Depeche Mode, Global Love

Richard Spencer, an american racist jackass, told recently that "Depeche Mode was the official band of the alt-right". Obviously, the band said that they have nothing to do with that guy and don't support his movement.

However, the press took (as always) advantage of it, in order to create a scandal, etc.
Titles like "Personal Hitler" "Depeche Mode related with the alt-righ" "Depeche Mode is the alt-right band" surfaced online and that is a pity. In order to see the main message (that Depeche Mode denies any relation with this kind of ideology) you would have to open the link and read everything until the end.

And I think that the band don't deserve nothing like that, specially, as a fan, this is, undoubtedly, very unfair. Depeche Mode have a long list of love song and songs about community tolerance. Yes, their main topics are pain and suffering (from relationships), but they have a some beautiful songs about acceptance.

Martin Gore (born from a black american man) wrote some beautiful lines like "When you're born a lover, you're born to suffer, like all soul sisters and soul brothers", "If for kindness, you substitute blindness please open your eyes" or the new line "Scare you till you're stupefied, wear you down until you're on their side, where's the revolution?"


Take a look on this songs and you'll understand what I'm saying:

- Everything Counts
- Somebody
- Condemnation
- Freestate
- Freelove
- Goodnight Lovers
- Peace
- Where's The Revolution

Everyone should remember now, more than ever, the contribute Depeche Mode has given to cultural acceptance and not that some freak guy talked about them.

The Beatles Reunited

The Beatles, the world's biggest band ever, never reunited after their break up in 1970, however, during the following years, we saw some very happy collaboration between them. Over the years we say Ringo playing drums in a lot of George's albums, or Lennon giving some songs and participating on Starr's album.

Well, looks like there is going to be a new collaboration with the 2 remaing Beatles alive.

According to Ringo Starr official Twitter, Paul McCartney was with him in studio recording some bass lines to his next solo album.

They look good and happy on the shared photo. Good to see old mates still caring with each other.

Week #3

Another week, another playlist.
This weeks we have:

01 - Pete Yorn - Life On A Chain - This week's morning music. What a fantastic album.
02 - Cage The Elephant - Too Late To Say Goodbye - Last monday I saw them live and it was super amazing. a great, long and full concert, with pure rock n' roll. This song was probably the first I really liked from them. The guitar slide solo is great.
03 - Depeche Mode - Walking In My Shoes - Today I received by mail a t-shirt with the artwork of this song. Great t-shirt, but even better song. Actually, it was this song that brought me to like Depeche Mode.
04 - The Cardigans - Higher - This week I bought the CD of Pale Honey, a Swedish band, so I listened to Gran Turismo from start to finish. Fantastic album but another Swedish band.
05 -  Suede - Sound Of The Streets - It isn't everyday that you listen to a b-side of your favourite band on the radio. It happened this week.
06 - David Bowie - No Plan - Bowie will release is final EP in physical formats also.
07 - Pale Honey - 0100 - Bought the CD from this amazing Swedish band. Loved all the songs, but this one is special because of its uplifting melody.
08 - Bob Marley & The Wailers - The Heathen - If Bob was alive, he would have been 72 this week.
09 - GNR - Que Importa? - The legendary Portuguese band will give a very special concert tomorrow in Porto, celebrating 35 years of activity.
10 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree - Nick Cave announced an European tour.

Hope you enjoyed it, listen here:

This Week In A Playlist

This week Strange Sound playlist covers again then songs on Spotify.



They are:
01 - Depeche Mode - Where's The Revolution - Depeche Mode's comeback single was released yesterday.
02 - Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx) - T2, new Trainspotting movie is already in the cinemas in the UK.
03 - Franz Ferdinand - Darts Of Pleasure - Their debut album was my morning soundtrack during this week.
04 - Pet Shop Boys - Rent - Pet Shop Boys were announced as the 2017 NME Godlike Genius Awards.
05 - Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions - Let ME Get There (feat. Kurt Vile) - Heard this song on the radio and has a really great vibe.
06 - Brett Anderson - Thin Men Dancing - Brett Anderson will re-release all of his solo albums with extras and also on vinyl for the first time.
07 - Goldfrapp - Anymore - New single from their new album "Silver Eye" that will be released in March
08 - Bon Iver - Blood Bank - Bought this week the ticket to Primavera Sounds, which Bon Iver will headline.
09 - The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes -  This album was playing all the week on my car.
10 - Madrepaz - Novas Pontes - Heard this brilliant song on the radio, didn't know this band before, but this song is really fantastic. The greatest surprise of the week.

