Finally we are getting to the Alan Wilder years. I’m so excited. This album was so groundbreaking. It must be a really exciting for all of them to be creating something no one had heard before. Can’t wait for part two. Thanks Vaughn 😊.
I first heard Get the Balance Right in about March 1983. Not long after it was released. I was at a neighbourhood disco in Durban, South Africa. The sound system was excellent. And, to this day, I recall the song sounded fantastic, made a deep impression on me for its sheer originality and I still listen to it regularly almost 40 years later!!
I think it's important to add that it was specifically the 12" of GTBR that was so influential in Detroit- the "Combination Mix" with its extended abstract middle breakdown(s). I still think it's one of DMs best 12" singles and the first in a long line of amazing 12inches that ended with Violator, when publications shifted to CD.
Alan Wilder is not a bad songwriter as he had said. "Two Minute Warning" (my favorite) and "The Landscape is Changing" are two of the best in this album. 😉
@@wtorules4743 yeah. The other members should have let him write more songs in "Some Great Reward" and "Black Celebration". Maybe less of the ballads on Black Celebration and add 1 or 2 songs from Alan 😉 Anyway, I love all their albums from Speak and Spell to SOFAD. A Broken Frame and Black Celebration were my favorites while growing up. I used to dislike Speak and Spell, but now I found that it has its own childlike charm. Construction Time Again set the stage for the bigger DM sound, so it is therefore a very important album.
Hello everyone :-) "Construction Time Again" is my favorite album when it comes to Depeche first 5 years (1980-1985) of existence. For me this album is the first "genuine" Depeche Mode album. This is the first time they sound not like four young, naive boys, but adult men with few question to the world. Great metalic texture of sound. There are at lease 6 songs which could have become a singles (in my opinion). Gahan's voice for the firs time sounds like David Gahan's voice. Very important album for the group. Love to coming back to this album. Kind regards from west London ;-)
For several years I had no idea what the boys looked like...I was raised in a very rural area and no access to much...it was on a visit to family that a cousin lend me her cassette and I was immediately enthralled by the sounds ...I was 13 ...now 52 and Im still enthralled and now by your reviews and words...they take me back...Thank You so much for this and please continue!
My favorite DP album. I was in my young teens visiting my grandmother in Germany. Family friends had two girls around my age that introduced me to DM for the first time. I was hooked right away. It was very inventive for the time. Sampling hammer sounds, balls dropping ect.. Can't describe the feeling listening to this in the early 80's. Just amazing. Something a person who just hears this for the fist time now wouldn't understand.
Yes I agree...the young ones will never understand because they're exposed to everything now and going backwards...you just can't...you don't appreciate at all.
Pipeline ... Paaaffff... ahhhouuuuu.... Paaaffff... 😍 Emulator One-Time.... George, you are the best. I waiting so long of a Person who makes this Videos about Depeche Mode and the great Alan. And about this great Synthies and Samplers. George, you are the Keyboardplayer for Depeche Mode 😄 Sorry for my bad english, greetings from south-west Germany 😉
Always a pleasure to discover the way you "look" at DM evolution. Great video as always. Thank you for that. Longing to watch the rest of their discography. I discovered CTA (as a full album) at the same time as SGR, so at first (and under a great excitement) , they were kind of the both sides of a same coin to me. I was 13 year old and it was in the end of the eighties. Then I quickly found SGR was the warm one, maybe due to the lyrics, and CTA the cold one, due to this new musical approach. They were paving the way...and helped me grow as a person and as a musician. Thanks again for these reviews. Greetings from France.
Yea! My first depeche mode album . This is the album Where they found their sound and it is kinda underrated if you ask me. From the Very first Song " Love in itself " you Know its gonna be good its just so Hard hitting and industrial..love it. 😉👍
CTA has so much atmosphere. This album cemented my love for DM. I love the experimentation and sampling. It was a great launchpad for the other albums to come. Looking forward to part deux!
