Depeche Mode amazes with a sensational live performance in Madrid | Culture | EUROtoday

The lights are turned off. Then, purple lighting emerges and an industrial bass sound breaks via. We weren’t flawed: we’re at a Depeche Mode live performance. Also for the passionate reception: 17,000 folks, tickets bought out. Just like on Thursday at this similar venue (WiZink Center in Madrid) and on the sixteenth on the Palau Saint Jordi in Barcelona and on the twenty first on the BEC in Bilbao. It is the endorsement of a coherent and integral profession, with its logical valley intervals; maybe, together with The Cure, probably the most respectable trajectory of the bands that triumphed within the eighties and are nonetheless energetic. A press release that none of those that have been at his Madrid live performance final night time will be capable of refute. Depeche Mode overwhelmed for 2 and 1 / 4 hours in a sensational recital stuffed with classics, with stops on their new work and with a number, Dave Gahan, who was completely dazzling.

The British group has been dropping members over 4 a long time of life (first with the defection of Vince Clarke after which because of the demise of Andy Fletcher), however the now duo (Dave Gahan and Martin Gore) maintains an unwavering inventive dedication. To present that they’re nonetheless creatively alive, final night time they opened the live performance with two songs from their new work, Memento Mori, 2023: the apocalyptic My Cosmos Is Mine, y Wagging Tongue, the tune that U2 want to compose at this time however that doesn't come out. It is shocking how little electrical {hardware} the group makes use of and the rocky sound armor it generates. The solely instrument that hardly takes a break is the just about orchestral drums of that surprise of the drumsticks that’s the Austrian Christian Eigner. Only three different males on stage, considered one of them not taking part in. But what Dave Gahan contributes is a departure.

With a black go well with, mild shirt, very elegant, horny and with flamenco-heeled white boots, Gahan seemed like a nocturnal Romeo with touches of a histrionic and cynical Joker (Joaquin Phoenix model). The singer exhibited actions of a plasticity that Nureyev would admire. A feat for a person who has used his now fibrous physique to experiment with every kind of hallucinogenic chemical compounds and who in a few months will flip 62 years previous. Even his swish finger snaps have been a piece of plastic artwork. And his voice, highly effective and severe, stuffed the pavilion with drama. In distinction, Martin Gore, with curly blonde hair, remained static for nearly all the live performance, concentrating on the keyboards at occasions and at different occasions on the electrical guitar and performing some very correct choruses. He was sensational particularly with the guitar, taking part in it with out exhibitionism, in a restrained approach and extracting sounds that have been each sharp and exquisite. Gore had him lead vocals midway via the live performance, performing Stragelove y Somebody, that he chained with sensitivity. They have been probably the most relaxed minutes of the live performance. When he returned to the stage, Gahan complimented his associate: “A wonderful angelic voice.”

The stage was sober and exquisite, with a large display within the again the place fragments of video clips with photographs of what was taking place on stage. An enormous letter M appeared superimposed on the display and inventive visuals emerged. A catwalk emerged from the stage alongside which Gahan sometimes slid (to say that he walked wouldn’t be true) to stay just a few meters from the viewers on the observe. The singer addressed the viewers with mastery and finesse. No shouting and “come on”. No no. He moved his physique and other people adopted him, hypnotized. Because the recital occurred below his distinguished management, with out main concessions to pavilion demagoguery. Only on the finish, in Just Can’t Get Enough, Gahan performed “oeeeeeeeh” with the viewers.

The singer put collectively a superb aesthetic tools with the microphone stand, which was his submissive dance associate all through the night time. Even when he grabbed his genitals with one hand and thrust his pelvis lewdly, he did it with class. A humble advice for the male sector: don't attempt it, particularly surrounded by folks, as a result of it’s going to by no means prove just like the Depeche Mode singer did.

They sounded classics like Policy of Truth, Walking in My Shoes, I Feel You, It’s No Good…They devoted Behind the Wheel to Andy Fletcher, and in Enjoy the Silence They invited a dancer, Belén López, to offer a flamenco contact. Well, that is significantly better than waving a flag of Spain, the place she goes to cease. They then took a brief break to string collectively 4 infallible closing items that put the WiZink at its ft: Waiting for the Night, Just Can’t Get Enough, Never Let Me Down Again and a really rocking model of Personal Jesus.

When the 4 of them hugged on the fringe of the stage to say goodbye to the viewers, Gore raised his arm and pointed his index finger at Gahan: even his associate surrendered to the vocalist.