1983
Articles,
reviews of concerts and releases, and band member interviews from
magazines and newspapers.
Singles:
'Get The Balance Right', 'Everything Counts', 'Love In Itself'
Album: 'Construction Time Again'
Alan Wilder becomes a full-time member of the group. Martin Gore emigrates to West Berlin.
Modes
To Freedom
[Record Mirror, 22nd
January 1983. Words: Betty Page. Pictures: Adrian Boot.]
Lightweight brief band
interview, mainly with Martin, on the imminent release of "Get
The Balance Right". The piece focuses on their changes of style
for the third album and how they will weather the forthcoming year in
the light of their fall from grace with the music press. Depeche Mode
trying to shrug off the mummy's boy image, but not yet succeeding.
[1063 words]
Melody
Maker, 26th
February 1983
[Words: Dave Gahan, Andrew Fletcher. Pictures: Uncredited.]
Unusual
item in which Dave and Fletch review the week's single releases. Dave
warms to the task a little more than Fletch and while they begin
optimistically enough, they soon become discouraged by the standard of the
songs, making a brave effort at finding positive remarks. Nonetheless the
different angle of the piece gives us an insight we wouldn't otherwise
have had into the band's preferences.
[2113 words]
Depeche
Mode - Nearly There
[Smash Hits, 3rd - 16th
March 1983. Words: Peter Martin. Pictures: Mark Rusher.]
Unremarkable interview of
the band discussing their forthcoming new material and change of
direction towards more "general" subjects, and what they
hope to achieve in the coming year. Still some discussion on the loss
of Vince, and the writer can't gloss over the terrible image problems
they were having.
[1158 words]
[NME, 26th March 1983. Words: Mat Snow. Pictures: Peter Anderson.]
All round band interview catching the band on tour, at a time when their sound was just beginning to change for the darker. The author picks up on how the band have been around long enough not to be a flash in the pan, and on the heavier feel to their most recent two singles, and wisely links the two.
[1707 words]
[Record Mirror, 7th May 1983. Words: Mark Cooper. Picture: Francesco Melling.]
Although presented as a review, this short item is actually a musing on Depeche Mode's chances of 'cracking' the US.
[174 words]
[Words: Mark Cooper. Picture: Uncredited.]
Brief review of Everything Counts, along with song lyrics. This is one of the reviews quoted in the sleeve of "Singles 81-85".
[94 words]
New
Life
[No.
1, 13th August 1983. Words: Paul Bursche. Pictures: Uncredited.]
Easy-going,
brief band interview immediately prior to the release of 'Everything
Counts'. The band are caught on the cusp: while growing out of their
earlier lightweight image, they are just starting to venture into the
classic Mode territory. Here they don't seem particularly
comfortable in either category, although the first stirrings of
partying and excess are coyly hinted at...
[876
words]
[No.1, 20th August 1983. Picture: Uncredited.]
A brief profile of Dave's favourite songs and worst niggles.
[149 words]
Up
For Grabs
[Sounds, 20th August 1983. Words: Johnny Waller. Picture: Carole
Segal.]
Imaginatively-arranged interview, focussing if anything on the band's mistrust of the press and the pop music merry-go-round, with the conversation sliced into brief soundbites for each subject. The writer seems genuinely interested in each band member's point of view, striving to understand their points and present them fairly. While the writer is upbeat about Construction Time Again, this doesn't drown out other aspects. A recommended piece.
[2648
words]
Riveting
Stuff
[No. 1, 27th August 1983. Words: Anne Lambert. Picture: Uncredited.]
Short review of "Construction Time
Again", embracing the band's change of direction wholeheartedly. Few
reviewers would praise the album as highly, especially in later years, but
the reviewer comes closer to appreciating the spirit of the album than
many contemporaries.
[113
words]
Dream
And Scream
[Melody Maker, 17th September 1983. Words: Barry McIlheney. Picture:
Uncredited.]
You can almost see the broad grin on
the face of the author who wrote this review of a 1983 show. While the piece has
just enough criticism to remain plausible, the author's appreciation of every
aspect of Depeche Mode is plain to see. On top of this, it has a closing line to
die for.
[493 words]
Red
Rockers Over The Emerald Isle
[NME, 17th September 1983. Words: X. Moore. Pictures: Adrian Boot.]
Celebrated
(often maligned) and unusual article approaching Depeche Mode from a
highly politicised angle. A left-wing journalist interviews the band
members, enthusiastically discussing the Socialist overtones of
Construction Time Again. Ultimately, the writer tries to find more in the
lyrics than was actually there, and the band seem bemused enough to
believe it themselves. Less derogatory than many later reviews of this
period in the band's career, but I can't help thinking this is only
because the reviewer didn't look too closely at the music.
[3320
words]
Enter
The Countdown Mode
[Record Mirror, 17th September 1983. Words: Sharon Machola.
Pictures: Clare Muller / Carole Segal / Scope Features.]
Decidedly
empty interview of the band in the run-up to the Construction Time Again
tour. While the interviewer is enthusiastic about the new album, the
questions seem trite and the band are correspondingly unenthusiastic. What
focus there is is centred on the band's first use of Hansa Studios in West
Berlin, but there is little here that can't be found in better shape
elsewhere.
[1277 words]
[Sounds, 1st October 1983. Words: Dave Massey. Picture: Simon Archer.]
A better than average all-round review of the show in Bristol on the Construction Time Again Tour. The author has given the support act Matt Fretton his due, and manages intelligent comment on the band's style as well as a convincing feel for the night.
[475 words]
Mode-rn
Love
[Record Mirror, 22nd October 1983. Words: Betty Page. Pictures:
Paul Slattery.]
An
enthusiastic, ecstatic review of one of Depeche Mode's performances at the
Hammersmith Odeon. The author cannot fault their performance and it sounds
like the beginning of the band's reputation as raucous crowd pleasers
rather than cute little boys. Fans will be cheering!
[365
words]
[back to top] [back to 1982] [on to 1984]