May I just state that I think 'Get The Balance Right!' is a brilliant song, despite what the band has said. In fact, it was my favourite out their entire catalogue a few years ago. It fits with the more mature subject matter in CTA; plus, the musical experimentation is a clear leap forward from ABF. Off topic - I love 'It's Called A Heart'. Regarding Fletch and hammers (Fletch Files, remember!) - apparently, during the making of the video for 'Stripped', he got into a fight with Dave. You know how excitable young men can become over the slightest thing whilst smashing up old cars... This was only partially witnessed by Alan, who recounted what he could remember of that amusing episode with trademark humour in the Shunt Q&A vault. (You can tell I've spent an obscene amount of hours perusing it.) Going back on topic - I love CTA for starting the trend of recording the sound of the space as well as the unique sampling. Automatically, a compelling industrial atmosphere is created, no matter the quality of the audio player. I am very biased towards this trilogy of albums, so - could I choose a b-side for Q1 of the review, because I can't imagine getting rid of any album track except the reprise of Everything Counts. I mean, that counts, but both options are kind of cheating... Rambling, sorry. Looking forward to part 2!
My brother, who was into heavy rock, heard me playing Pipeline when I first got the album and came banging on my bedroom door demanding to know what record I was playing and how did they get that sound? 👍
Thanks so much for the video. It's great to see reference to John Foxx, who is forgotten by many for his architecture of sounds. I saw him play with Louis Gordon on the Exotour '97 and Subterranean Omnidelic Exotour (1998). You've done a great review. Look forward to part 2
So interesting about the underground Detroit following! I didn’t know that. 😍I love Alan Wilder’s songs on this album. The video for get the balance right is so weird. It seems like they thought Alan was the lead singer.
Vaughn. You are spoiling me today. 2 vids !!!? Alphaville and now this!! You making this such a special Sunday for me, especially since I have a very sleepy 8 month old on my chest. Anyhow. To hark back to 2004’s remix album (1981-2004) i loved the remix of ‘get the balance right’ so it propelled me to by the original. Construction time again is absolutely amazing and of course I will finish up my thoughts in pt2. :) Very special album deserves a 2 part review and of course it spawns the birth of the great AW. :)
I Remember listening to this album on headphones for the first time in the mid 80's. This album and Black Celebration MUST be experienced using headphones (or earbuds) first. The mixes are just brilliant. Pipeline was like nothing I had experienced before. *Note* this is before I had listened to Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten , true industrial music. Pipeline was my intro into industrial music. But Depeche Mode planted the seed. Pipeline is what I consider one of the most important songs in DM's back catalog.
Hey Vaughn, I just watched Rick Beato’s new video, where he’s unwrapping his 1 million subscribers award from UA-cam. He said he started his channel in 2016, and reached 5k subscribers later that year, and three years later he’s at 1 million. We all want this for you, and we’re going to make it happen for you! Keep going, never stop! Yeah!
Weird seeing someone looking like Fletch and knowing what to do with the actual keyboards ;) Jokes aside, I love this video and are a new a faithful subscriber.
DM are the only band I can think of that were truly creative with samplers - in terms of sound design. Take Kraftwerk (Electric Cafe), Art of Noise, many others, they just played back library sounds, or just sampled and then played back that sound., Mode would manipulate the sound, layer, change, effects, and of course the actual sound source itself was captured in a creative way.
