Rating – 4 1/2 stars out of 5
Andy Fletcher, co-founder and keyboardist of Depeche Mode died on May 26th, 2022 to shock of almost everyone at only 60 years old. Most fans of the longtime band were in disarray, and truly wondered if the band would continue with new music. After all, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020 (finally) and honestly could have toured on their old music until they wanted to retire with no problem whatsoever.
Thankfully, prior to that dreadful occurrence, there was music already in the works from Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Richard Butler (formerly of the Psychedelic Furs). After Fletcher’s death, work began on polishing the album and creating additional music with his spirit in mind. Without further adieu, let’s dive into this album, it’s utterly fantastic.
Track 1: My Cosmos is Mine (5:18) –
This was released as the second single on the album (though it did not receive a video unfortunately) on March 9th prior to the release of the album. It’s a big, bombastic song with hints of a heavier Depeche Mode with Gahan’s vocals thundering over the music.
From the beginning, this is my kind of Depeche Mode song and a great introduction to the rest of the album. It’s a shame that it didn’t get a video because I can completely see one highlighting space flying overhead and something like Northern Lights all around the band.
Track 2: Wagging Tongue (3:25) –
This one starts out a little different and more of a throwback to their original albums and highlighting keyboarding/synthesizer music (being performed by James Ford). It then breaks into a much more mellow Gahan with the vocals.
It talks about lying and how you can lead lambs to slaughter with the lyric “Watch another Angel die” with words. If I may be so bold, it can be used to allude to of how politicians use their words to influence and innocent people die as their result. Very sad, but very moving as well.
Track 3: Ghosts Again (3:59) –
Ghosts Again is of course the lead single for this album and directly speaks to the passing of Andy Fletcher. The video is amazing and basically recreates the chess scene with Death from the masterful movie, The Seventh Seal. Fletcher apparently loved chess and would beat the other members in the band consistently at the game. It’s certainly one of my favorite videos that they have ever done (and there are plenty to chose from).
The song itself is fantastic and as many have already said blends sadness (the idea that we will all die someday) with something that you can actually dance to. It’s also one of those rare songs that’s really hard to get tired of and most will find themselves playing again and again. Proof by the fact that it made it up to #2 on the US Adult Alternative Songs chart and shot up the list on many other rock type charts worldwide.
Track 4: Don’t Say You Love Me (3:49) –
This song really grows on you. The first time I heard it, I was a little weirded out by the initial line, “You be the killer, I’ll be the corpse.” Classic Depeche Mode and speaks to their popular theme of troubled and painful love.
Throughout the song it continues to play the correlation between the abuser and the victim in a wonderful serenade of how much someone can take especially when they are in love with the other. As it turns out, this is one of my favorite songs on the album.
Track 5: My Favourite Stranger (3:57) –
This tune is a little more peppy than some of the others to this point. My Favourite Stranger speaks to the person in the mirror who many times is completely different than the one we feel like inside.
The wonderful thing about this song though is how that illusion plays off so creepy but with Gahan’s voice so charismatic at the same time. This album blends so well and is all of the things at one time and none of those the next.
Track 6: Soul With Me (4:15) –
Well, they can’t all be bangers of course. This starts with some odd chamber music and then we get a very, very slow song. “I’m heading for the open sky” and it continues to move on from there as it is a very spiritual song. But honestly, it drags the entire album down for the next four minutes.
Has Depeche Mode done songs like this before? Sure. But off hand, I can’t think of any those songs’ titles because they aren’t that memorable to me at least. Hopefully, there aren’t any others on the album like this one or it’s going to drag in a hurry.
Track 7: Caroline’s Monkey(4:17) –
I’m seriously getting some Franz Ferdinand vibes but without the somewhat happy context or uplifting music. It’s just odd but I guess it is playing to the idea of having a monkey on your back but not admitting it.
“Fading is better than Failing” “Folding is better than Losing”, these kind of lyrics speak to the idea that we would rather cover it up than admit true feelings. Well at least for Caroline, and I’m sure many others. Unfortunately, the song just isn’t interesting enough for me and the beat doesn’t get me involved.
Track 8: Before We Drown (4:05) –
It looks like we are back to the more modern Depeche Mode style. It has a steady beat and I really like the chorus and the lyrics are in complete harmony even including the bridge.
Peter Gordeno and Christian Eigner contribute here to the writing of the song. Eigner will also co-write the final song in the set as well. Davide Rossi also returns here to do some of the strings work that he did in earlier tracks like Ghosts Again and Soul with Me.
Track 9: People Are Good (4:24) –
This is perhaps one of my favorite three songs on the album (3rd or 4th I haven’t decided). It subscribes to the notion that we always tell ourselves people are good and will do what’s right. It seems we are constantly surrounded by people who don’t care or want to do the wrong thing. And we fool ourselves in thinking the opposite.
The beat is also unmistakable DM and despite it’s subject matter, that hook will have your toe tapping and your mind singing it in your sleep. I would love to see a few mixes of this song if they dare to do some CD singles again (like they did with the 2017 release Spirit).
Track 10: Always You (4:19) –
This is a fairly straight forward song for Gore and Gahan, I really don’t hate it or love it, it fits right about in the middle for me. It’s a Depeche Mode love song which is as about as depressing and romantic as you think it would be.
It’s basically saying the world is bleak but at least I have you. Someone get that on a greeting card immediately, it’s at least a $100 idea.
Track 11: Never Let Me Go (4:04) –
Similar to People Are Good, it appears Depeche Mode are slightly repurposing titles of their famous hits such as Never Let Me Down Again and People Are People.
This one seriously gives me Nine Inch Nails vibes, like something off With Teeth. It has such a swag to it that and the synthesizers and keyboards make you move. It’s a damn fun song, one that should find it’s way into a few clubs too.
Track 12: Speak to Me (4:38) –
Speaking of Nine Inch Nails, most of you are familiar with the Johnny Cash cover, Hurt, right? The very slow, meandering song that you want to scream and somehow cry out at the same time? This very much echoes that type of song, heck right down to that splitting and somewhat annoying outro.
It’s also similar in style to Soul With Me but with much better results. Though much like Hurt I think the listener will save it for those special moments and not listen to it on repeat. It certainly is a great closer to this fantastic album.
So, for those buying this cd and not going the vinyl route, the listener has the option of getting the flimsy digisleeve version or the hardback digibook. This is the same type of hardcover that Spirit enjoyed. Unfortunately the hardcover Spirit was actually released here in the US, and for this album, you will have to import from the UK the book copy of Memento Mori for those of us in the states (and at something of a premium too). It’s worth it though as a digisleeve isn’t going to stand the test of time.
But the music on this album actually will. It’s the best Depeche Mode album since Exciter and maybe even better than that(but not better than Ultra). Ghosts Again, Never Let Me Go, My Cosmos is Mine and many other songs here are going to be loved by fans for years to come.
This one gets an easy recommendation and not just because Depeche Mode is in my top 3 bands of all time. The time between Spirit and this album really gave the band time to hone their writing and production skills. It has the classic Depeche Mode sound as well as the more modern feel as well. There are honestly only two or three misses on the album and is 100% worth springing for. Enjoy.
