I didn’t know how to categorize this post, so I put it under Yowza!!! No, there’s nothing to win here… just some good music to enjoy!
So anyway, I was cleaning out my room and opened up a box that I hadn’t even touched since moving back to California. Just a box of junk… nothing of really any importance. Here’s what I found in this box:
1. Two pairs of socks
2. A stack of Bodacious Booty magazine
3. A spiral notebook that had nothing written in it except the words “Moments of Brilliance”
4. A Michael Crichton book (Prey)
5. A John Grisham book (The Last Juror)
6. The instruction manuals to my Roland VS-2480 digital recorder (ok, that’s pretty important)
7. Depeche Mode cds
It was when I got to #7 that I said “What?” and did a double-take. DEPECHE MODE CDS?? Jimmy Crack Corn!!!! OUTASITE!
For some reason I thought I had taken out all my cds, but I guess I’s wrong. It was a GOOD day :)
So I popped in the cds to my iTunes and had a D-Mode Fest.
Depeche Mode was formed in Essex, England, in 1980. They are one of the most successful synth bands to come out of the 80′s, if not THE most successful. They had a string of hit albums in the 80′s and 90′s, and have not slowed down one bit. Depeche Mode has sold over 24 MILLION records. Wow.
As of this writing, the Mode consists of three members: David Gahan, Martin Gore, and Andrew Fletcher. Vince Clarke (one of the founding members) left the group in 1981 and went on to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet, and then after that found great success with Andy Bell in Erasure. Clarke’s replacement, Alan Wilder, left the group in 1995 and has found his niche with his project, Recoil. Didja git all that???
My oldest brother, John, first introduced me to Depeche Mode. He always had the “cool” music and would be blasting the sounds of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Depeche Mode from his room while I practiced piano. I was actually scared to tell my parents that I dug Rock music… I eased them into it with the soothing sounds of Air Supply, Chicago (the 80′s Chicago, not the bluesy, funky, horn blasting soulful 70′s Chicago), and even MORE Air Supply. My mom was the hardest to convince.
Construction Time Again was my first Depeche Mode album. I would secretly listen to it underneath my bed when everyone was asleep. When I started receiving an allowance, I went nuts and bought every Depeche Mode recording I could find.
I was SO popular in high school because I could play the song “Somebody” off of their Some Great Reward album. The chicks TOTALLY dug it. I was the “sensitive one” that made the girls swoon with my skillful handling of the ivories. HA!
At Debate Camp (yes, I went to Debate Camp), I was the “piano dude” who knew how to play like every Depeche Mode song. Yeah, the chicks DUG ol’ Swap.
So I owe a lot to Depeche Mode. They’ve made a pretty penny off of me, and I met a bunch of girls that I don’t keep in touch with. Fair trade.
In my humble opinion, DM’s greatest work was done from 1984-1993. What a string of amazing albums:
1984 – Some Great Reward
1986 – Black Celebration (my favorite DM album)
1987 – Music For the Masses
1989 – Violator
1993 – Songs of Faith and Devotion
That’s where this music blog comes in.
I’ve posted some 12″ remixes of songs from this era. These remixes are incredible to listen to, as they really break down the innards of the song. You can hear most every part of the instrumentation. I’ve always found Depeche Mode songs much like the Classical pieces I practiced… there were different motifs, themes, and variations all within the piece, but with one central melody. Absolutely fascinating to listen to.
Take the 12″ remix of “Master and Servant”. You basically get the entire song WITH vocals and WITHOUT vocals, all wrapped up in 9 minutes and 37 seconds. Or the remix for “Stripped”, where you can hear the MASSIVE drum and percussion sounds for about a whole MINUTE. You can really get a sense of how influential Depeche Mode was on the electronic music of the 90′s and today. Their rhythms and rhythmic textures are what makes their music SO danceable.
So here you go… one of these files is over 16 MB, so be ready to wait. I’ve included a rare track “Ice Machine” (the b-side to one of their first singles, “Dreaming of Me”). I love this song and always wondered why it didn’t make the album.
If you are not familiar with 12″ remixes, let me tell you that some of them are quite long… but like I said before, they really expose how a song is built… from the basic drum beat all the way to the melody. So if you’re listening to one of them and saying to yourself “Man ALIVE this is long!” You’re RIGHT!!! Keep listening, though… it’s really a great way to dissect a song.
Buy Depeche Mode on Amazon
Buy Depeche Mode on iTunes
Your Dig-It Downloads: (right click links to download)
Download: Master and Servant (slavery whip mix)
Download: Black Celebration (black tulip mix)
Download: Strangelove (maxi-mix)
Download: Stripped (highland mix)
Download: Somebody (remix)
Download: Clean (Colder Version)
Download: Ice Machine
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Okay, you may have heard some odd shrieking sound from the north just now, that would be my shriek of glee when I saw the words “Depeche Mode” I’m sure I was going to say more on the subject, but I’m slightly distracted by The Mode!
Ahhhhhhh, Depeche Mode.
Sexy, sexy, sexy!
I absolutely love these remixes. I won’t even try to tell you which is my favorite of them because they’re all awesome. I will say that Stripped and M&S are two of my favorite DM songs, and their remixes are very cool.
Ain’t dat da truth!!!!
“Stripped” is one of my fav songs from them too! Glad you dig it!
Somebody is one of my fave songs. Thank you very mucho as usual.
when i think of depeche mode, i always think of you and your pechee folders.