Another brilliant review matey....opening with Pipeline....takes is me back to 12 yrs old again. CTA is a very underrated album. Very political, and relevant even now. Thanks VG 👏
Been listening to this album recently 👍 , Edit: just want to say I loved "It's called a Heart" when it came out, loved the bass sound running throughout on that track. #HappyMemories
Hi Vaughn. Great video and look forward to watching part 2. I’m enjoying this review series going through each of the albums and seeing if your / other people’s opinions tie in with mine. I have a Get The Balance Right story which I’d like to share. I grew up in Upminster a few stops up the train line from Basildon and through the summer of 82 me and a few friends used to catch the same train into London every week (record / clothes shopping etc) and this train was also caught regularly by Depeche Mode (Dave, Martin, Fletch) who were recording A Broken Frame at the time. We used to talk about various stuff like Fad Gadget and Vince having just left (I also used to see Vince on the train too on separate occasions - he was recording the Yazoo album at the time but that’s another story), anyway they told me that they’d just recorded a song to release as a stand alone single to release between A Broken Frame and Construction Time Again which was Get The Balance Right and they had just recorded an episode of Jim’ll Fix It (with Jimmy Savile 😳) where they played their new new song and gave away a keyboard to the fan. I don’t recall seeing it at the time but here it is on UA-cam ua-cam.com/video/znB48rSMB0Q/v-deo.html It’s all very cringe to watch as the DM boys were all young and Alan had just joined and we all know about Jimmy Savile but it’s a nice little snapshot of the niceness and innocent awkwardness of the band at that time. They really were a lovely bunch of normal down to earth guys who politely endured me and my friends throughout the summer of 82. I would also add. I saw them at Hammersmith Odeon (as it was at the time) on the Broken Frame tour in October 82 and met them at the stage door (with Alan this time) and they recognised us and greeted us like old friends. A great time 🎹🎤🎹🎹
C.T.A . Is a very industrial, mechanic album and the approach of "making it sound different than before" is quite well fulfilled . In my view it felt a bit too mechanical when remembering the first listen - But this gets well compensated by such atmospheric songs like "Love in itself" and my absolute favorite "The landscape is changing" - An Alan Wilder song that has a lot feeling - ( If only it wasn`t an environmental song but a love song). EVERYTHING COUNTS has to my ears a far more funky approach than GET THE BALANCE RIGHT which also had a very odd and innocent flutey b side called THE GREAT OUTDOORS!! that i still love listening to ( also an A Wilder song). MORE THAN A PARTY is one of those DM songs again that can be played by a rock band line up - Hard, dark and heavy, although the lyrics sound in parts quite naive " Then take all the ice cream so we've got none"..... *slap wrist* "cuck cuck cuck...) :))
My mind is open to delve deeper into this album and really see the pieces that make the puzzle. I’ve always looked through the eyes of a 15 year old with a crush on the cute lead singer. Never realized how deep the music and all involved really are. Love your views and input Vaughn.
Get The Balance Right was (in my opinion anyway) the first 12” where Depeche Mode’s creativity really started to shine through and separate them from everyone else. Compare that remix to anything that they had done previously (Leave in Silence, See You, Just Can’t Get Enough etc) and it is clearly apparent that this song was when they started going off piste and were on the road to becoming the masters of the 12” remixes.... Martins songs + Gareth and Alan in the studio were the holy trinity (although I simply have to give Flood a mention for the production on Violator as well)
I fail in describing how important, overwhelming, and breathtaking this album was for me. Not only was it the very first "real" music album I ever bought with my own pocket money at the age of 13, it was also the very first Depeche Mode album I ever bought. The soundscapes, the composition, the contrast and almost contradiction of the "weird" noises with the "pop" appeal, sometimes even within one song ("Told You So"), especially at the time in 1983... it all blew me away completely. This album has not only initiated my love for DM, it has truly shaped and expanded my taste in music, my love for "noise" in music (I didn't know the term "industrial" at the time, of course), and electronic sounds in general. I could go on and on but it wouldn't fit into one comment. 😀
I believe the two songs Alan wrote were linked to his previous contract, or something like that. When you think about the ecological mood we live in currently, these songs were really 30 years in advance on their time...
5 років тому+3
Daniel Miller and Frank tovey "fad gadget" found gold
Bernard Sumner has used the melodica and it worked. And let us not forget the great Augustus Pablo. So there. If anybody out there is interested, try and find a copy Mojo Magazine's Limited Edition Electro-Pop Special from 2005. It has articles on Kraftwerk, Pet Shop boys, David Bowie's Low, New Order, Gary Numan and much more great reading. Plus a three part history of Depeche Mode. And Dave, Martin and Fletch are the cover stars as well. Sadly, no Alan.
