Depeche Mode just launched their comeback single.
The song is called "Ghosts Again" and is the presentation single ffor their next album, Memento Mori.
It is the first piece of music release by the band after the death of their founding member Andrew Fletcher.
Although the song could be seen as a memorial to their former friend, all the album was written before Fletcher's death. Death, pain and suffering are really common themes on the band's back catalogue, so I would say it is a bit normal that their new single is about it. However, as Martin Gore said, the passing of Andy really gave an extra meaning to all of their new material.
Fletcher was a vital member on the band, not in a musically way, but, much more in a spiritual and balanced way.
The song is OK but, in my opinion, nothing really great. They have much better songs on the past, and, for example, "Where's The Revolution?" (the 1st single from the previous album) was a much more powerful song.
Dave Gahan said that "Ghosts Again" is the perfect balance between joy and melancholy. He has a point of course, the song is too joyful for Depeche Mode. The keyboard lines, the piano, the melodies are too pop, their dark side is really missing here. the guitar intro is really simple, without a powerful distortion. The verse melody is also too simple, it's a bit basic on the flow of the instrumental. The chorus is more OK, Gore's voice gives it a deeper feeling. But I do have the feeling that this song really went on a extreme softer version of the band.
The percussion is also too artificial. I do miss their rockier times from the 90's, which seemed to be back on their last 2 albums.
The lyrics are OK, although the verses are, again too simple, too short, the chorus is good, something like a prayer about the eternity on the after-life.
The video is also nothing special, a lot of meaningless shots of a skull walking stick, Gahan crawling on a cemetery like he as lost something on the ground and a never ending chess game deosn't really help. Although the fact that it is is black and white was a good move.
Depeche Mode are, and forever will be, one of my favourite bands from all time, but, I really hope that the rest of the album brings better songs.
