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Già la "naturalistica" cover intende fornire all'ascoltatore un seppur blando sentore di frivolezza e positività. "Exciter", difatti, rappresenta il "rovescio della medaglia" per il trio di Basildon: relegate definitivamente le rovinose e catastrofiche vicissitudini degli anni '90, Gahan & Company concepiscono un lavoro orientato verso la leggerezza umorale, classificabile addirittura come serenità e spensieratezza. Sacrificando temporaneamente quell'aura di oscurità e mistero, "compagna di viaggio" dal lontano 1986 (Black Celebration), i Mode inaugurano di fatto il terzo (?) periodo della loro gloriosa carriera, caratterizzato dal recupero tout-court dell'elettronica pura e dei synth ricercati. Una nuova ed imperdibile virata che pure coinvolgerà i primi, veri album solisti di Gahan e Gore (pubblicati durante la doverosa pausa Exciter - Playing The Angel), Paper Monsters e Counterfeit².
Si è precedentemente accennato al ritorno da parte dei Depeche Mode verso sounds elettronici più distintivi e l'abnegazione del rock & derivati, contraltare di "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" e "Ultra", addirittura "addolcendo" il classico vigore dei synth in direzione di vibe sonori flirtanti l'ambient e il lounge da atmosfera. Le ultime considerazioni possono tranquillamente descrivere il primo estratto Dream On, brano solare ed estivo nel quale la lieve direzione elettronica è intercalata da una chitarra pseudo-country, mix che conferisce al singolo un'impronta maggiormente poppish se comparata con passate hit meno "commerciali" come Barrel Of A Gun, I Feel You, Never Let Me Down Again, Stripped e Walking In My Shoes. Le successive Shine e Freelove, tranquille, spensierate, malinconiche, scevre di distorsioni e pesanti synth in favore di un singolare connubio elettro-ambient, seguono pedissequamente il medesimo discorso.
Con I Feel Loved si precipita in un gustoso mix elettro-house, assolutamente danzereccio e coinvolgente, perfetto per i club, mentre la bizzarra (ed eccezionalmente rockeggiante) The Dead Of Night introduce psichedelici synth e aberrazioni "robotiche" tra le più pulsanti e dinamiche dell'album, contemporaneamente la graffiante e ruvida voce di Gahan collabora con passione a iperbolizzare il brano all'unisono. Comatose e Breathe, intendono, come da tradizione, sposare sounds elettronici raffinati e sofisticati alle liriche tonalità vocali acute di Gore, nel primo caso disposte a ripudiare le percussioni; pure le "Gahaniane" I Am You e When The Body Speaks perseguono la leggerezza e la placidità delle dirimpettaie sopra menzionate. Goodnight Lovers, "lullaby" à la Depeche Mode, chiude liricamente ed ancora più quietamente l'album: dolci bleep ed un coro gospel sono il perfetto background ad un Gahan meno "irato" del solito.
Sebbene "Exciter" sia spesso declamato come il lavoro meno riuscito della band, una buona votazione non può non essere attribuita, più che altro a causa della quasi assoluta positività del mood generale, inaudito per quei Depeche Mode, da anni in preda al buio "artistico". Una mini - rivoluzione a favore di una band più volte sull'orlo del collasso, necessariamente da rinvigorire e da rimettere in pista senza ulteriori deragliamenti.
