08:10] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think it makes sense that it's like Violator, because Violator was very much. That Music for the Masses had been so wildly successful, unexpectedly, that on the high of that success, of course, producers go, you got to make a very listenable album. You know, I mean, like, you are not doing your Depeche Mode Black Celebration. We're making hit after hit after hit. And I. And that's really what I read and watched in the documentaries I was watching was that by the time of Ultra taking over a year to make that, the studio taken over, the producers had said, we are making a listenable album. Yeah. I mean, like, it's just going to be easygoing. It's listenable. We're not going on tour. We're going to make some MTV appearances. We're going to do, you know, MTV over in Europe. You know, in America, they did four.
[00:08:57] Speaker B: Shows to support all Ultra. They did two in the UK and two in the States.
[00:09:07] Speaker A: That it was all just simple live TV shows, you know, just to kind of promote the album. And it's.
So that really does make sense that this was the sister to Violator. And I. I think, to some extent, it's a very listenable album. And that makes sense is it's not extraordinarily incremental I. I think Useless is probably.
And Barrel of a Gun are the more outliers on. As kind of experimental and kind of rough and rocky sounding. And the rest of the album extraordinarily listenable.
This album has some of the most fun music videos of their era.
[00:09:49] Speaker B: I would completely agree with the. That although I would say the next album, Exciter, I really Pacin love those videos as well. But yeah, the videos for Ultra are some of the most creative.
[00:10:18] Speaker A: They're very powerful, very deep. I mean, I love the videos for Music for the Masses, you know. Cause Anton Corban has really just started with them and went for this kind of very European vibe. And what I liked about Ultra was It was very 90s. It fit in with the 90s, but kept them sticking out just a little bit as Depeche Mode. And there's a sadness to watching songs like Barrel of a Gun and. And Home in the videos. Dave looks so childlike.
[00:10:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:51] Speaker A: You know what I mean? Having awoken from his addiction, there is this gauntness and this kind of sadness to his eyes, you know, and he just reverted to this little boy look, you know, but in a grown man's body, right, with his hair slicked back. And he just.
They captured such raw emotion in Dave on this album. And.
And Martin, having just pulled through alcoholism, I think when he sings Home, right, It really brings it home, quite literally is.
And there's this powerful music video where it's like showing all of the band members, but of course, Martin singing. And it's this interesting thought that they're all in reflection because I really think that is what it was. Every one of them had come out of something. Depression, alcoholism, heroin addiction. They'd lost a bandmate. And I think when you're looking at the other videos, like, don't say, you know, it's no good, you know. And I know we're getting off the topic of love, so we'll get back on track here in a sec. But even it's so good, it's such a funny, fun video, you know what I mean, of a sleazy lounge singer band, you know, just going place to place, crooning. And I think again, this definitely was an album to just kind of repair the image, keep them.
Keep them in the market, you know, but give them a little bit of a break. And. And this was the MTV era, so making some really solid videos, right? And.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah.
[00:12:19] Speaker A: You know, some solid appearances really helped this album. And so, yeah, I could totally see the violator aspect. It's a very listenable. There was lots of songs on the radio that I remember from that era. And I didn't realize it was Depeche Mode until about at the end of 98 when I heard Enjoy the Silence and became utterly obsessed that my brother's like, well, they're the guys on TV singing. You know, he's like, you know, the. Don't say you want me. I was like, that's them. And my brother's like, yeah, it's the same group. And I was like. And normally I'm good with voices, but I think I was so again, Dave sounds so different on Ultra. He has such a like again. He's come down from a whole different world. And so that was my Depeche Mode era. Ultra was really kind of my reintroduction, you know, like my cp. It was like they were there, they were hitting the surface. I was watching them and not quite putting it together. That that was the same band I loved when I was a kid. And.
And I think that's what makes Ultra so special to me. And I know for you and I both, we've also geeked out over the lovey dovey ness of this album and the spiritual awakening of this album. So we will get into.
[00:13:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:29] Speaker A: Those meanings.