An interesting dynamic from my memories of the Get The Balance Right time. The single was very well received but the 12” was massively popular. The 12” limited editions (blue, red and green) with live tracks from the Broken Frame tour allowed for a re-appraisal of the first two albums by current fans but also was a nice introduction to the back catalogue for new fans. It really helped transition them into the Construction Time Again album, which as you say, all the stars aligned and industrial electro pop was born. My first concert was the Construction tour where they really got the live sound bang on/loud with a genuine stage act: Gahan jumping around, singing powerfully and the other three hitting stuff as well as playing the keys parts. GTBR was THE turning point to my mind. :) Loving the videos about my favorite subject. Thank you so much.
So are you saying that Gareth Jones recorded two (or four if stereo) tracks simultaneously.? One for the dry sound of the Synth/sampler and one for the "wet" reverb of the room? Or, if multiple microphones were used in the room, multiple mixer channels that were fed the reverberating sound at different positions downmixed to a stereo pair and then recorded on to tape at the same time as the dry sound was recorded. So he then could fade in our out the "wet" channels of reverb on top of the "dry" channel`, if so. Gets kind of a home-brew convolution reverb by doing that.... Also a bit similar to the technique when recording drums with "overhangs" which catch some overall sound in stereo that you can mix with individually closely miced "more dry" mono drum sounds?
A bit late to the game, placing a comment here... but watching this video really brings back the feels. Construction Time Again was how I met DM for the very first time, back in 1984 (I think?). See where I am originally from (Turkey), back in the day finding good, recent music on tape was difficult so there was a whole industry of shops that would put music from an album onto tape for you. We used to trawl through these shops to see who had the latest albums, purchased a blank tape from them (or, brought our own) and for a small fee, got them to record our album(s) of choice onto tape. Some of the more "edgy" shops would not only carry the latest albums, but also had a great catalogue of good music to explore. Anyways, I digress... I remember popping into my local "recording shop" one day, and the guy said, "hey I've got two new albums in this week I'd like you to try". He pulled out his favourite, White Feathers by Kajagoogoo, saying it was fantastic. He then pulled out the second one, saying it was "a tad different" and "I may or may not like it". I kid you not, from that moment I set my eyes on that cover, Construction Time Again, I just KNEW... I just knew this was going to be the start of a lifelong journey. I get goosebumps just thinking back and writing about that moment still. He played a couple of songs from White Feathers first (which were pretty good, btw) but when Love, In Itself came on... O-M-G!!! I'm pretty sure the owner said "see, it's not everyone's cup of tea" because he saw my face, but I can tell you I must have gone white or my jaw had dropped or both because I was completely taken aback by that sound. I remember stuttering "uh, lets do both" and spending the next couple of days in a kind of daze still trying to comprehend what I'd heard. I could not wait until my tapes were ready and the rest is history. Thank you for all you do @VaughnGeorge!
DM, to me is a pop music act that was one of a kind and but still carries the underground elements. Sure, might be pop in the UL but in the US, it’s alternative, music for the non-jocks and mostly antithesis of prom queens. Yeah. Alternative. We Americans carried that new wave underground badge proudly then. Yeah Gore the “weird” or odd or just being a lyrical genius. Shake the disease. That video was groundbreaking and is still so visually innovative. They are and still ahead of their time. Can’t find any act that tops them.
Back in '85 I struck up a conversation with a girl in my class by asking what she was listening to on her Walkman. It was this album and my first listen to DM. Loved it so much I bought it and Some Great Reward soon after.
I see you saw all the documentaries about DM, as i am, and quoted them, that's good, we are fans. To me there's nothing "wrong" to say about "Get The Balance Right", it's a strong track, i've really never undersand why they and the people put this one on the trash... it was just 1983, and they did good with it, Alan is fantastic and put the song toegether, it's a really good move. Anyway, Gareth Jones help them to be who they are today, with the amount of industrial realm involved, definitely. Martin is a genius, no way out, with a really good team, over the years.Thanks ! Cheers
I agree with everything you said here. But before this album, we also had another album which somewhat anticipated this. I am referring to Metamatic, by John Foxx. Yes, not as pop as Depeche Mode but not as artsy either as Kraftwerk or Einstürzende Neubauten.