Depeche Mode, Exciter (2001)
Dream On
Shine
The Sweetest Condition
When The Body Speaks
The Dead Of Night
Lovetheme
Freelove
Comatose
I Feel Loved
Breathe
Easy Tiger
I Am You
Goodnight Lovers
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Shine (05:32)
Put on your blindfold
And a dress that's tight
And come with me
On a mystery night
Open your eyes
�
Follow our stars under a painted sky
We'll leave the world behind
We're learning to fly
We used to get by
�
Forget the pictures on your TV screen
We'll steal the visions
That you keep for your dreams
You can turn me on
�
I was blind and I saw the light
My angel coming
In a brilliant white
Shine for me
�
You've been hanging from a rope of mediocrity
Strung up by your insecurities
You can shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
�
Follow our stars under a painted sky
We'll leave the world behind
We're learning to fly
We used to get by
�
Forget the pictures on your TV screen
We'll steal the visions
That you keep for your dreams
You can turn me on
�
You've been hanging from a rope of mediocrity
Strung up by your insecurities
You can shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
Somebody has to
Shine for me
It's difficult not to
Shine for me
03 The Sweetest Condition (03:42)
Taken in by the delicate noise
Knocked to the ground by the subtle thunder
Shackled and bound by the sound of your voice
Wandering around in silent wonder
�
What chance did I have
With the silver moon
Hanging in the sky
Opening old wounds
�
Taking hold of the hem of your dress
Cleanliness only comes in small doses
Bodily whole but my head's in a mess
Fuelling obsession that borders psychosis
�
It's a sad disease
Creeping through my mind
Causing disabilities
Of the strangest kind
�
Getting lost in the folds of your skirt
There's a price that I pay for my mission
A body in heaven and a mind full of dirt
How I suffer the sweetest condition
�
Taken in by the delicate noise
Knocked to the ground by the subtle thunder
Shackled and bound by the sound of your voice
Wandering around in silent wonder
04 When the Body Speaks (06:01)
To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned
�
What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow
�
I'm just an angel
Driving blindly
Through this world
�
I'm just a slave here
At the mercy
Of a girl
�
Oh I need your tenderness
Oh I need your touch
Oh I dream of one caress
Oh I pray too much
�
To the soul's desires
The body listens
What the flesh requires
Keeps the heart imprisoned
�
What the spirit seeks
The mind will follow
When the body speaks
All else is hollow
�
You keep me waiting
For the promise
That is mine
�
Please stop debating
Please stop wasting
Your time
�
Oh I need your tenderness
Oh I need your touch
Oh I dream of one caress
Oh I pray too much
07 Freelove (06:10)
If you've been hiding from love
If you've been hiding from love
I can understand where you're coming from
I can understand where you're coming from
If you've suffered enough
If you've suffered enough
I can understand what you're thinking of
I can see the pain that you're frightened of
And I'm only here
To bring you free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
I've been running like you
I've been running like you
Now you understand why I'm running scared
Now you understand why I'm running scared
I've been searching for truth
I've been searching for truth
And I haven't been getting anywhere
No I haven't been getting anywhere
And I'm only here
To bring you free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
Hey girl
You've got to take this moment
Then let it slip away
Let go of complicated feelings
Then there's no price to pay
We've been running from love
We've been running from love
And we don't know what we're doing here
No we don't know what we're doing here
We're only here
Sharing our free love
Let's make it clear
That this is free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
No hidden catch
No strings attached
Just free love
08 Comatose (03:23)
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And Sliding out
Of conscious feeling
�
Take a light
Start the flame
Play the game
I am lost
In your eyes
Hypnotised
Here I believe
Dreams never deceive
�
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And sliding out
Life has no meaning
�
Bodies move
Colours change
Girl you're strange
Here inside
I'm at home
I'm alive
�
Don't be afraid
I'm floating away
�
Comatose, almost
You've got me dreaming
Slipping in
And sliding out
Of conscious feeling
�
Comatose, almost
�
Comatose, almost
�
Comatose.
12 I Am You (05:09)
You have bound my heart with subtle chains
So much pleasure that it feels like pain
So entwined now that we can't shake free
I am you and you are me
No escaping from the mess we're in
So much pleasure that it must be sin
I must live with this reality
I am yours eternally
There's no turning back
We're in this trap
No denying the facts
No, no, no
No excuses to give
I'm the one you're with
We've no alternative
No, no, no
Dark obsession in the name of love
This addiction that we're both part of
Leads us deeper into mystery
Keeps us craving endlessly
Strange compulsions that I can't control
Pure possession of my heart and soul
I must live with this reality
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
I am you and you are me
There's no turning back
We're in this trap
No denying the facts
No, no, no
No excuses to give
I'm the one you're with
We've no alternative
No, no, no
13 Goodnight Lovers (03:49)
Here, somewhere in the heart of me
There is still a part of me
That cares
And I'll, I'll still take the best you've got
Even though I'm sure it's not
The best for me
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
I, I can see the danger signs
They only help to underline
Your beauty
I'm not looking for an easy ride
True happiness cannot be tried
So easily
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
You can take your time
I'll be waiting in line
You don't even have to give me
The time of day
When you're born a lover
You're born to suffer
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
Like all soul sisters
And soul brothers
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Altre recensioni
Di Perez12
È un soffice affresco notturno di elettro-pop elegantemente interpretato con classe ed animo.
I Depeche sono ancora un modello da seguire e sono ancora distanti anni luce dal cozzare in stereotipi qualunquisti commerciali.
Di Demo1069
Le melodie vagamente dark sono state accantonate preferendo arrangiamenti solari e leggeri.
"Dead Of Night" vale davvero l'ascolto, una delle migliori canzoni dell'album.