[00:13:30] Speaker B: I mean to follow up on that.
Appreciating this album a lot more now than when I first heard it in college.
It.
It's.
It goes in so many different directions and through so many different levels and meanings.
It's a very deep, deep, soulful and reconnection album. Getting back to the whole net inside of a person of him.
And so the Love Thieves, which is the second track on the album, it's one of my favorites because it's so damn chill.
It also had so many religions connotations that it's really the perfect crossover song of these mini series that we're doing together.
And it's.
It really takes a broad psychological and emotional look from afar on what love is spiritually.
Addiction.
[00:15:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:40] Speaker B: And it makes so much sense that it came after songs of faith and devotion.
[00:15:53] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:54] Speaker B: And Martin said we don't usually take 13 months to write and walk on a album.
[00:16:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:16:10] Speaker B: Dave's recovery. They needed to.
And the benefit of that for Martin was he really had all the time in the world compared to Pat's albums to write.
I mean what else would she going to do?
[00:16:39] Speaker A: I.
Yeah.
[00:16:41] Speaker B: So.
And this so rigidly.
It's what I would say to every midst romance that I've had.
And so that's the personal connection.
But I also like how deeply entrenched in spirituality and understanding love and psychology behind love.
[00:17:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:29] Speaker B: I mean, this song does all of that.
It's almost seven minutes.
[00:17:38] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. It's a long one.
[00:17:40] Speaker B: You can totally understand why it is that long.
[00:17:48] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, yeah. And it's pretty. It's, you know, chill. It's a very chill song, like I said. And I think you've covered it. Is it. It really is. That's a great personal connection because I think it really. We talked about this last time talks about systems in place, you know, that really kind of keep love from flowing amongst all of us. And I think that makes sense.
And it's Dave's voice only that could sing it. I'm sure Martin wanted to sing that one. I don't know. But it sounds like a Martin song, and yet Dave's voice voices on it.
Yeah. I mean.
[00:18:27] Speaker B: Martin and Dave have a very.
Have always had a very interesting creative relationship.
Adds to who sings what.
[00:18:46] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:47] Speaker B: That heads always been a topic of vaccination that journalists have always asked.
[00:19:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:00] Speaker B: Because usually the songwriter who writes the songs is bullied sinner.
[00:19:12] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:19:14] Speaker B: I mean.
And Deb Mode beautifully bucks that trend.
[00:19:22] Speaker A: Oh, completely.
[00:19:23] Speaker B: Like, I mean, when you hear Martin's background vocals on But Not Tonight, the last track of Black Celebration, he sounds very peach.
And this is what I do.
Dave's maul, the showman.
[00:19:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:52] Speaker B: I will just keep feeding him.
[00:19:57] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:19:59] Speaker B: And in total, playing the angel.
Dad did not write any songs for the patch mode, but.
So let's go into home, and it's no good.
Preach.
[00:20:20] Speaker A: Yeah.
So home, you know, we talked about last time is. Is definitely a recovery song. You know, Martin has been pretty explicit about that.
But I. I think that home can represent love and a devotion at the same time. You know, I. I think that the thank you for bringing me here can certainly be to a higher power and.
But I also think it can be towards somebody who maybe saved them. Right. Maybe there's a lover or his wife. Right.
Who at the time, I think, if I recall correctly, it stood by his side. And, you know, and I think there's so many lyrics that, you know, I thank you for bringing me here, for showing me home, for singing these tears. And finally I found that I belong here. And it's so powerful. But there. There's definitely lyrics that indicate drugs. You know, we talked about that last time, too. It's like the sickly sheets, you know, and. And the sweat and the sticking. And I. I think there's this. But that can also really mean, the sickly sweet sheets can also be love. You know what I mean? And the memory of somebody being by your side and sharing those sheets with you and it. So I think that this is why this song has that crossover and why we've covered it twice is it's extraordinarily powerful, extraordinarily deep, and I think really fits whatever shoe you need it to. Whether it's you've come through something really rough in your life, whether it's finding somebody you love who got you through a mental phase, you know, that just felt off, you know, like losing yourself and now you feel like you found yourself, or whether it's you found a higher power who's pulling you through those sweaty nights, right. That the nights where you sweat. Whether it was from getting out of an addiction or whether it's from being with somebody you loved and maybe you lost yourself to. Right. Like, I mean, there's all these implications that the person has been lost and has found their way again. And it's. It's a beautiful. One of my favorite Depeche 1 songs and has been since Ultra came out. And it's like I said, it preceded just a little bit of my fandom. But then when I realized it was them, I was like, oh, yeah, this has been on mtv and, you know, it's like.