Very nice. I love this era with Garreth Jones. I think this one is tied with Some Great reward for my favorite album. I love all their other stuff too of course.....well up through Ultra.
My personal favourite album by them. I think it has a very layered soundscape and really set the tone for a lot of later industrial acts (Work Hard for example sounds very much like a lot of Rammstein). I also like the socio-political aspects of it in the lyrics
One of the explanation the "new direction" with this album : Einstürzende Neubauten. I thought it was a full Berlin album, but actually I realised that it was realised in London and mixed in Hansa Studio in Berlin But we still say "the Berlin trilogy"
Its funny you talking about songs like "its called a heart" as only the other day I was thinking I wonder what Vaughn will do with all the non album tracks, look forward to part 2, this album is one of my most listened to and I am going to have a heck of job trying to work out which is my favourite track, never mind discarding one.
I'm going to be really unpopular for saying this, but I've always struggled with this album, and I've owned it since it came out. Out of all the early albums this is my least favourite, but it does contain one of their best singles 'Everything Counts'. I respect that I will be in a minority on this one.
Lose: The Landscape Is Changing (sorry, Greta) Radical: More Than a Party, so fast, obscure and "esoteric", it hit me a lot at the time Listened to the most: Everything Counts The one I prefer now: Told You So Overall: 8,5/10
Great video! I have a question.. I consider myself an "expert" on DM gear.. I actually own an Emulator 1 and 2+, two Emax l, DX7, etc...even an Alesis Andromeda signed by Alan Wilder. But I never found any information about them using the Teisco 110F (which I also own)... can I ask you where did you take that information from please? Thanx in advance!
For me always remains THE question: who the hell is singing "2 Minute Warning"??? Its NOT Dave. Its sounds like Alan a lot but why he always denies it???
Hey Vaughn, CTA is my most-loved DM record and I am so happy to hear your thoughts on it. You forgot to mention the extra 'percussions' like wrenches, ping pong balls, spaghetti strainers etc. used as samples :P Do share if you have information on the specific objects used in the making of the sounds on the record.
I really loved this album with the beginnings of sampling and the continued wonderful lyrics and music Martin and Alan put together. The mono/poly is also my favorite synth.
Oh, V, now with multiple parts you wanna keep us in agony! Like the tv series! Althought I enjoy every single video, I can't wait for the real thing to start! Black celebration up to SOFAD. But first things first..
Shoreditch in the 80s was a bomb site now it's a Millenial bar mecca!!! As for the Hommer Melodica I can play that part from everything counts learnt it of there vdo on on VHS video player when I was 15 oh the good old days
Depeche Mode need Alan Wilder but Alan Wilder needs Depeche Mode to show his true genius. Was the Roland Jupiter 8 modelled to look like a Death Star Console ?
At this stage the entrance of Gareth Jones was probably more important than Alan joining the band, as Alan's influence would grow with time. Indeed this seems quite a happy and democratic time for the band, with all 4 members being involved in finding interesting noises to sample and use to create the music
After the passing of Fletch I’ve been back through the catalogue in chronological order, just for a refresh. From Speak and Speak to Ultra, as this is where the wheels fell off! It’s a nice comparison to hear them all in this way as opposed to hearing them adhoc. Anyway this album to me is a low point. Technically a huge leap forward but it’s such a bleak and harsh listen that I find it hard to love.
would love to hear more thoughts on the alan wilder tracks!! i sincerely think in your memory and fools are really fantastic tunes. Wilder is not a songwriter as much as he is an architect of mood, and those songs and the unsound methods albun really encapsulate that.
