Depeche Mode: A Tale of Two Covers
Austra / May68
Words: Orac
21/09/11
The mightiest synth band on the planet Depeche Mode have taken time out from discussing the follow-up to 2009's 'Sounds Of The Universe' to record a cover of the U2 album track 'So Cruel'.
The news was confirmed this week by U2's stadium devouring frontman Bono who has approached various artists including Jack White for a 20th anniversary edition of 1991's much admired 'Achtung Baby' - an album that featured the knob twiddling genius of Flood who would go on to assist Alan Wilder for 1993's 'Songs of Faith & Devotion'.
This special version of 'Achtung Baby' will be given away for free with a forthcoming issue of Q
Magazine so be warned....Q love Muse and those horrors could possibly be including with their grisley re-invention of the Queen sound.
Of the compilation itself, Bono seems happy with the results: 'It's strange, because when I hear the album, when U2 do it, all I hear is what's wrong with it. But when I heard all these artists doing it, I thought, 'It's really good'.
'Achtung Baby' signalled a brave move away from the pomp rock of 80's U2 and featured layers of disorted Eno synths. Naturally, we picked up a copy many moons ago and it's a pretty decent effort but we probably prefer the 1993 follow-up 'Zooropa' which was full-on Eno electro and very, very odd. DM's new cover is reportedly produced and arranged by Martin Gore with Dave Gahan on vox.
Having dug out our dusty old CD of 'Achtung Baby', we probably would have had Mode cover 'Ultra Violet (Light My Way)' a track that has a very Devotional vibe about it but 'So Cruel' will do very nicely.
Whilst most people will probably welcome the DM U2 cover given the various links between the two stadium acts, a few of you may possibly shudder with the news that 'Britian's Got
Talent 'phenomenon' Susan Boyle has covered Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence'. 'FORGET Christmas hits and hymns on Susan Boyle's next album - the Blackburn beauty has gone credible,' says The Sun who broke the news a few days back. Boyle's album 'Someone To Watch Over Me' also includes a cover of Tears For Fears 'Mad World' and is released on November 7th if you're struggling for Crimbo pressie ideas.
Austra lost out to Arcade Fire's much admired album 'The Suburbs' on Sunday night during Canada's answer to the Mercury Prize - the Polaris Music Awards but Katie has tuned into the pulsating mindwaves of EYHQ and decided to release our choice track from ' Feel It Break'.
The moody Mode-esque number 'Spellwork' is now available as a digital download via Amazon and comes with a brilliant new track 'Identity'. You can always judged the true quality of any band by their B-sides and this is another one that should've made the final cut of 'Feel It Break'. Baboohska will be giving her verdict on the track very shortly but for now, feast your ears on one of our fave tracks of the year...
May68 wowed us last Summer with 'My Ways' and the Manchester band are back with the new digi single (CD RIP) 'White Lies' on October 17th. Described in the press release as 'nodding at the Human League...with the raw power of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs', May68 are a great example of how electronic music is finally evolving way beyond the trusted synthpop blueprint of yesteryear.
May68's debut album will be released in May 2012 just time for Summer (pending massive climate changes and solar flares), but in the meantime give the new single a blast...took us a few listens but there's a good foot tapping finale whilst the B-side 'Static' has some very dreamy synth chords and is our choice track of the two.