And that was on the greatest hits album that I said I'd got as my Christmas gift. So it was ironic because that had only come out like a year prior, but it made their greatest hits. Yeah.
[00:22:51] Speaker B: What about. It's no good.
It has to be the most creativity and story driven video that they did.
[00:23:13] Speaker A: I think it's.
Yeah, it's a quintessential Depeche Mode song. I think this. This classifies in their sound, you know what I mean? And their style. There's a certain arrogance to Depeche Mode that I've always loved.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: And not only certain arrogance, but certain sarcasms.
Yeah, it's permeates true.
[00:23:42] Speaker A: Like they. They know they're being the rock star, they're being funny, like said. Yeah, it's the swag, right? It's like they. They know they got the swag. They're gonna tease about having the swag, but they're gonna kind of own having the swag. And I think this song just runs with it. And what's kind of sultry about the song and. And cheeky is. Is the. Literally, if for anyone who hasn't heard it, you've got to go listen to it first thing after you're done listening to us or even pause this because the lyrics are, don't say you want me and don't say you need me. It's understood. And don't. And I love the best. That's what I mean. The best part. The best part. Don't say you're happy out there without me because I know you can't be.
Because it's no good.
How tongue in cheek, you know, to just be like, that's no. No good. No good. Your excuse is no good. I don't care what you try to convince me of. Our love was meant to be or not even love. Right. Whatever this addiction is, it sounds addicted. This album definitely is a very intense, raw album.
[00:24:48] Speaker B: And yeah, intense in law would be the three Was I.
Yeah.
[00:24:58] Speaker A: And I. I think this one skips devotion and goes just straight for the love. Right. Is. Is we're talking about a. Like, I do. I think it's. Do see it as carnal. Yeah. I completely have seen this song as kind of addictive. There's an addiction to this human. You know what I mean? This person who for some reason they're not together and you can only imagine why. Like, this was a heated romance and that he's like, oh, but I like it, you know, Like, I like this weirdness between us. Like, please come back.
And it's hot. It's funny. It.
There's even sexier lyrics, like, I'm gonna take my time because I have all the time in the world. I mean, again, like I said, for anyone hasn't listened, please do yourself a favor. This is most hilariously, like you said, sarcastic, arrogant song about a man feeling so highly empowered that this person is going to be his no matter what it takes. And he'll just be waiting in the corner at the bar with the martini in hand, ready to order your favorite drinks. That's how you like it. You know what I mean?
[00:26:04] Speaker B: A martini at some point.
[00:26:07] Speaker A: Yeah. The whole, like, video set. Yeah. He's like swaggering around with a drink at one point. Like, as he's like, got the mic in his hand. It's such a funny video. He's like, winking at all his dancers. You know what I mean? And chewing gum. And it's like.
It's such a silly video that you can't help but just giggle at the obscenity of the whole song. And it's cool. It's a cool sounding song. So there's. There it is. It's a song about absolute, raw love. Like real passiony, dirty passion.
[00:26:36] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. So sit still of night.
Beautiful to be one of the most interesting.
[00:26:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:26:48] Speaker B: Songs. And Dave gave a very raw vocal because he was still repairing his voice.
[00:27:02] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:27:03] Speaker B: And they had to at one point piece together similar bolts to get the final track that we hear.
What do the lyrics mean to you?
[00:27:24] Speaker A: I think this is a religious song somewhat. Maybe talking about a female figure in his life as well.
