Last week, Depeche Mode offered up a sneak peak of its recording studio being set up, and now frontman Dave Gahan reveals the band already has demoed about 20 new songs for its as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2009’s Sounds of the Universe — and already is making plans to take the new songs on the road next year.
In a short interview with Spin, Gahan reports that DM has reconvened with Ben Hillier, who produced Sounds of the Universe and 2005’s Playing the Angel, and also has enlisted the help of producer Christoffer Berg (Fever Ray, The Knife).
“We’ve probably got 20 songs demoed,” Gahan told Spin. “Some of the songs are in really good shape, some need some work, but we’re definitely on track. We have a deadline of the end of November, and there’s no reason we why we won’t meet that at the rate we’re going.”
As for the addition of Berg to the DM studio team, Gahan said, “He’s a great musician and has a lot of fantastic ideas. He’s not afraid to stand up and say, ‘I got an idea.’ I like that. It’s quite intimidating working with a band like ours because you have certain expectations of how it is. A lot are true and some aren’t. Martin and I are open to other people’s ideas.”
Martin Gore previously has promised that the new album will be out “no later than early 2013,” and Gahan confirms that its release will coincide with a new Depeche Mode tour: “There are already plans in place to be touring next year.”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Video: Depeche Mode releases time-lapse clip of recording studio being set up
- Stream: Soulsavers f/ Dave Gahan, ‘Longest Day’ — first single off ‘The Light the Dead See’
- Vintage Video: Depeche Mode’s 1990 ‘riot’ outside the Wherehouse in Los Angeles
- Vintage Video: Depeche Mode, rare 8-minute ‘film in progress’ reel of ‘101’ footage
- Martin Gore: New Depeche Mode album to be released ‘no later than early 2013’
- VCMG — Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore and Vince Clarke — to release ‘Ssss’ in March
- Andy Fletcher: Depeche Mode to enter studio in March to begin recording next album
bring it
Well its official, Ben Hillier will produce again, i suppose we cant do anything about it. I would have liked to see them work with someone like Trent Reznor, or re-hire Flood or Gareth Jones, i dont think Hillier pushes them enough. I’m more looking forward to the tour than the album this time around to be honest.
At least they are bringing in other folks (however, I still maintain Universe was awesome!!). Glad Martin and Dave are open to new ideas. What about the guy that stands behind the keyboard clapping during the concerts?
I might be the minority but please just tour without a live drummer (like violator & prior tours)… The live drums that started with songs of faith & devotion tour was the beginning of a down turn in their live performances for me… (i have seen them 10 times – 3 without live drums – 7 with)
Fletch? He will continue to clap behind keyboards ;)
I like Christian Eigner (DM drummer), nah they wont abandon him.
‘Playing the Angel’ was a decent DM album. Ultra, Exciter, and SOFTU sucked. So they are due for a good one.
Good news. They need a proper Chicago date ( last was lollopalooza and tour before that, canceled show.
It’s amazing news, wait for DM in Kyiev!
Loved SOTU, was a great album.
Happy they are working with Fever Rays producer as well though to mix it up a bit. Maybe Karin could come and do some vocals on a track!?
They better make it to Australia on this tour, it’s been almost 20 years since they were last here!!!
Yes, Australian tour, please…
Will Dave consider actually SINGING on the next tour, or is he going to let the audience handle it again?
Yeah, that’s been getting under my skin since the Singles Tour in ’98. I didn’t pay $55 to hear 15,000 out-of-tune fans sing the entire chorus to Enjoy The Silence without Dave. I get the audience-participation to an extent, but Dave seems to do it way more often now. I guess I can whine since I’m not having to strain my voice over 100+ live dates :P
@Joe
Harsh, Ultra and Exciter are fantastic albums, vastly underrated by fans (funnily enough critics loved Exciter).
@David
Good point although i dont think his voice is what it used to be, particularly on the last tour it was fairly weak, he struggled with Wrong particularly.
Never been a fan of the Gahan live – sounds totally different than on the albums. Agree with the need to DELETE live drumming on tour.
New DM = always good news. I agree with some above comments, and that the live drumming has taken away the ‘punch’ that the programmed drums have/had. ..or maybe I’m too stuck in the past with their live tours. I didn’t mind Wilder’s live drums in ’93, they sounded good on In Your Room and I Feel You, etc., but then the entire concert wasn’t live percussion. Songs like Never Let Me Down Again and any of the BC/Masses tracks suffer the most from the newer v-drum module sounds. They tend to lose that fat 8-bit crunch and punch of the original drum samples. I’m guessing the band got tired of looking like four chaps standing behind Emulators after 10 years, so they probably prefer the ‘live look’ more at this stage. I liked PTA, despite the bad mastering (seems no one can escape the loudness wars any more), but SOTU never hooked me. I think this band is at their best when they deliver huge singles. Their non-single tracks can be equally awesome, but they have delivered some memorable singles in the past, and I would like to hear some catchier material on the new LP.
As an electronic band in the 80s, i think they found it an uphill battle trying to win over the critics so maybe after 1990 they decided to bring in more “live” instruments on stage as a way to be taken more seriously, i could be wrong. They were much more respected in the late 90s and beyond than in the 80s.
Then again, it was Gahan who went all “rock star” in the 90s and was pushing for a more rock orientated style, i think maybe he was embarressed by what Depeche Mode were, not now of course, but back then.
I have to disagree about the Live drumming…Christian Eigner is a kickass drummer and he adds a really exciting and rockin element to their live shows. I wish they were using a different producer but I’m glad they are bringing in an additional one…should be interesting. and IMO Ultra is one of their best albums….I still listen to it regularly. Come on – Useless? Insight? Barrel of a Gun? Home? so many amazing tracks….
Insight is one of their best songs without a doubt!
Thank you Paul, I’m glad someone agrees!!!! :)
please for the love of god bring Alan back.
You guys get used to Bieber voice; normal.Then Dave is unsufficient to you? What a world.
Still Alan back? Oh God. Still? Who knows they will accept him?.Hypostesises.Hypostesises.As usual.