Four years after Ultra (1997), a new studio album by Depeche Mode is released, while the compilation Singles 86> 98 and the accompanying sold-out world tour were actually considered the end of a career that, given the bad relations between them, is the best time. Yet it happened again, partly thanks to the admiration for producer Mark Bell (of Björk's Homogenic and Selmasongs), who eventually
… won them over. Fortunately, because Exciter is an album that I wouldn't have wanted to miss: small, intimate, lovely, but also big, fierce and strong. Dave Gahan is more confident in his vocals on the album, which combines acoustic elements with electronics. Listen to the single Dream On and When The Body Speaks, where an acoustic guitar rhythm is coupled with a slow dance beat and a carried Nick Cave-like vocals, and the intimacy of Tindersticks echoes alongside the fierce of a band like 16 Horsepower. Exciter is one big, almost touching declaration of love - all lyrics deal with that - and compared to the style of previous albums, it is almost unhurried. (BP)more