But the lyrics, Sweet sister, I hear you. You know, just feel me. Embrace me, you know, and you heal me. Hey, sister, I feel it too.
I really think there's this combo again. This is a crossover. This is why we're covering this one is I really think you could be talking to a religious figure. Right. Like the.
I'm not very good with religious figures, but like Mary. Right. Or a saint. And you're asking for her embrace. You want a female embrace, not the man. You don't want the ominous power. You want the enclosure. I need your arms around me. I need you to heal me.
You good?
[00:28:12] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: Oh, I thought you said something.
[00:28:14] Speaker B: No, no, I'm just thinking of one of the lines in the middle of the song.
[00:28:24] Speaker A: Oh, well, he says sister of night. Oh, go ahead.
[00:28:29] Speaker B: Oh, but he'll make changes. Such a perfect pride, right?
[00:28:34] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:28:35] Speaker B: Prides.
Do you think that just that line connotes in the title of the song, Sense of Night?
Is it speaking about sex work or proud to.
[00:29:01] Speaker A: Completely.
Yeah, I think. I think it cannot. And that would be the crossover. I think the. The love part is absolutely about a woman he seeks, you know, as a healing figure, but not an emotionally attached figure. So I absolutely would agree with that. That I think that's where the song can go both ways, is we can certainly be talking about, like you said, being the prize of her night. You know what I mean?
There's. I've also taken this song. I definitely think it could be about prostitution. I think it can also really just be.
There's times where I almost see it as like Sister Christian, that song, you know what I mean? Where he's literally talking to his sister about. He's telling her to slow down. You know, he's like, where. What's your price for flight? He's like, whoa, girl. Like, my 15 year old sister needs to take it easy. Some dude's going to take advantage of you. And I think there is that aspect too, that sometimes I've seen it as maybe a female he respects or loves or cares for and worries for, whether it's a literal sister, whether it's a friend, whether it's a family. Member a mother is getting married. You know, I mean, I sometimes take in that. The prize lyric. That's a good lyric to bring up. I have sometimes wondered if the prize is her husband.
[00:30:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:30:21] Speaker A: Is the man that she's taking.
[00:30:23] Speaker B: And he kind of prides a price.
[00:30:28] Speaker A: Yeah. See, I don't know. Is it price or prize? Yeah.
[00:30:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:30:32] Speaker A: And. And I think that.
I think either way, that meaning still works. Right. Because the price of taking.
[00:30:41] Speaker B: Continue talking. What is it gonna step away from? From the computer.
Go get the album. This is why I still buy CDs. Because.
[00:30:56] Speaker A: Google it.
[00:30:58] Speaker B: No.
[00:30:59] Speaker A: Okay. All right, I'll let you go get the album. So I'll explain that. I think part of the image could also just be that maybe he cared about this woman deeply and wanted a relationship with her, felt a connection with her. And I think that it's possible.
That that's what he's discussing is maybe she chose somebody else. You know, and because there's that interesting thing of I feel it too.
And so that I feel it too leads me to believe that it's possible. He loved this person and this person isn't reciprocating anymore. Never quite got to that point with him. And he feels healed by them. So I think this. This song is one of those. I feel very open to interpretation to. I feel like people can insert themselves however they want.
[00:31:46] Speaker B: So we were texting once, because we text a lot. And as you very well know, for years and years and years, I've been. Been a lit myself.
And I love reading the lyrics.
[00:32:14] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:15] Speaker B: And so the.
[00:32:18] Speaker A: Yeah, let's hear it. Am I totally off? Is it about a prostitute?
That might make sense. I mean, the song's pretty. Pretty towards the end.
[00:32:26] Speaker B: Night with the lonely it's eyes.
Tell yourself it's all right.
You'll make such a perfect prize.
So it's not pride, which is even better.
[00:32:50] Speaker A: Yeah. Because I thought it was prize. That's why I think. That's why I think I pictured it as maybe a marriage that she wasn't happy with or, like, wasn't so sure.
