Mode officially in the studio now! (UPDATED)
Or rather, it is now official that Ben Hillier is in the studio, and that Depeche Mode are with him. Go figure! Ben’s UK based management updated the producer’s bio with this tiny little line: [Ben’s] now back in the production chair for Depeche Mode following their last collaboration on “Playing The Angel” album”.
Also Ferg Peterkin’s involvement (previously reported on this very site) was confirmed by his management, stating simply that “[Ferg is] currently Stateside with producer Ben Hillier, […] engineering the new Depeche Mode album”.
Mode begun the second set of sessions for the upcoming album last week, this time in New York. Work begun May 5th in California.
58 Comments
15 July 08 at 4:39pm
1
Finally...something!!!! "it tries my patience"
15 July 08 at 5:23pm
2
How many sessions are typically required?
15 July 08 at 8:46pm
3
yay! pta was a great album, the live dvd was great but no devotional, too much live drums, dave magical, but voice not as good as on the album. ben hillier will no doubt do a good job, another speaker bustin record!
15 July 08 at 10:02pm
4
I hope we get more melody and less annoying cripy sounds...
15 July 08 at 11:10pm
5
Come on devotees! it`s great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
16 July 08 at 12:52am
6
nice :)
16 July 08 at 1:05am
7
Glad to see they are back in the studio, it's been a long 2 years since the last of their touring. Just wonder if it's true what Fletch said in an interview earlier this year (on youtube) that DM have 'two more' albums left before they will call it a day... I sincerely hope a new age 'Violator' will submerge from Mart's genius. An unstoppable force... meets an immovable object - that is Depeche Mode. Legends.
16 July 08 at 8:24am
8
Good news PTA best DM album since SOFAD by a mile imo.
16 July 08 at 11:56am
9
why does djzn always have to be negative? I share some criticisms of recent albums but i thought PTA was a step in the right direction and i hope they pull another good album out of the bag. I understand fletch saying 2 more albums and then they're done. i'd hate to see Gahan on stage when he's well in to his 50's. they should finish with a bang and do one last massive stadium tour and call it a day. They will sell out Wembley easy!!!!
16 July 08 at 1:02pm
10
The last 2 albums have had 2 or 3 good tracks but the rest have been very average. And I agree with Alan Wilder that production of albums lacks quality control. With him they sound very average.
16 July 08 at 1:03pm
11
Sorry, I meant without him they sound average!
16 July 08 at 2:16pm
12
Definately, i'd love to see Vince and Alan back for one reunion tour. If Vince and Alison can bury differences for a Yazoo reunion then I can't see why Alan can't bury the hatchet and tour with DM one last time. I think it would make a tremendous show, have Vince on for the old stuff and Alan on for the stuff up to SOFAD. We can wish I suppose!
16 July 08 at 3:45pm
13
Obviously the lyrical content is very similar to before but the actual music is very limited. Alan was the man behind the music. I think even their fist attempt (Ultra) without him was better than the 2 most recent efforts. A lot of it is just sampled crap. I'm sure Dave and Mart had very little imput into the actual music. His guitar work is fantastic and i think they should use more of it.
16 July 08 at 8:48pm
14
wow... And you're complaing about PTA being loud? I think you tipped the scales there buddy. Funny, all the distortion and crap that you complained about on PTA...we get to here it from you. Thinking you're about 120dB..a full +18 over the digital scale (no idea what that is btw). Every thought about reserving judgement on things you havnt even heard?
17 July 08 at 12:27am
15
God I hope the comments on this page are not typical of Depeche fans because when I read them I was thinking to myself 'Why are these DM haters posting on this site!' PTA was an awesome album and ranks up there with Violator and SOFAD. I like Exciter when it came out but it's luster wanned but still I would gladly listen to it any day!
17 July 08 at 12:41am
16
I think we're all fans... actually two sets of hard core fans. One set of fans will listen to ANYTHING that DM puts out and call it the best thing ever. The other set of fans understand and appreciate the high standard of QUALITY that DM albums used to reflect, but are now upset that the quality is going down the tubes with albums are too loud and flat.
