Depeche Mode: The Dark Progression

 

For thirty years, Depeche Mode has been synonymous with the explosion and evolution of synth pop.  While certainly not the first band to experiment with electronics and synthesizers, they were one of the first bands to advance the genre using samples and creative studio techniques without the use of guitars for the first decade of their career, all while propelling electronic music into the forefront of pop music.  "Depeche Mode: The Dark Progression" is a new documentary exploring the history and legacy of one of England's most beloved acts.  Pieced together from interviews, rare live footage, news clips, and amazing photos, the world of Depeche Mode is dissected and celebrated as the band enters another chapter with a new album (their 12th) and an enduring live road show.  Starting from the birth of the band with the crucial involvement and accomplishments of Vince Clarke to the departure of Alan Wilder in 1995 and beyond, the documentary does a thorough job of depicting the importance and contributions of Depeche Mode.  For one, this band is the largest selling electronic band ever, cracking the US market at a time when alternative music was still on the fringe of the mainstream and deemed impossible.  Secondly, Depeche Mode was (and still is) hugely influential on many other musicians.  They are a band's band, making other musicians jealous with their ingenuity and breadth of material - Gary Numan, Thomas Dolby, and OMD's Andy McClusky all discuss Depeche Mode's brilliance in great detail and how the band's music affects them personally.  The film also puts the band's own influences into perspective, looking at everything from industrial Essex to Kraftwerk to Moogs to the New Romantic movement.  Commentary from luminaries like Mute's founder Daniel Miller to the producers and engineers of many of the DM albums round out the content.  DM Biographer Jonathan Miller puts it all into context.  Tracks included are: "Just Can't Get Enough", "People Are People", "Stripped", "Never Let Me Down Again", "Strangelove", "Personal Jesus", "Enjoy the Silence", "Walking in My Shoes", "I Feel You", and many others.  Fans will appreciate the in-depth discussions about the songs, but even more fascinating is the personal look at the band members and what each brings to the success of the band - Martin Gore's leadership and song writing talent; Dave Gahan's dark and powerful frontman persona; Andy Fletcher's keyboard wizardry; and Alan Wilder's studio saavy that really shaped the music to take form and create the DM signature sound.  While this documentary is unauthorized by the band or by Mute, it certainly paints a favorable light and fills a void for fans of this iconic and beloved band.  Look for it on June 16th when it's released. 

Depeche Mode - band site / mute / myspace