[00:32:58] Speaker B: About, you know, and so, I mean. And the musical break down they do in the middle of this song, it's absolutely mind blowing.
[00:33:17] Speaker A: Yeah, I like the breakdown too.
[00:33:19] Speaker B: There's no other way to describe it.
The next song, which is not about love, it could be considered love towards itself, but it's more of a booted philosophy Freed State.
It's another chill song. Like a lot of the music on this album, it's so laid back, chilled out and seductive. I mean, yeah, just listen to the music.
It's like no words.
No words. And so we get to my favorite on the album and it's probably gonna be the song I get married to or perform my own wedding. It's called the Bottom Line. And for me it closes out a saga from multiple albums that started with somebody on such some great reward, continued with A question of Lost on Black Celebration, jumped to in your room on songs of faith and Devotion.
And we find the ending here of a very mature Persian and Lusitz finally getting what he wanted.
[00:35:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:35:42] Speaker B: In all those previous songs, which, let's be real about the time gap, some great work award came out the year I was born, 1984.
The lyrics to Somebody were probably written in 82 or 83 and then they were recorded.
And Ultra was recorded in the late 90s.
[00:36:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:36:30] Speaker B: And it's also a song that dives deep into the religions connotations like the love thieves.
And it's the Bottom Line is probably one of, if not the most avertly romantic and seductive song. Without being cheeky, without being overly hot in the head.
[00:37:17] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:18] Speaker B: It's. It's just Martin singing.
[00:37:25] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:26] Speaker B: To vids.
Even the music is again, the music by itself.
It's seductive.
[00:37:38] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:41] Speaker B: Puts the tides that you put. Puts you in a trans it. And then the lyrics just transport you to emotionally another universe without leaving that one. It. It is j.
A breathtaking song.
[00:38:14] Speaker A: Yeah. About how things are meant to be. People are meant to find each other.
It's pretty. It's a beautiful song.
[00:38:22] Speaker B: And so now we go in to the bonage tracks, which again should have been on the hopeful.
[00:38:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:38:38] Speaker B: Only when I lose myself. What do you have to say about this?
[00:38:46] Speaker A: And it's. It's pretty straightforward song. He says, when. Only when I lose myself to someone else that I find myself. And I think I love the breakdown when he says, do I need to lose my soul for pleasure like this?
It's like.
And what does he say? Do I need to give up something else for the touch of your kiss or whatever. It's a very intense song about passion and love, you know, and that kind of. He lets himself go, you know, in a relationship. Lets him disappear. Lets himself disappear.
And that's a very fascinating concept that sometimes we do give up parts of ourselves to be with somebody for that pleasure. You know what I mean? For the level of pleasure that person's providing. Only to realize you've kind of lost yourself. And then he's saying, but he finds himself, you know what I Mean. And so it's like he's lost himself fully, but then feels like he's found himself.
And I don't even know if they're really talking about a healthy relationship, quite frankly. That sounds like a lot of codependency right there. But, you know, I think that's the reality. Right. That he's singing about is, you know, I know David just come out of an intense relationship. So I don't know if that was part of it, you know, was while he was.
His drug phase was with a woman who was a heroin addict. And so I do wonder maybe some of the song has hints to their own lives of being with somebody who had changed them so utterly and completely. And they thought they had felt like they found themselves, but realized how unhealthy it was. You know what I mean? Just for the pleasure you get from it. So there you go. I could keep going on and on, but I think that's what. To me, that's what the song is. I don't think it's a healthy love song. I think it's a.
A reality that many of us have had that kind of relationship before. It's too much.
[00:40:41] Speaker B: And.
Rolls into surrender.
[00:40:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, I'm gonna let you take the lead on Surrender. I tend to just listen and zone out on Surrender. I like the song. I love the way it sounds that I don't. That's one of those. I just let flow. I don't really have a lot to talk about. I. I think it. Again, it's kind of a straightforward one. That means. What it means is surrendering your body and soul. You know what I mean? To a higher power or a love. Right. And. And trust. Trust in something that is kind of unknown and scary.