1) Lose … hang on a minute, I like all these songs enough to keep. Do I have to lose one? well my least favourite is Love, In Itself ; 2) Most Radical - Pipeline ; 3) Most listened to Without a doubt is Everything Counts ; 4) My Favourite song from this was and still is Told You So ; 5) overall score, 8 1/2 out of 10, same as A Broken Frame but for all different reasons. DM were groundbreaking n these days.
1. leave out - shame. ratical song - pipeline 3- listen to side A. 4 - love now - more than a party/pipeline 5-rating 7.7 / 10 - i have the original 1983 vinyl lp, brought at moola's record store in johannesburg in the carton centre walking line in 1988. when i start working for the fist time in my life.
Scene: Wholesome British girl waits anxiously in her living room as she waits for Fletch to arrive; soon she will introduce him to her parents Fletch: *knocks on door* Mum: " 'ello, you must be Fletcher; how do you do?" Fletch: *does killer clap* Mum: "Aww, he's nice" Dad: *peeking head out of the hallway* "hmm..good choice"
Love!! Some great song writing. The lyrics are top notch Martin gore the demigod. Love, in itself. Just a song that I never t tired of. The down tempo. And horns and the quasi improv of synth horn jabs to close it out is my thing!! ua-cam.com/video/oRHYe1xJG-I/v-deo.html And then there is told you so. Love this synth dance track. Everything counts was a highlight of my music for the masses tour where they ended their first session at Jones Beach, NY. OMD opened for them that night. Get the balance right is my jam!!! And nice insight on Derrick May. Flexible is even funkier. Thanks for this, V!
For some reason, a rather widespread (ie = found in regular stores) pirate version of this album came out in Germany in the early 2000s with different artwork and not the original album title ("Shame". Appropriate title for a bootleg?). The whole album in a different sequence that makes no sense, and screws the continuity/transitions. Why this album, why in Germany (even if copies could be found in other countries), I have no idea. It usually happens with public domain material, but... "Construction Time Again", really?
Finally we are getting to the Alan Wilder years. I’m so excited. This album was so groundbreaking. It must be a really exciting for all of them to be creating something no one had heard before. Can’t wait for part two. Thanks Vaughn 😊.
You're welcome John!!
Vaughn George You’re welcome and thank you Vaughn 😊.
I first heard Get the Balance Right in about March 1983. Not long after it was released. I was at a neighbourhood disco in Durban, South Africa. The sound system was excellent. And, to this day, I recall the song sounded fantastic, made a deep impression on me for its sheer originality and I still listen to it regularly almost 40 years later!!
Amazing song.
I think it's important to add that it was specifically the 12" of GTBR that was so influential in Detroit- the "Combination Mix" with its extended abstract middle breakdown(s).
I still think it's one of DMs best 12" singles and the first in a long line of amazing 12inches that ended with Violator, when publications shifted to CD.
Get The Balance Right! is one of the band´s best singles. For me personally, it is the beginning of Depeche Mode.
Alan Wilder is not a bad songwriter as he had said. "Two Minute Warning" (my favorite) and "The Landscape is Changing" are two of the best in this album. 😉
Jek Last if I’m right in thinking he wrote the B-Side to Love in Itself, Fools.
@@wtorules4743 yeah. The other members should have let him write more songs in "Some Great Reward" and "Black Celebration". Maybe less of the ballads on Black Celebration and add 1 or 2 songs from Alan 😉
Anyway, I love all their albums from Speak and Spell to SOFAD. A Broken Frame and Black Celebration were my favorites while growing up. I used to dislike Speak and Spell, but now I found that it has its own childlike charm. Construction Time Again set the stage for the bigger DM sound, so it is therefore a very important album.
Hello everyone :-) "Construction Time Again" is my favorite album when it comes to Depeche first 5 years (1980-1985) of existence. For me this album is the first "genuine" Depeche Mode album.
This is the first time they sound not like four young, naive boys, but adult men with few question to the world. Great metalic texture of sound. There are at lease 6 songs which could have become a singles (in my opinion). Gahan's voice for the firs time sounds like David Gahan's voice. Very important album for the group. Love to coming back to this album.
