It has been 14 years since the release of Martin Gore’s original Counterfeit album. That was just a teaser of what the worshipped Mr. Gore can give his fans. This new chronicle in the making rings of an older more mature Martin. Gore, famous for his innovative writing, singing and creating with Depeche Mode, has created a solid bluesy sound with this new album of re-makes. This collection of life affirming songs by Gore has been reworked into an album of his own faith and devotion.
Blind Willie Johnson a Texas guitar blues man who wrote melodic melancholy songs of death and the hard life originally did ‘In My Time of Dying’. Later, Bob Dylan did a powerful rendition on his self-titled album. I listened to this track several times while driving up the California coast. It was one of those songs that soothed my impatience during bad bouts with traffic.
‘Stardust’ is slated to be the first single with a video already in the works. I decided during this song that if I had a romantic dinner date at home I would play this album and when this song came on I would ask for a slow dance. This eventually would lead us to the floor for a wild session of lovemaking. British songster David Essex best known for that 70’s seminal ‘Rock On’ penned ‘Stardust’.
‘I Cast a Lonesome Shadow’ is a remix masterpiece in waiting. Martin changes his vocal sound into a sultry invitation to a heartbreaking world. This snappy remake of a ballad by, the king of western swing, Hank Thompson will in the foreseeable future be remixed by all the latest mix masters only to become a hit in NYC dance clubs.
Being a huge David Lynch/Angelo Badalamenti/Julee Cruise fan I loved this version of ‘In My Other World’. It took me back to another world and time. Martin’s trademark vocals and guitar sound make for a haunting song.
Martin pays homage to his peers with ‘Lover Man’. This was an early nineties track for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Martin creates a sultry temptation that leaves me yearning to dance in a cage at a fetish bar.
Brian Eno’s ‘By This River’ and Lou Reed’s ‘Candy Says’ sound like pleas for love and acceptance. These melancholy hollow cries’s for acquiescence would have helped me overcome my obsession with Depeche Mode’s ‘Somebody’ when I was 15. There are very similar sounds and Martin’s vocals are eerily parallel. ‘By This River’ by Brian Eno was recently re-released and featured on the “Y Tu Mama Tambien” soundtrack.
‘Lost In the Stars’ is reminiscent of a Broadway musical steadfast that makes me think Martin could pull-off a musical himself. The famous German composer Kurt Weill did this song for his last Broadway score that was an opera performed in New York in the 50’s. I picture Martin, Mark Almond of Soft Cell and Alison Moyet together on stage for this fabulous salute to the great composer.
‘Oh My Love’ is proof that you cannot ruin a beautifully written song. It dawned on me that Martin’s early writings for Depeche were cut from the same cloth that John Lennon used for his later song writing. John and Yoko worked on this together for the influential Imagine album.
Martin does a double-header salute to Nico and the Velvet Underground. His German language debut of Nico’s sexy overture ‘Das Lied Vom Einsamen Madchen’ (Song of the Lonely Girl) is unfamiliar and uncomfortable for my ears. Yet, I predict this too will be remixed up, down and sideways to be released as a big dance hit of 2003 throughout the club circuit of Germany.
Bowie/Pop collaboration ‘Tiny Girls’ is the shocker of the album with great sounds and unnatural background noises said to be Bowie’s sax solo reversed. I was determined not to like this because of my devotion to the originators but Mr. Gore again wins me over with his choice of tempo and tone.
Martin Gore has selected some awe-inspiring tunes that confirm his vocal range and musical talents.
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