New Depeche Mode single "Heaven"

[Fred Taghon]

As a fan since 1983 I can honestly say that the release of the first single from every new DM album is practically a religious experience for me lol. Once in a while it takes a few listens to really get on board for the ride (in fact, those often ultimately become long-time favorites), but I've truly never been let down.

Having said that, my first impression of the new single "Heaven" was: "Uh-oh". I feel like I'm committing mortal sin by saying, but "I really just...don't like it." (gasp!) As I said, sometimes it takes a few listens to really get into a new song, and while I don't completely hate "Heaven", I have very little desire to listen to it repeatedly which is generally what I end up doing with a new DM single.

However, there IS a silver lining: the "Owlle Remix"! Now and then a remix takes a sub-par record and effortlessly elevates it to a level the original could have never imagined. I think it's a beautiful remix and have listened to THAT 3 times in the last 30 minutes alone. Which brings me to the conclusion that the song itself is fine, but the band's (along with Ben Hillier and Flood) interpretation of it just fell flat for me, while the remix gently guides the tune into a more palatable musical realm.

Yes, the Owlle remix is closer to the "classic" Depeche Mode sound, so maybe it's nostalgia, maybe not. Listen and decide for yourself...

Maybe as time goes on the original version of "Heaven" will grow on me - and maybe in context of the complete album it will feel more appropriate. But as a first single and representative of what's to come, I'm not nearly as wound up in anticipation as I usually am. And that kind of stinks, because that's half the fun!

The "b-side" track "All That's Mine" (which will apparently be a bonus track on the deluxe version of the album) is actually fairly good btw

[rewind]

I put a link to the audio in General New Wave forum, under the new Depeche topic.

[Sean]

"Yawn" if I had to give one word to best describe "Heaven". Like Fred, being a fan back since the early 80's, I expect so much from this band who thinking back to the 80's every time they release a song, my whole world seemed light up. Because they are DM, I would say this is just an ok song. If I heard this on the radio and I didn't love DM for all of those years, I probably wouldn't even think twice to ask who this is. I hope the album has some better stuff.

[Sensoria]

And here you can watch the video as well:

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/0 ... ven-video/

I absolutely love it!

[Sean]

The Owlle Mix does give the song some life and I agree, the b-side is pretty good.

[DavePlym]

Watching the vid I never expected to see that Dave Gahan has turned into Marc Almond ! Do you think these long standing bands become all mid-tempo and moody because they forget how to write up-tempo pop?

[Sensoria]

[quote][i]Originally posted by DavePlym[/i]
<br>Watching the vid I never expected to see that Dave Gahan has turned into Marc Almond ! Do you think these long standing bands become all mid-tempo and moody because they forget how to write up-tempo pop?
[/quote]

Ha ha ha. It's the age that starts to mellow them. [:D]
I'll give the album a chance but don't hold high hopes as the previous one, "Sounds Of The Universe", was quite disappointing. But they may surprise pleasently too. Who knows? I'll give my opinions when the album would be out.
The Depeche Mode period I like the best is the 1986-1997 one - "Black Celebration" to "Ultra".

[Sean]

This song kind of grows on you. I enjoyed the Owlle mix a lot so I went back and gave the original single version a chance and it's not too bad. Expectations are always high for DM. [:D] The should definitey get the guy who did the Owlle mix to mix more tracks off of the album.

[Sensoria]

And they've just premiered a second official video for the single:

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/0 ... ond-video/

[:)]

[Sensoria]

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2013/0 ... a-machine/

iTunes is streaming the whole album a week ahead of its release now too.

[omar]

I streamed it and was not impressed ! It was of those feelings where the songs don't grab you the first time. SOTU was a much more solid effort . I'll probably end up getting the cd anyway and may change my mind after a few repeated listens .

[budaniel]

The only version of this song I can listen to is the freemasons mix, which, naturally, wasn't released commercially because, for whatever reason, Depeche Mode no longer wants to throw a bone to long time fans who liked their songs that were club ready.

[Fred Taghon]

[quote][i]Originally posted by budaniel[/i]
<br>The only version of this song I can listen to is the freemasons mix, which, naturally, wasn't released commercially because, for whatever reason, Depeche Mode no longer wants to throw a bone to long time fans who liked their songs that were club ready.
[/quote]

Wow thanks for the heads up on the Freemasons Club Mix! Why on Earth wouldn't they officially release a great mix like that!?!? Of course, DM has done that since the 2000's really - put crap mixes on commercial singles while club promos get the good stuff: "Dream On" (Pink Noise or Brat mixes), "Freelove" (Deep Dish mixes), "Precious" (DJ Dan or Calderon/Quayle mixes), "Perfect" (Ralphi and Jody or Ralphi and Craig mixes) etc etc.

I too listened to the iTunes stream of the new album. There were a few times I actually got sucked in and listened to complete songs but overall it was just mediocre upon first listen. I do like the upcoming single "Sooth My Soul" and the urgency of "Soft Touch/Raw Nerve" was a nice throwback to "A Question Of Time" days. I don't really begrudge them anymore - they are making the music THEY want to make at this point in time and it just happens to be quite different from what they did the first half of their career (largely slow or midtempo and heavily influenced by blues). With a career 30+yrs in the making, I guess it's still pretty impressive that I liked EVERYTHING they put out from 1981-1997 (Yes, I loved "Ultra" - "It's No Good", "Sister Of Night", "Home", "Barrel Of A Gun", "Useless", "The Bottom Line" and "Insight" are excellent!).

That said, each album since 1997's "Ultra" did have at least a few songs that I like (talking original versions here, not remixes):

EXCITER:
"Dream On", "I Feel Loved", "Breathe", "Goodnight Lovers"

PLAYING THE ANGEL:
"Precious" (a rare 2000's+ track that is as good as anything they did in the 80's or early 90's), "John The Revelator", "Suffer Well", "Lilian"

SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE:
"Perfect", "Fragile Tension", "Wrong", "In Chains", "In Sympathy"

[budaniel]

Hey Fred,

not sure if you know, but there's an otherwise unreleased Peter Rauhofer mix (called the dirty monkey mix) of Suffer Well on his mixed CD "I Love Miami." I did like the Narcotic Thrust mix on the single, but it's always good to have an extra dance mix--and it's Rauhofer's usual tribal house big club sound, which he worked wonders with on "It's No Good" in the 90s.

[roc51]

Is it just me, or do you think the new album is really not that good? I've really loved the band since the beginning but they've been on a downward spiral since Ultra, with each successive album having at least a couple of gems...unfortunately, this isn't the case with Delta Machine.

I've streamed it a few times already and it just doesn't do it for me. And for those claiming it's their masterpiece? Am I missing something?