17 July 08 at 5:57am
17
Oh, that´s great! Hillier is fantastic choice...much much better than boring Mark Bell. PTAngel is one of the most DM album ever, energic, agressive.. Depeche Mode forever!
17 July 08 at 10:12am
18
Can't wait 4 the new album and new tour. Over and out.
17 July 08 at 8:44pm
19
Wonderful!
18 July 08 at 1:10am
20
in fact i'd like to see Flood produce the next album (after this one that they are working on of course)!
18 July 08 at 2:37am
21
I want to make something clear that I am not a fan who thinks everything the band puts out is the most wonderful thing; but then neither am I a fan who thinks that the only good things they've done is in the past and everything of late is crap. These are the same people who whine that Depeche was only good when Vince and/or Alan was with them. First off, Vince and Alan are never coming back to the group. I love Vince in Yaz but I find that early Erasure saounds very similar to the latest Erasure. And no offense to Alan but if he was the only factor to Violator's greatness - great, not perfect because I find "Blue Dress" to be tedious but then I feel the same way about "I Feel Loved" and to this day I have to concentrate to tell the difference between "Insight" and "Freestate" - then why do I find his Recoil projects unfathomable. I glad that Depeche has evovled over time because if they were releasing Violator Part 5 I don't think they would have the fan base that they do. Hell, I remember when SOFAD - another great album - I heard fans say that it sucked and that Violator was too comercial and that their best album was "Some Great Reward" or "Black Celebration." Now there is nothing wrong with believing those album are their best - after all that's the joy of music - but if you describe everything else the band has done since then as crap, too loud and horrible production then you're not a Depeche Mode fan. At best you are a fan of an album or two but more than likely you are a fan of a memory. This is just a hunch but everyone who might be expecting the new album to be Angel Part 2 are going to be disappointed. Fletch has already described Martin's songs as being unlike anythin he has ever heard from him. And if I like this new direction or not I know that I can't wait to hear it!
18 July 08 at 10:55am
22
Hey everyone is entitled to an opinion so don't scorn other opinions. I'm a huge U2 live fan but not a die-hard U2 fan who buys everything they put out. Just like DM, they have a massive live following cos we mainly love their older stuff. No band can really keep putting out great albums. Generally each new album has 2 or 3 great tracks while the rest are awful. I wish they would go back into the studio and record the album again in the format they played the songs live. Take some of the Exciter tracks for instance like 'When the Body Speaks' or 'Free love' - much better live than album version. And one last thing. IN my opinion, Dave should stop some of his antics on stage and concentrate on singing. Stop so many 'yeahs',etc. I think his solo DVD is spoilt by his antics on stage. He has a great voice but its often spoilt by the way he sings.
18 July 08 at 6:09pm
23
think that dm are right to use ben h again.He was a step in right direction after a very avarage album in exciter,mybe working with the same producer again will bring the best out in dm,he might get there music and ideas more.i also think martin dont right songs for any one but him self,so they will never be comerical.violator was a one of as was SOFD as was music for masses and exciter.what i would like to see on there next tour is some diffrent songs being played ie from earlyer albums or some good album tracks,not heard for a bit,most people who go to watch dm have been many times befor and prob know most of there tracks any way.enjoy the silence.personal jesus and never let me down are crowd pleasers and will always be played.