Have a great weekend!

Brett Anderson Solo Collection

Normal CD's are not that popular anymore, bands tend to release beautiful deluxe editions with a lot o CD's, books and, vinyls are back again (hurray!).

Brett Anderson from Suede, also joined the mood and he is releasing his entire solo collection, both in a boxset with the 4 albums, 1 live album and a lot of b-sides and alternative versions, and a boxset of the 4 albums in vinyl for the first time.

So, what's new?

The albums will be in vinyl for the first time ever.

A lot of b-sides and live versions will be released.

What's missing?

New material. There isn't any unreleased track there and there's no demos also.

Well, it's worth it anyway! And the prices are low!

Revolution Mode On Friday

This Friday, 3rd of February, Depeche Mode will release their new single called "Where's The Revolution".
Also, the upcoming album "Spirit" will come out on the 17th of March.
The single will be revealed with a videoclip. It's still unknown what kind of format will exist, for now, no physical edition was announced.
The new album was produced by James Ford, famous for his work with the Arctic Monkeys.
Listen below to a short teaser of the album.
The artwork was developed by long time contributor Anton Corbijn. Kinda reminds me a little bit the artwork during the Devotional era, with the legs and the flags.

More Tickets

Today is the last day to buy cheaper tickets for the Primavera Sounds festival in Porto!

As a proud and typical Portuguese, I bought the tickets today!

Also, next monday, the Australian group Cage The Elephant will perform in Porto Coliseum, and I'm going to be in the middle of the crowd!

Next to buy will be Placebo, that will perform here int he North of Portugal in May.

It's going to be an amazing year! 

January Playlist

I started to use Spotify recently, and I'll start to do some playlists and post them here. Playlists will be connected with new music I'm listening and news that are happening.
On the first playlist we can find bands like Depeche Mode (just bought the ticket), Suede (Attitude, the music which featured the late John Hurt), David Bowie (one year since is passing), Pale Honey, Tame Impala, Franz Ferdinand, Elastica (they are reforming), Arcade Fire, Mondo Drag and Patrick Duff. Enjoy!

Elastica Are Reforming!

Looks like the Britpop nostalgia is here to stay.
The 90's were marked by great, meaningful British bands, that represented a generation, a new sound, full of glam and a personal style. Suede, Blur, Oasis, Pulp, are great examples of that.
Most of these bands, split in the 2000's but, on this decade they seem to be coming and coming back together. Suede did it (and what a comeback), Blur also, and Pulp went for a new tour and a new single.

Now, it's time for a band that no one would think it would reform: Elastica.
The band released a great (and controversial due to plagiarism) debut album. Then, they spent a good couple of years without new releases, and switching their line-up, until they revealed their second and last album "The Menace" which flopped a little bit in the British charts. After that, the band split up, and the main singer, Justine Frischmann moved to the USA to start a career as a painter.

So, this is why this reunion is so surprising, Justine stated, more than one time that she didn't feel that good in the music business and that painting fills her much wider than music.

But it's here, photos emerged with Justin Welch, Donna Matthews and Annie Holland (3 of the 4 original members) at the Abbey Road studios. Also, it was said that Justine is also involved in what's happening.

The question is, what's happening? New album? Remasters? Well, we will need to wait!

Just Bought The Tickets!

Lately I was listening a lot to an old favourite band of mine, Depeche Mode.
I already saw them two times live but, listening lately to the albums Delta Machine and Ultra I was remembering just how amazing they are.
So, I was kinda delaying the buying the ticket to see them live in Lisbon, just because I wanted some company to go to but anyway, I noticed they were starting to sold out so I did the right thing.
In July, they are coming to the famous NOS Alive festival in Portugal to present their next album "Spirit" that should be released in March.
Imagine Dragons and Kodaline will also perform on the same day.
The first single, "Revolution" is coming very quickly too, here's a preview of it.
Can't wait!

1 Year Since The Death Of Bowie

I remember very well the 11th of January of 2016. Bowie died in the 10th, but it was announced, via his official socials networks on the following day.