Yeah.
[00:41:23] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean it. It's a straight forward song.
[00:41:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:41:31] Speaker B: It's seductive in its own.
[00:41:39] Speaker A: Way.
[00:41:41] Speaker B: I mean it's really a beautiful way to literally end a already fantastic album. And there are some great instrumentals on this album that you do not get tired of listening to or questioning.
Why this judge instrumental. Why did Martin write the lyrics?
It's.
It talks about the rapture and dreaming of being seduced.
[00:42:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:36] Speaker B: I love.
By lust, by longing.
[00:42:41] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:42] Speaker B: And it. It's.
We are living in a world full of illusion. Everything. It's so unreal. My mind is in a state of confusion.
But I can't deny the way I feel.
[00:43:06] Speaker A: Yeah. Well. And even as lyric on a man of flesh and bone.
[00:43:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:43:10] Speaker A: You know, passion running through my vein. It's sexy, but kind of Dark. And like you said, it's very, you.
[00:43:16] Speaker B: Know, Vincent of very dark. Dark album. But I think it very much needed to be dark.
[00:43:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:31] Speaker B: Moody, broody, and it. It makes sense in the timeline where it fits.
[00:43:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:43:46] Speaker B: 2.
And so that's nearly a whole episode that we just talked about.
[00:43:58] Speaker A: I was about to say. Yeah, I don't think we made it past Ultra in for an hour.
[00:44:02] Speaker B: Yeah, no, no. But we explained a lot of the back story and the history of. Of the band, which was incredibly important for that time period. And to.
To go in to the album proper because without all that back story and history, the album doesn't make any sense.
I mean, literally, it. It doesn't. It's a total album out of left field if you don't know the context.
[00:45:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:01] Speaker B: It's what was written, recorded, and created in, like, you would I ob.
The out of Songs of Daven Devotion because it was made under such strain and such trauma.
The exact opposite of how they made Violator.
[00:45:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:38] Speaker B: And so when you know the history of these albums, you are more often than not able to appreciate them.
And the deep dive they go in to them.
Oh, that's just another Depeche Mode album.
No, it's not.
If you think that that's okay. But you're totally mixing the pure underground genius that you wouldn't get if you didn't study the background.
[00:46:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:46:31] Speaker B: So speaking of the next album, which I've lambasted time and time again just because I hate the title, but the music and the lyrics are, again, the exact opposite of what we heard on Violet, on.
On Ultra.
Just like song sids.
The complete opposite of Violator.
[00:47:17] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:47:18] Speaker B: Exciter is completely opposite of Ultra.
[00:47:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:28] Speaker B: And so Swedish Connection.
[00:47:36] Speaker A: Is the sweetest connection or Sweetest perfection.
[00:47:41] Speaker B: Swedish Connection.
[00:47:43] Speaker A: It is Connection. Sweetest perfections on Violator, isn't it?
You know what's terrible about me and Exciter?
I don't.
[00:47:52] Speaker B: You tell do tell.
[00:47:53] Speaker A: I don't remember the titles. I just listened to it.
That's not a song. I thought we were doing Shine.
Wait, no, that's my favorite. Hold up, hold up, hold up. I have the wrong list up.
DM Love and Devotion. Right?
[00:48:09] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:11] Speaker A: Oh, the Sweetest Condition.
Not Connection. I was like, Connection. Sorry, it was like, what are you talking about? I've never heard this song.
[00:48:20] Speaker B: I just want all of my connections.
[00:48:25] Speaker A: Oh, man.
I was beginning to think maybe I don't remember Exciter. I'm like, you know, I'm just going to cover my butt and say, I Don't know song titles. Okay.
Sweetest Condition. Here we go, folks.
I got my. I need to go grab my coffee. When we do the next part.
The Sweetest Condition.
I really have the sweetest perfection stuck in my head. Can I play this for two seconds?
I. I'm gonna know this one in two. It's like. Oh yeah. Okay. Rapping on the hands of your body. Yeah, that one.
It's a sexy song.