19 July 08 at 9:42am
24
Say goodbye to DJZN everybody! (waves) Peter
19 July 08 at 3:29pm
25
Some really intresting comments on this page.I think every mode album has its own history with song writers leaving and diffferent production. I can honestly say im one of the fans that enjoy everything the mode have done,I have favourites of course and i dont agree with people who say they follow a band on the strenth of there old stuff.DEPECHE MODE for so many reasons are a truly wonderfull group,live you get a great mixture of electronic/rock and heart renching love songs, I like the fact that guitars never dominate any track. I love the mode classics like enjoy the silence and n.l.m.d.a but i feel they should give them a really bid change the next time there performed live ,Maybe a remixed version from the past. I really enjoy daves interplay with cristian live but i feel that it woundnt be a bad thing if cristian sat out a couple of songs and they uped the electronic beats,for example on behind the wheel live drums do not add to the performance a really pulsating electronic mix of that track would go down a storm.Daves communicating with other band members i find really touching the fletch fletcher bit is great and it adds a togetherness.I completely agree about playing some more old stuff i would love to here rush played live maybe like the spiritule mix ,if the want could be fucking amazing as well.Daves voice has changed over the years for sure but when hes doing over a hundred shows it is bound to be strained at times,but when you watch them live you take in the performance as a whole,i have never come away dissapointed,you see the mode live and its hard to shift the smile on your face for days after there just so entertaining.Im from essex where the mode origanate,it would be great if they played a concert at the chelmsford showground where the v festival takes place a really large production with some special guest from the past,in the vain of 101,give the english fans a unique show like our american freinds have exsperenced. i am so exited about this new album and the tour can not come soon enougth.
19 July 08 at 3:31pm
26
if you want(sorry i was bieng a bit thick)
19 July 08 at 3:42pm
27
being(i really should have gone to school)
19 July 08 at 9:24pm
28
ben hillier sucks. the last great dM album was ULTRA. ...
19 July 08 at 11:36pm
29
So you've heard it already then?
20 July 08 at 2:24pm
30
I agree with you a Proper Fan...There's a history behind eveyrthing, and I love it all...the good and the bad! I'm one of the lucky ones to attend Concert for The Masses at the Rose Bowl, I can only with everyone else has a chance to be a part of the passion and celebration that came out that day. Who knew 'The Wave' for NLMD would be born that day. Or better yet, who knew it would rain in thunder on a hot CA day in June during Blasphemas Rumors! I honestly though I dreamt that until about 10 years ago. Then I met someone who was also there and confirmed what I thought was a dream. I can't wait for their next album, critics are critics. Unfortunately Depeche has some harsh ones who love to voice their opinions,but it is their right. We all know there's be quality songs, songs that we'll be singing in the car for months and even years!
20 July 08 at 5:50pm
31
No one is saying why the official site www.depechemode.com has not said a word of the work that the band is already doing ...Anyone can explain...For every album recently, we've had updates regularly on their progress...Why not this time??
21 July 08 at 5:56am
32
we want ultra--ultra was the best.
21 July 08 at 9:11am
33
Someone mentioned (in a dreamlike state) that a "reunion tour" with Vince and Alan would be nice - would it, I say? How "Cher" isn't that? Bloody awful! Bring on the new album, a new tour containing the present band lineup and let's be happy about that. Cheers! :-)
21 July 08 at 10:01am
34
Regarding the official site, obviously a management issue. It has obviously been decided to not to say anything official yet.
21 July 08 at 10:31am
35
I'd expect another PTA-style announcement with the new album, they had all but finished the album before they 'officially' announced it on depechemode.com, so I guess they haven't actually neared the end of completion yet :) another "Ultra" would be superb!
21 July 08 at 11:57am
36
I am not appreciative of the official website keeping mum on the new album. It kinda feels like being kept out of the loop. We deserve more. As a devotee, I expect devotion.
21 July 08 at 2:21pm
37
It´s gonna be an extremely exciting time!It´s a bit funny what´s going on lately.Bands that got wrecked by the press for over 2 decades are actually in better shape now than they ever were.Now I´m not a classic twat,neither am I world´s freshest teen,but after having seen a lot of concerts over the last 20 years,I´d have to mention that as well Duran,Maiden,the Cure,Saxon and of course Depeche Mode,were,and still are amongst the best we´ve ever witnessed live,and in the studio.They stand for something,there´s idealism over cash,and we might as well be thanking on our bare knees,that they still exist,for god´s sake.I am therefore absolutely convinced,that the new album,and possibly another extensive tour,will again,slam everyone in the face.It´s still them,now becoming well respected veterans,who show everybody out there "how to do it properly"!So I wouldn´t worry too much,because as I mentioned,it´s gonna be an extremely exiting time!