I woke up on a monday morning to work, and I was feeling a little bit tired, depressed, after a weekend of partying and drinks. Anyway, It was something like 7 a. m. in the morning when I turned on Facebook while I was having breakfast. Suddenly I say someone posting a Bowie song as a tribute and I immediately went to check on reliable websites if it was true or not. Unfortunately it was and, as every fan of David Bowie, I was deeply shocked. I didn't have bought his new Blackstar album but I was already familiar with the theme song and Lazarus. After the shock I also paid a emotionally tribute to him on my Facebook page and I posted "Heroes", a song that has a gigantic meaning for me, as it was the soundtrack to one of the most beautiful times of my life.

After, I went to work, and on the streets of Porto someone guy was playing "Heroes" on the street. An old couple was standing, almost crying, listening to the guy with their hands together. I also stopped and listened. It was a very emotional moment. As I got to work the construction site, one of the bricklayers, asked me if I heard the news. Bowie was universal.

The rest of the day was quite normal sad day. During the night, I just turned the TV on to see all the news related to him and ended up listening to a lot of Bowie's songs. Probably, the ones that I played more were Lazarus, Blackstar, Where Are We Now, Heroes, Life On Mars and Heathen,

Actually, when David died, it was the first time in my life that I really felt emotionally sad with the death of someone that I actually didn't know.

Happy Birthday David Bowie!

One day later but, Happy Birthday David Bowie!
The most influential artist ever would be 70th yesterday.
We need to remember that, one year ago, David release his last album, Blackstar, which was a sentence to his death, without anyone knowing, revolutionising the image of the death of an artist.

However, still almost one year after his death, David is still surprising us from his grave.
On the day of his 70th birthday, he launched a new EP and a new music video for the song No Plan. No Plan is a song from the Blackstar recording sessions and was released with the Lazarus soundtrack. We didn't know if Bowie planned No Plan but, personally, I believe so.

The EP includes all of the 3 last know recording from David and Lazarus.

Happy birthday my friend and, again, thank you.

The Doors Turns 50

The Doors self-titled debut album, turns 50 today.
The classic album, that marked a big revolution in American rock music was originally released on the 4th of January of 1967.
By the time of its release, it was, probably, the most psychedelic album ever, being the climax of a revolution of sound started by the Beatles with Rubber Soul and Revolver.
Also, the theme of Morrison's lyrics was something very uncommon and, sometimes, perverted (The End is unforgettable).
This album has a big pack of The Doors most famous and most acclaimed compositions (Light My Fire, Break On Through, The End) and two amazing cover versions that makes Alabama Song and Back Door Man like they where one of their original songs.
Always remember this amazing LP that changed music, society and poetry.
By the way, Los Angeles, their hometown, proclaimed today, officially, The Doors Day.
Pay attention to Strange Sound Facebook because we will remember each and every song of this album.

2016 Memory And Legacy

Well, people are saying (and they are right) that 2016 was the worst year ever, that a lot of great artists died and that it was like a nightmare.

Actually the bad vibe started in the end of 2015, as a prelude to 2016, with the death of Lemmy, the legendary singer of Motorhead.

Then, it came the death of Bowie. The saddest and, at the same time, greatest death in music history. Bowie, knowing he was passing away, gave us his last piece of magic. He released Blackstar, and, moments before dying, he released the single Lazarus, the man who resurrects according to the bible. Bowie died, but impressed everyone with his pure genius. It was really sad and really incredible. It was the moment that I felt more a death of someone that I don't actually know in my life.

Then, another one very sad was Leonard Cohen. Cohen was getting very old, we could see it, but he, also, released a new album this year. His interview where he says that he is ready to die it's also a peaceful and nostalgic moment. What a man.

George Michael, was never one of my favourite artists but his death also caught the general public very surprised and, it was sad. Listening back to Michael, he did have some very great songs.

Prince also, I never was a super fan, but he inspired almost all of my favourite artists.

Glen Frey, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Dale Griffin (from Mott the Hoople) also left their mark int his year.

Well, the truth is that, the world's greatest artists are getting old. The major acts from the 60's and 70's are, most of them, in a very good shape, but they are getting old, and that's life. McCartney, Jagger or Brian Wilson won't be here forever, unfortunately.

But, as a conclusion let's celebrate the gigantic legacy that, the artists that passed away in 2016 left us. Specially, let's celebrate the greatest musician of all time, David Bowie. Be well David, and thank you.

Primavera Sounds 2017

Primavera Sounds, the music festival in my home city Porto already has confirmed dates, 8 to 10 of June. However no names have been announced yet.

Although, the twin-brother of the festival, Primavera Sounds in Barcelona has already revealed the entire line up, as you can see in the picture above. 