Kind regards from west London ;-)
Amen 👍👍
I love how you said Martin’s way of writing is Naturally Weird. That’s the perfect description of his music, and also the man himself.
21:17 is golden! Great video Vaughn!
You are welcome ! VG :-)
For several years I had no idea what the boys looked like...I was raised in a very rural area and no access to much...it was on a visit to family that a cousin lend me her cassette and I was immediately enthralled by the sounds ...I was 13 ...now 52 and Im still enthralled and now by your reviews and words...they take me back...Thank You so much for this and please continue!
I was 12 when I first listened to them deeply. Around 2003 / 2005
My favorite DP album. I was in my young teens visiting my grandmother in Germany. Family friends had two girls around my age that introduced me to DM for the first time. I was hooked right away. It was very inventive for the time. Sampling hammer sounds, balls dropping ect.. Can't describe the feeling listening to this in the early 80's. Just amazing. Something a person who just hears this for the fist time now wouldn't understand.
Yes I agree...the young ones will never understand because they're exposed to everything now and going backwards...you just can't...you don't appreciate at all.
Construction time again is by far my favorite of the first 3.
A broken frame is a masterpiece though
Pipeline ... Paaaffff... ahhhouuuuu.... Paaaffff... 😍 Emulator One-Time.... George, you are the best. I waiting so long of a Person who makes this Videos about Depeche Mode and the great Alan. And about this great Synthies and Samplers. George, you are the Keyboardplayer for Depeche Mode 😄 Sorry for my bad english, greetings from south-west Germany 😉
Always a pleasure to discover the way you "look" at DM evolution. Great video as always. Thank you for that. Longing to watch the rest of their discography.
I discovered CTA (as a full album) at the same time as SGR, so at first (and under a great excitement) , they were kind of the both sides of a same coin to me. I was 13 year old and it was in the end of the eighties.
Then I quickly found SGR was the warm one, maybe due to the lyrics, and CTA the cold one, due to this new musical approach.
They were paving the way...and helped me grow as a person and as a musician.
Thanks again for these reviews. Greetings from France.
Yea! My first depeche mode album . This is the album Where they found their sound and it is kinda underrated if you ask me. From the Very first Song " Love in itself " you Know its gonna be good its just so Hard hitting and industrial..love it. 😉👍
CTA has so much atmosphere. This album cemented my love for DM. I love the experimentation and sampling. It was a great launchpad for the other albums to come. Looking forward to part deux!
Gareth Jones for president!
Go figure why the band called him back when recording Ultra, after Al’s departure...?!
May I just state that I think 'Get The Balance Right!' is a brilliant song, despite what the band has said. In fact, it was my favourite out their entire catalogue a few years ago. It fits with the more mature subject matter in CTA; plus, the musical experimentation is a clear leap forward from ABF.
Off topic - I love 'It's Called A Heart'.
Regarding Fletch and hammers (Fletch Files, remember!) - apparently, during the making of the video for 'Stripped', he got into a fight with Dave. You know how excitable young men can become over the slightest thing whilst smashing up old cars...
This was only partially witnessed by Alan, who recounted what he could remember of that amusing episode with trademark humour in the Shunt Q&A vault. (You can tell I've spent an obscene amount of hours perusing it.)
Going back on topic - I love CTA for starting the trend of recording the sound of the space as well as the unique sampling. Automatically, a compelling industrial atmosphere is created, no matter the quality of the audio player.
I am very biased towards this trilogy of albums, so - could I choose a b-side for Q1 of the review, because I can't imagine getting rid of any album track except the reprise of Everything Counts. I mean, that counts, but both options are kind of cheating...
Rambling, sorry. Looking forward to part 2!
Gareth got the keyboard into amps using a room’s natural reverb from working on John Foxx’s Futurist masterpiece “Metamatic” album in 1980.
