Con "Exciter", i Depeche Mode festeggiano vent'anni di carriera. Ne è passata di acqua sotto i ponti: siamo passati dalla dance degli esordi, all'elettronica, a una veste più cupa, a un avvicinamento al rock? Tutto questo senza dimenticare abbandoni di membri, overdose, alcolismo e un tentativo di suicidio che allarmò milioni di fan. Ma nel 2001, erano ancora qua, fortunatamente. Tuttavia,  notiamo che le sonorità sono cambiate ancora una volta. Le melodie vagamente dark che avevano fatto il loro successo per circa dieci anni, sono state accantonate preferendo arrangiamenti solari e leggeri; l'uso massivo dei sintetizzatori accompagnati da chitarre adoperate magistralmente (citiamo, ad esempio "Personal Jesus") passa in secondo piano preferendo elettronica minimale (fatta eccezione per "Dead of Night").

E' abbastanza divertente osservare come i fan siano stati piuttosto perplessi da questo album, così lontano dai suoi predecessori, mentre invece le persone che non erano mai stati contagiati dal "morbo Depeche" lo trovino piuttosto interessante. Vi invito a fare un sondaggio coi vostri amici: ad esempio "Freelove" non mi ha mai convinto, ma posso dirvi che ad una mia amica non dispiace. Ma passiamo alla recensione vera e propria.

L'album si apre col singolo "Dream On", una specie di manifesto dell'album, e possiamo poi sostare su "Shine": canzone, forse un pò troppo lenta ma godibile. In "The Sweetest Condition", Dave canta in modo molto intenso alla differenza di "When The Body Speaks" (lagnetta basata su una chitarrina fastidiosa). Per fortuna che poi arriva "Dead Of Night"!: credo che per molti sia una delle migliori canzoni dell'album, probabilmente perché rimanda alle vecchie sonorità, tanto care ai fan. Segue un intermezzo strumentale ("Lovetheme") e poi "Freelove", canzone non degna di essere la traccia centrale del disco. "Comatose", la trovo inutile mentre "I Feel Loved", non sarà un fenomeno, ma costituisce una sosta interessante che fa vibrare in attesa di "Breathe": ne apprezzo molto il testo, ma "perché la canta Gore?" "Easy Tiger" è un'altra traccia strumentale che prepara a "I Am You", canzone che reputo la seconda migliore di tutto l'album. Abbiamo quindi osservato un album non veramente speciale, ma tutto sommato potabile; sfortunatamente "Goodnight Lovers" lo chiude: lentezza, ripetitività, assenza di vitalità ne sono i tratti caratteristici.

In sintesi, mentirei se dicessi che è il mio disco preferito e che sono fiera dei miei ragazzi di Basildon; tuttavia, vi consiglio il cd per godervi "Dead Of Night", che vale davvero l'ascolto.

Elenco tracce testi samples e video

01   Dream On (04:20)

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

05   The Dead of Night (04:50)

06   Lovetheme (02:02)

Instrumental

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.

09   I Feel Loved (04:20)

10   Breathe (05:17)

11   Easy Tiger (02:05)

Instrumental

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

Carico i commenti...  con calma

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  Darius

 "Exciter rappresenta il rovescio della medaglia per il trio di Basildon: un lavoro orientato verso la leggerezza umorale, classificabile come serenità e spensieratezza."

 "Il primo estratto Dream On, brano solare ed estivo, conferisce al singolo un'impronta maggiormente poppish rispetto alle hit meno commerciali del passato."