Exchanging creative juices with : Depeche Mode

The release of Dave Gahan's solo album ,2003's Paper Monsters caused tension in the Depeche Mode camp.The singer griped that his role in the band was that of "an instrument being used by others", before dropping dark hints that the Essex veterans' future was far from certain.
Two years on ,his mood is infinitely brighter.The singer and bandmates Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher recently regrouped in California to record their 11th studio album.To Gahan's surprise it's been a happy reunion.
"The strangest thing that's happened is that we're all getting on pretty well,"he says."With the last album (2001's Exciter ) ,it all felt a bit dead.This time we're all pulling together a lot more."
Tellingly ,chief songwriter Martin Gore's creative monopoly has been broken.For the first time in the bands 25 year career ,Gahan has brought his own songs to the table ."There's a new drive to Depeche mode ," he says wryly "It's called competition."
Despite the harmonious intra-band relations,Gahan promises that the still-untitled new album is as dark as anything the band have recorded,pitching it somewhere between the stadium electronica of 1990's Violator and 1993' guitar heavy Songs of faith and devotion.
"With Depeche Mode ,there's always that darkness in there ,"he says "At the same time ,there's hopefulness .Out of despair comes something good."
As the bands stint in Santa Barbara draws to a close ,Gahan is looking forward to a few weeks offbefore recording resumes in his adopted hometown of New York.
"We're ready to make a move ,"says the singer."There's only so much sun you can take when you're singing songs about pain and suffering."

SLEEVENOTES
Working title: TBC
Due:October 2005
Completed Tracks :Pain,Suffer well,Everything,Free,Sinner in me,Macro
Producer:Ben Hillier
Recorded at :Sound Design Studios,Santa Barbara,California
Strange but true:A recent posting on the bands website claimed that Andy Fletcher would be on the cover of top-shelf ladies mag Playgirl.Sadly it turned out to be an April fools joke.