S3
P1
EP
       ¤3¥2DEPECHE MODE¥1


Songs Of Faith And Devotion
(Mute)¤1

Released: 1993
Overall rating: ¤378.8%¤1
Number of songs: 10
Best songs: ¤5Walking In My Shoes 92%¤1
            ¤5I Feel You          86%¤1
            ¤5Judas               84%¤1
Singles
released:   ¤5I Feel You¤1
(so far)    

The  first  single,  I Feel You  shows
very  clearly  that  Depeche  Mode  of
today  is  more an ordinary rock group
than an absolutely  synthesizer  based
group. It makes me wonder if it really
is  the same  group that in the begin-
ning of the eighties had  Kraftwerk as
ð
their models. They have matured a lot.
  However all the songs are not in the
same  style  as  I.F.Y.,  some of them
are actually very much alike the songs
on Violator,  Music For The Masses  as
well as Black Celebration.
  As usual Martin Gore has written all
the songs, and he has done a good work
I think.
  This is definitely  not  their  best
album, but it is worth buying for both
old as well as new DM fans!


The songs are:

¤51. I Feel You  4:34                86%¤1

It has a very heavy sound  and a great
atmosphere, but is a bit gloomy though
the lyrics are quite romantic. However
the song is very good, especially when
played loud! 
Ð
¤52. Walking In My Shoes  5:33       92%¤1

Oh,  it's just great!  It begins quite
calmly, but gradually it thrives to be
a real hit. Yet the song seems to have
a  bigger  potential   than  they  are
using,  so hopefully they will release
a mixed version later. I'm waiting for
it!

¤53. Condemnation  3:18              80%¤1

This reminds me  a bit  about  the old
Depeche Mode,  perhaps just a bit, but
anyway!  The song has  kind of a black
shaping,  but that is something an old
Depeche Mode fan  should be used to by
now.  Furthermore it's  very  cool and
quite beautiful actually.

¤54. Mercy In You  4:17              68%¤1

Another  black shaped song.  Depressed
ð
music for depressed people maybe? Well
I don't  know,  but  perhaps  Gore  is
having a boring life...


¤55. Judas  5:12                     84%¤1

Somehow this song  reminds me a bit of
Somebody (Some Great Reward, 1984). It
is just a feeling. Anyway, it's really
a beautiful song  that should be  per-
fect to have in the background anytime
I'd say.  It has quite a gloomy ending
though.


¤56. In Your Room  6:22              78%¤1

A very dark and gloomy song. It sounds
exactly  as it has been taken from the
Black Celebration album.   It is  very
hard to judge, but I like it!
Ð
¤57. Get Right With Me  3:51         68%¤1

This song is actually quite jolly,  at
least compared to the others.  The end
is one of the weirdest though.

 
¤58. Rush  4:32                      77%¤1

The refrain is real fast, but the rest
is  at  the  normal speed,  quite slow
that is.  This  is  perhaps  the  most
sorrowful song of them all,  but it is
actually good.


¤59. One Caress  3:28                82%¤1

Another  song  in  the same  style  as
Judas. Really soft and beautiful!  And
the  strings  in  the  background  are
great,  perfectly arranged and conduc-
ted by Wil Malone.
ð
¤510. Higher Love  5:52              73%¤1

What could be more perfect than ending
a gloomy record with a gloomy song? DM
obviously thought the same way,  since
this  is  the last track.   Do I sound
negative? 
Ð