Music for the Masses

by Depeche Mode

Overview

Initially the title must have sounded like an incredibly pretentious boast, except that Depeche Mode then went on to do a monstrous world tour, score even more hits in America and elsewhere than ever before, and pick up a large number of name checks from emerging house and techno artists on top of all that. As for the music the masses got this time around, the opening cut, "Never Let Me Down Again," started things off wonderfully: a compressed guitar riff suddenly slamming into a huge-sounding percussion/keyboard/piano combination, anchored to a constantly repeated melodic hook, ever-building synth/orchestral parts at the song's end, and one of David Gahan's best vocals (though admittedly singing one of Martin Gore's more pedestrian lyrics). It feels huge throughout, like they taped Depeche recording at the world's largest arena show instead of in a studio. Other key singles "Strangelove" and the (literally) driving "Behind the Wheel" maintained the same blend of power and song skill, while some of the quieter numbers such as "The Things You Said" and "I Want You Now" showed musical and lyrical intimacy could easily co-exist with the big chart-busters. Add to that other winners like "To Have and to Hold," with its Russian radio broadcast start and dramatic, downward spiral of music accompanied by Gahan's subtly powerful take on a desperate Gore love lyric, and the weird, wonderful choral closer, "Pimpf," and Depeche's massive success becomes perfectly clear. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	04/04/2025
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0198028411219

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Depeche Mode   Primary Artist
Martin Gore   Guitar,Keyboards,Lead Vocals
Alan Wilder   Drums,Piano,Keyboards
Dave Gahan   Vocals,Lead Vocals
Martyn Atkins   Director
Andy Fletcher   Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)

Technical Credits

Bobby Troup   Composer,Lyricist
Martin Gore   Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer
Dave Bascombe   Engineer,Producer
Anton Corbijn   Photography
Alan Wilder   Producer,Performer,Group Member
Daniel Miller   Producer,Liner Notes
Depeche Mode   Composer,Producer
Dave Gahan   Producer,Group Member
David A. Jones   Design,Photography
Martyn Atkins   Design,Photography
Mark Higenbottam   Design,Photography
David Boscombe   Engineer,Producer
James Monkman   Engineer
Stephen W. Tayler   Engineer
Simon Heyworth   Remastering
Roland Brown   Musician,Reissue Producer
Andy Fletcher   Producer,Group Member