21 July 08 at 2:43pm
38
Sat next to Martin at Yaz on Saturday night here in NY. He was chatting with Ben Hillier. I spoke with both of them. They couldn't have been nicer...
21 July 08 at 7:09pm
39
Scout says: "I am not appreciative of the official website keeping mum on the new album. It kinda feels like being kept out of the loop. We deserve more. As a devotee, I expect devotion." You can have all the devotion in the world here at Home ;-)
22 July 08 at 12:57am
40
depechemode.com can't make a move without management's approval. This makes me hope/think there's a big surprise. this isn't the norm, there would be a studio greeting by now. but the site is also denying nothing so that is good.
22 July 08 at 6:15am
41
Suspectful, Assuming that they stick to the same 6-disc format for boxsets 7 & 8, don't you think they'd wait a little longer than March 9th to release them given that they need 3 more singles (including the one you mentioned) to complete boxset no. 8? Even if they did have the 3 singles by March 9th, wouldn't they usually wait quite a bit of time (at least a year or two) between the release of the singles and compiling them in the boxset? Where'd you get your info? It seems...well...suspect (pardon the pun).
22 July 08 at 7:34am
42
Scout, not sure if you are actually a member of thr forum, but one or two reasons have been discussed as to why the band and management maybe haven't announced anything official yet. Although, to be fair, what is there really to report? The band are in the studio? That is pretty common knowledge now anyway. And no disrespect to suspectful, if you learn to read, you might even be able to see Ben Hilliers site where it states quite clearly that Ben Hillier is working on the NEW DM album now. Is that speculation? Regarding the box sets, where did Box number 6 finish? With Dream On? So, considering they have 6 singles per box and the fact that they have not released 12 singles since, I think you are wrong.
22 July 08 at 9:45am
43
to suspectful: sorry but your post about "new releases" is nonsense. Probably is it joke, isn´t?
22 July 08 at 10:17am
44
to Suspectful,: btw. Brat (dm.com webmaster) never denied that dm are in studio right now..so be patiently :)
22 July 08 at 12:44pm
45
Direct download album. When Radiohead did it everyone was going crazy waiting for the release which was a few months away. Then all of a sudden you go to their site and it tells you it's out in 10 days. When NIN did it they surprised the fans with streaming versions before it came out, then with some later ones they just said SURPRISE THERE'S FREE MUSIC ON OUR WEB SITE... Two possibilities: a viral DM album,..... or maybe they're just chit chatting about ideas and leaving retirement on the table and they don't want to devastate the fans too much with the added disappointment..
22 July 08 at 12:48pm
46
Very nice!!!
22 July 08 at 4:44pm
47
Im sure there will be a new dm album and tour nxt year.whatever it sounds like im sure a lot of hard work would of been put into it.also as for the next tour.id like to hear old songs played like "stripped" "halo" fly on the widnscreen" "people are people" and songs they havent played live before like "freestate" "lilian" i think theres only so many live versions of personal jesus and enjoy the silence they can do live.but whatever they play im sure it will be a great performance..any other song ideas for the next tour.im sure the band will be reading this at some point
22 July 08 at 6:34pm
48
a PTA mark2 would be nice as you could onlt get 1 decent album(if that) out of ultra and exciter combined,as for a tour? opening track a revamped mordern extended version of my seceret garden,finishing in its no good...any ideas for opening/finishing track.....
22 July 08 at 7:15pm
49
@suspectful: You are of course absolutely right. We've made it all up. We even got Ben Hillier's management to confirm it JUST FOR LAUGHS!! Isn't it a great joke? Now fuck off!
22 July 08 at 8:04pm
50
If there is any uk or world wide dm fans that wld like to chat then email me at saint15@o2.co.uk Im steve im 31 and a huge depeche fan from wigan northwest united kingdom