Well, in the last year, the line-up was not that similar (Barcelona's, was in my opinion, much better), but, usually both festivals have a lot in common. 

So, maybe, we can predict to have Arcade Fire, The XX or Bon Iver here in Porto next year!
Arcade Fire, my concert I would love to see, have already schedule the day 10 of June for the Isle Of Wight festival in England, so it would be difficult.
Let's wait and see. 

Suede Are Taking A Break

Suede, the London based band, are taking a small break, probably to get again in to the studio.
The group did several live performances since last year's November to promote their last album "Night Thoughts".
After promoting the album during one year, Suede gave their last 2 concerts this week in Mexico.
Simon Gilbert, the drummer, sent a message to the fans thanking them for everything:
" Thanks so much to all of you who were there over the last 12 months...its been a F..... blast...I personally loved playing through NT live... in particular the Roundhouse shows last November... what a couple of nights they were...Love you all see you...again XXX"
I was there, on the Roundhouse shows!
Brett Anderson also, in a interview, said that, when the tour is finished, they will go back in to the studio to start the recording of another album!
Now the wait begins!

Let's Start A New Week

Let's start a new week with a new playlist, including:
- Leonard Cohen
- The Specials
- Echobelly
- Placebo
- Interpol
- TV On The Radio

These are the bands I want to explore during the next times.
Any advises that I should add here?
Have a great week.

The Passing Of A Genius

Leonard Cohen has, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 82.
The Canadian was much more than a singer. He was a poet, a musician, a writer, a lover, a passionate about life and a genuinely a good man.
He was be remembered by his fantastic long career and has a man who died still working. He released his last album 2 months ago.
Cohen inspired almost every modern artist and is among the greatest lyricists ever. His charming way of writing, in the beginning, as a way of impressing women is a conjuncture of beautiful and simple rhymes with a lot oh meaning.
Songs like Hallelujah, I'm Your Man, Tower Of Song, Suzanne or So Long, Marianne will be forever in our hearts.
Thank you Leonard.

Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize For Literature

Bob Dylan, the american singer, won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Dylan, best known as a musician, won the prize for having "created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".
A well deserved prize for the poet, since the 60's Dylan has been in the front line of poetry, having written songs about love, life, politics, revolutions, relationships. He always had, and still has, a genius way of choosing words and, let's not forget, most of today's songs are poetry translated into music.
Dylan was the first musician to have won a prize like this because of his lyrics.
Well done!

Depeche Mode Unveils New Album And Tour

Depeche Mode will release their 14th studio album next year, during the Spring. The album will be called Spirit and is being produced by James Ford.
Also, to promote the album, there will be a huge tour, starting in May. The first leg, with the Europeen dates have been confirmed.
The highlights will be Portugal Alive festival (again) and London Arena, first UK stadium since 1993.

Dates:

May 5 - Stockholm, Sweden - Friends Arena
May 7 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
May 9 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
May 12 - Nice, France - Stade Charles-Ehrmann
May 14- Ljubljana, Slovenia - Dvorana Stožice
May 17 - Athens, Greece - Terra Vibe Park
May 20 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Štadión Pasienky
May 22 - Budapest, Hungary - Groupama Aréna
May 24  - Prague, Czech Republic - Eden Aréna
May 27 - Leipzig, Germany - Festwiese
May 29 - Lille, France - Stade Pierre-Mauroy
May 31 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Telia Parken

June 3 - London, United Kingdom - London Stadium
June 5 - Cologne, Germany - RheinEnergieStadion
June 9 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion
June 11 - Hannover, Germany - HDI Arena
June 18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Letzigrund Stadion
June 20 - Frankfurt, Germany - Commerzbank-Arena
June 22 - Berlin, Germany - Olympiastadion
June 25 - Rome, Italy - Stadio Olimpico
June 27 - Milan, Italy - Stadio San Siro
June 29 - Bologna, Italy - Stadio Rentao Dall'Ara

July 1 - Paris, France - Stade de France
July 4 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Veltins-Arena
July 6 - Bilbao, Spain - BBK Live Festival
July 8 - Lisbon, Portugal - NOS Alive Festival
July 13 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK
July 15 - Moscow, Russia - Otkritie Arena
July 17 - Minsk, Belarus - Minsk-Arena
July 19 - Kiev, Ukraine - Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex
July 21 - Warsaw, Poland - PGE Narodowy
July 23 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Cluj Arena