That's it. It's sex. Suck. Go listen to it.
No, literally he says like clinging on. What does he say? Clinging onto the hem of your dress.
I mean he's got some friggin dirty lyrics on. The Exciter's a dirty album. It's a, It's a Sweet love in. In between the Sheets album.
The Sweetest Condition is really about sex. It. It's about lust and sex and the condition of being in love with a woman, you know, and everything that's behind that skirt. Because I know. And even says like what does he say? What, what good is it to try or whatever. It's like he's basically trying to resist, you know, like it's just, it's, it's a.
Yeah, it's a sexy song.
[00:49:48] Speaker B: Yeah. No, the band seems the most free they've ever.
[00:49:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:49:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
Which coming out of Ultra, it's saved me quite a lot.
[00:50:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:50:07] Speaker B: And before we get to when the Body Speaks because I, I, I loved the video to Tree Love and I love how I think they should have just titled the album Tree Love because that music video is brilliant. But so it.
The connotation of the song in general and it really captured the spirit of the whole album when you think about does.
[00:51:01] Speaker A: But we'll get to when the Body Speaks because we'll get to free love here in a bit. So when the Body Speaks.
Really pretty song about.
[00:51:10] Speaker B: It's a very chilled song.
[00:51:12] Speaker A: Yeah. It's like a little lullaby. And he says when the body speaks, the body listens. And oh, I need your company. Oh, I need your touch. And oh, I pray too much. And there's this really kind of softness and that. I think this is a woman he doesn't quite have yet or emotionally have or physically.
And I think that's where the praying comes in. Right. Is he's praying for, you know, her company and that they belong together, you know. And when you really listen to the song, that's really what he keeps. He sings about. I was listening to this one yesterday and did not realize how much it is about kind of a feeling of a Soulmate, you know, where somebody who completes you in some way physically, you know, and like when they're near and it's just pretty. It's a pretty lullaby.
[00:52:04] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, it is.
To say it's just about sex is really doing it against Savage.
[00:52:19] Speaker A: It is. Because I think they talk about romance and touch as a form of connection. Yeah. More, you know, and being one versus as a sexual urge, which we later get to on the album.
[00:52:32] Speaker B: Now the Dead of Night, it's probably about sexual urges.
Well, not only that, but.
But thank you for skipping to that.
No, I was gonna comment on the music.
The most bad page on a otherwise sensitive and delicate but overly sexual and sleazy album. Yeah, the Dead of Night is another fit pumping jammer.
[00:53:20] Speaker A: It's definitely a banger. I would argue that I feel loved as slightly faster in beat, but Dead and Night's a banger. It's like hard banger. We're talking like electric. This is Depeche Mode. Gritty like electric, like slammingness.
[00:53:36] Speaker B: Like with those shown that only deserved to be played in a club like Cheddy.
[00:53:49] Speaker A: Totally. It's loud, it's gritty, it's electro and fun. And really just about boys being boys and out there skimming for the ladies and kind of maybe making women's lives a little bit, you know, troublesome or. Or burden or being, you know, the fun in their night. They don't really imply which one. Are they the pests or are they the good, you know, gonna give you a fun ride? But either way, that's. They're looking to give women a fun ride. And that's really what this song is about, is just boys out there to be bad boys. It's. It's fun. It's a fun song. I. I recommend anybody go listen to it, get over some of the cheesy lyrics because it's kind of worth it for the elect. Like you said. It slams. The song slams.
[00:54:39] Speaker B: Yeah. And so now we'll add pre love.
[00:54:45] Speaker A: What your fave that you think should be the album title.
[00:54:48] Speaker B: Yeah, particularly with the video. I mean this was a different album for them and they decided not to use Anton for the third time in a while and.
But I think the video for the opening track, Dream on.
Even Anton couldn't have done a better, more eye catching video for that song.
We love the.
It just encompass the entire mood of not only the entire album, but the band mates reconnected with each other and totally re. Synergized their commitment to being a group because they had survived all the Fracturing of the previous decade.
