Depeche Mode: Sounds of the Universe
Rating: 3/5
For: Rs 395

If you belong to the MTV generation, Depeche Mode videos should've flickered on your television set. The English electronic band that got together in 1980, could easily be termed as one of the most successful, influential, longest-surviving bands to have emerged from the early 80s. And they are not letting up. Back now with their 12th studio album, Sounds of the Universe.



The album starts with the slightly muted In Chains, a far cry from what we expect from the same guys who gave us Enjoy the Silence. But the third track, Wrong, had us tapping our feet perfect for an underground party or even the backgrounder for a strange, off-the-wall installation art exhibition. And with lyrics like "I'm leaving bitterness behind this time. I'm cleaning out my mind", guess you can follow their lead.

Spacewalker, Jezebel and Corrupt all fit the bill if you are imagining yourself walking in a space-age world, surrounded by robots! Hole to Feed could be that one club favourite, easy to sing along with while Fragile Tension is a bit too melancholic. With Little Soul, they return to what they do best ballads.

What's disappointing is that none of the songs really take off. You wait for that mindblowing chorus, and it never really comes. Pick it up only if you are one of those who has all their previous eleven albums.