Depeche Mode – “Memento Mori”

To die for
Depeche Mode
“Memento Mori”

Album (Columbia/ Sony Music)
RELEASE DATE: 24 March 2023

With album number 15, major changes have taken place for Depeche Mode – after the sudden death of Andy Fletcher, only Dave Gahan and Martin Gore are left from the original four band members. You can hear the unexpected events in “Memento Mori”, even though the songs were composed before Fletcher’s death.

The prelude is “My Cosmos Is Mine”, a sound experiment that hasn’t been heard from Depeche Mode for quite some time. Dave Gahan’s vocals float over bulky sounds in this unexpected opener, which Martin Gore neatly counters in the break. A song that might not quite fit “Memento Mori” at first listen, it’s so multi-layered. But once it’s in the ear, it doesn’t come out of there very quickly …

The first bars of “Wagging Tongue”, on the other hand, already set the marching direction for “Memento Mori”. The synthesizers do the somersault backwards into the eighties, but sound crystal clear and modern. Slowly the piece builds up, even presents itself discreetly danceable. The voices of Gahan and Gore complement each other so wonderfully as in the joint songwriting for this song. So you can watch another angel die almost elated.

“Ghosts Again” was the track fans were eagerly anticipating after the first snippets in the October 2022 press conference. And rightly so. Everything is just right here from the first to the last bar. Depeche Mode definitely knew why they chose this song as the first single and quasi-soundtrack for the album. The melancholic lyrics are in stark contrast to the light beat, which drives the song forward and gives it a cheerful mood. The first live performances have shown: “Ghosts Again” will definitely be a highlight in the live implementation on the tour.

Do you prefer “James Bond” or Westerns? “Don’t Say You Love Me” could be the soundtrack for a tragic hero movie. The lyrics play with contrasts, Gahan’s voice unfolds its full power over the guitar riffs. Epic strings join in and provide goosebump moments. We are definitely curious to see which filmmaker will be the first to discover this song to accompany bittersweet moments.

“My Favourite Stranger” is a dialogue in front of the mirror. The text talks about how we rarely show our society the real us, but go through everyday life as the perfect stranger. Plaintive guitar riffs are backed by a pounding bass, while Martin and Dave’s voices form a perfect harmony.

The classic Gore ballad should not be missing on any Depeche Mode album – and he delivers it with “Soul with Me”. Lamenting, the creative blond sings about the end of life, working his way from his tenor voice to deeper bass regions. Musically, the song presents spherical with a dominant, dragging drum rhythm that perfectly fits the mood of the song. A little breathing space, as one is used to from Martin Gore, and which should also be exciting in the live set.

Both have had their experiences with addictions and so “Caroline’s Monkey” is about drug addiction. Musically, the eighties are clearly audible here again, the synthesizers form sequences that stubbornly drill into the auditory canal. Dave Gahan brought out a snottier version of his voice for the song, which he only reins in with the parts he sings with Gore. “Fading’s better than failing. Falling’s better than feeling. Folding’s better than losing. Fixing’s better than healing,” the pair sing. And makes fans painfully aware of what that can mean …

With “Before We Drown” Dave Gahan presents his collaboration with Peter Gordeno and Christian Eigner, who support Depeche Mode live. “We have to move forward, before we drown” reads the song, with which Gahan proves his further development in recent years. He’s matured as a songwriter – and not just at it. A thoughtful look at what was. But with the confidence that it always goes on!

It’s booming in “People Are Good.” – The memory of albums like “Construction Time Again” or “Some Great Reward” is immediately back. The roots, but also the musical influences of the band are audible in this song. “People Are Good” is a song that goes straight into your ear and reminds you of disco times gone by. Everything will be fine, the song says. And just like that, everything will be fine!

“Always You” takes the tempo down a bit again. Gahan pulls everything out of the emotional box and effortlessly swings into the head voice. The chorus gives itself syncopated and shows that soulful songs do not always have to be purely carried and gentle.

If you haven’t realized yet that we need more bass, you’ll realize it with “Never Let Me Go” at the latest. A catchy bass riff lies under screeching guitar sounds, which are complemented by playful synth sounds. Dave powerfully presents the chorus with a demand to never let one go.

And there it is: “Memento Mori” comes to an end with “Speak to Me”. Floating sounds carry Gahan’s gentle voice and invite you to dream. It seems like floating through space with the song and embarking on an extraordinary journey. At the end, the piece builds up again tremendously and gets a literal pulse – making it clear why Depeche Mode chose this song as the intro for the tour. There is no better way to unfold suspense.

“Memento Mori” sometimes seems like a swan song, but despite melancholy it goes forward in the right moments and shows the personal development of Dave Gahan and Martin Gore. The six years of waiting have been worth it, now it’s time to hear one or the other song live!

Katrin Hemmerling

Recorded in: Electric Ladyboy (Santa Barbara, CA) and Shangri-La (Malibu, CA)
Produced by: James Ford
Mastered by: Matt Colton

You can already read more about “Memento Mori”, Dave Gahan and Martin Gore in our March issue

You can order the March issue in the Orkus! Shop.