[00:56:17] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:56:18] Speaker B: Hopefully my producer will be able to mute that a show.
It's not judge that I want another title for this album.
Just the whole context of the song and what it says overall about where the band was to have the entire making of the album, which is again the polar opposite of what we just.
[00:57:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:57:07] Speaker B: Really the entire episode talking about. It's just mind blowing. It's another mind blowing view video that again, I love Antoine and the videos they do with him, but Dream on Tree Love and Good Night Lovers are three videos that would just tailor made for this album and for the band at this time in their career.
[00:57:55] Speaker A: If it's a 2000s. Yeah, I'm a huge Anton.
[00:57:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:57:59] Speaker A: Loyalist. But yeah, it fits the mood. And free love.
I know we didn't really talk about the meaning of it yet. It's, you know, about no strings attached, you know, just. Yeah, just providing sheer raw love and whatever form it is that day in that minute and.
[00:58:21] Speaker B: Back to the 60s, that decade, and maybe even some of the lead 70s.
[00:58:31] Speaker A: And so.
[00:58:33] Speaker B: And you. You really get that from the music, the lyrics, and suddenly the video. And to me, it just again encapsulates the entire album and mood of the band. And yeah, Dave's happy, extreme happiness, swagger on the truck, dancing on the truck, driving or rotating his hips slowly. And I would do it for the shepherd, so I can't do it. Do it.
[00:59:29] Speaker A: I've never. I've never watched the video.
[00:59:31] Speaker B: Watch the video, folks.
Go watch the video.
Go do it. You'll thank me later.
I mean, maybe I'm just applying way too much information on this song.
But again, the band judge seemed so free on this album.
That just lights me up. It's very sexy. So.
[01:00:17] Speaker A: It is also.
Yeah, I think you covered it.
[01:00:22] Speaker B: Okay, good.
Sorry for geeking out for, like, you're good.
[01:00:29] Speaker A: You gotta geek out over. I'm glad you like that. I'll have to go watch the music video. That's funny.
[01:00:35] Speaker B: I am you.
[01:00:38] Speaker A: One of my faves.
[01:00:39] Speaker B: Had to be a very strange title. I am you.
[01:00:46] Speaker A: No, it's intense.
I love it. This is one of my favorite ones.
It's I am you and you are me. I mean, again, it's intense love and he says there's no turning back.
We're in this track, you know, we're on this track and it's.
It's really about a strong, cyclically connected union. You know What I mean? Is again, kind of sexy, kind of mysterious, kind of dark, like borderline unhealthy. But kind of makes you want it. And I like it. It's. It's. It's slow, it's slinky, it's, you know, a little bit dark. It has these.
[01:01:34] Speaker B: I love that you dribs mentioned slinky because. Yeah, absolutely.
[01:01:42] Speaker A: Well, it has a little electric, like, sound in the back and it's like kind of, you know, and then the songs like kind of got a rhythm and it's. It's these little. And I think that's what makes Depeche one so unique. They always know where to put a little ding or, you know, a little, you know, with their, you know, electro sounds. And it makes the mood.
Yeah, it's like these songs wouldn't be these songs without their, you know, electronic genius.
And so I. Yeah, that's all I have to say about that song.
[01:02:14] Speaker B: And so the closing track, Good Night Lovers, Another Lullaby.
Yeah. And again, I love the video.
The. The concept, seductiveness of the whole package.
And yeah, particularly how Dave ends. And there's a close up of him.
[01:02:51] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[01:02:52] Speaker B: So they close the album. It's a brilliant closer judge. Like Dream on is a brilliant opener. This album sings the.
The band went through ultra.
[01:03:14] Speaker A: Yeah.
[01:03:15] Speaker B: And they experimented, but they chilled that.
[01:03:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[01:03:21] Speaker B: Exciter from beginning to End is a album that really knows itself.
Put out by a band re energized.
It's the 2000s.
It's a new decade and they could not be more ready for it. And will continue this lively discussion in the third part coming at you in just a few minutes.
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