I would love to of seen this released as a single, but perhaps five singles from a nine track album is a bit overkill. “Halo” returns us to the electro-synth of “World In My Eyes” with heavy keyboards and programming together with Dave Gahan’s often distant and sincere vocals. The track was certainly an instant hit with the record buying public, reaching No.13 in the UK, their highest charting single in their home country for more than five years, and No.28 in America, again their best chart placing since “People Are People” back in early 1984. Was it meant to cause a stir or just announce that the band were back after nearly two years of touring and recording? It certainly caused DM fans and the music industry to take note of this striking new and fluid anthem that beats out its message over and over: “you’re your own, personal Jesus”. Personal JesusĭM1990 began in September 1989 with this highly memorable song with its opening line “reach out and touch faith”. We learn the “Sweetest Perfection” is also the sweetest injection, the sweetest correction and the sweetest affection. Banging each song’s theme, message and title home at every second of time available. And that’s another trait of this album, repetitiveness. With strings and almost bare guitars, the dark and quirky “Sweetest Perfection” repeats its message again and again. Sweetest PerfectionĪnd already something completely different.
It peaked at No.17 in the UK, giving the band four straight top twenty hits from the same album and No.52 in America, the lowest charted of all four singles.
“World In My Eyes” was the fourth and final single released from the album in September 1990, a full year later on from the first. A lively chorus that often seems devoid of the rest of the song and takes an unexpected diversion from how the beginning of the song is interpreted. A highly addictive synth instrumental that separates each verse and chorus. It’s still very Depeche but this track raises the bar with different levels that will become apparent throughout the album.
The album begins with the superb “World In My Eyes” which sets the scene for DM in the 90’s. By the end of March 1990 we could all judge for ourselves just what we thought of this new and exciting direction… 1. With a dramatic change of direction when compared with their previous releases, chiefly down to producer Mark Ellis aka Flood (who had been an engineer on their 1985 album “Shake The Disease”), The Mode reinvented themselves, this time with a more alt-rock, band feel, whilst retaining a certain amount of electro-pop to satisfy the core of their fanbase who had worshipped them for over a decade. Surprisingly, the first fruit of this new project was ‘unleashed’ in the Autumn of 1989, while production was still nowhere near complete on the album, which was spread across five different studios in London, New York, Milan and Gjerlev in Denmark. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE ON ALL PRODUCTS I SELL.Thirty years ago: a retrospective review of Depeche Mode’s 1990 album, “Violator” Following their 1987 album “Music For The Masses” and a live album in early 1989 (“101”), Depeche Mode settled down to writing and recording new material for their seventh studio release. There may be some normal age-related wear and tear on the sleeve and contents, but these will be minor. There may be several light scratches or surface marks, but these should not affect playback. VERY GOOD CONDITION The record has obviously been played many times but shows no obvious major damage. EXCELLENT CONDITION The record, sleeve and contents may show some signs of being played. The record cover and all inserts such as the lyric sheet, booklet are all in perfect condition and all such inserts are included. MINT CONDITION The record vinyl is in perfect condition and looks as new when it was released. Please see below for more details about how I grade my records. I have sold records since 1983 and use the standard RECORD COLLECTOR grading system. I offer a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE ON ALL PRODUCTS I SELL. With original sticker on sleeve My gradings are very strict.