Such a great series. Loved your insights as well as finding things out like how Jones recorded the sound in rooms using microphones. Fascinating!
you dont need to be tongue tied chatting with us,...you have in your corner, ....relax,calm down & just be the vaughn we love & respect
John Evans you are good man and a star!! Your support and kind words are appreciated!! Thank you my friend !! VG😎👍🎹
My first and personal favorite DM album
My brother, who was into heavy rock, heard me playing Pipeline when I first got the album and came banging on my bedroom door demanding to know what record I was playing and how did they get that sound? 👍
Thanks so much for the video. It's great to see reference to John Foxx, who is forgotten by many for his architecture of sounds. I saw him play with Louis Gordon on the Exotour '97 and Subterranean Omnidelic Exotour (1998). You've done a great review. Look forward to part 2
So interesting about the underground Detroit following! I didn’t know that. 😍I love Alan Wilder’s songs on this album. The video for get the balance right is so weird. It seems like they thought Alan was the lead singer.
Vaughn. You are spoiling me today. 2 vids !!!? Alphaville and now this!! You making this such a special Sunday for me, especially since I have a very sleepy 8 month old on my chest.
Anyhow. To hark back to 2004’s remix album (1981-2004) i loved the remix of ‘get the balance right’ so it propelled me to by the original.
Construction time again is absolutely amazing and of course I will finish up my thoughts in pt2. :)
Very special album deserves a 2 part review and of course it spawns the birth of the great AW. :)
I Remember listening to this album on headphones for the first time in the mid 80's. This album and Black Celebration MUST be experienced using headphones (or earbuds) first. The mixes are just brilliant. Pipeline was like nothing I had experienced before. *Note* this is before I had listened to Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten , true industrial music. Pipeline was my intro into industrial music. But Depeche Mode planted the seed. Pipeline is what I consider one of the most important songs in DM's back catalog.
Hey Vaughn, I just watched Rick Beato’s new video, where he’s unwrapping his 1 million subscribers award from UA-cam. He said he started his channel in 2016, and reached 5k subscribers later that year, and three years later he’s at 1 million. We all want this for you, and we’re going to make it happen for you! Keep going, never stop! Yeah!
Weird seeing someone looking like Fletch and knowing what to do with the actual keyboards ;)
Jokes aside, I love this video and are a new a faithful subscriber.
DM are the only band I can think of that were truly creative with samplers - in terms of sound design. Take Kraftwerk (Electric Cafe), Art of Noise, many others, they just played back library sounds, or just sampled and then played back that sound., Mode would manipulate the sound, layer, change, effects, and of course the actual sound source itself was captured in a creative way.
Another brilliant review matey....opening with Pipeline....takes is me back to 12 yrs old again. CTA is a very underrated album. Very political, and relevant even now. Thanks VG 👏
Been listening to this album recently 👍 , Edit: just want to say I loved "It's called a Heart" when it came out, loved the bass sound running throughout on that track. #HappyMemories
"It's called a Heart" is NOT on "Construction Time Again". What album you talking about??
@@AcidLemon84 I know it isn't, Vaughn mentioned "It's called a Heart" in the above video, did you watch the above video?
@@PatheticoMorbid I'm high off my head. Had no idea what he talks about?? It doesn't matter :-D
@@AcidLemon84 😂👍
Hi Vaughn. Great video and look forward to watching part 2.
I’m enjoying this review series going through each of the albums and seeing if your / other people’s opinions tie in with mine.
I have a Get The Balance Right story which I’d like to share.
I grew up in Upminster a few stops up the train line from Basildon and through the summer of 82 me and a few friends used to catch the same train into London every week (record / clothes shopping etc) and this train was also caught regularly by Depeche Mode (Dave, Martin, Fletch) who were recording A Broken Frame at the time.
We used to talk about various stuff like Fad Gadget and Vince having just left (I also used to see Vince on the train too on separate occasions - he was recording the Yazoo album at the time but that’s another story), anyway they told me that they’d just recorded a song to release as a stand alone single to release between A Broken Frame and Construction Time Again which was Get The Balance Right and they had just recorded an episode of Jim’ll Fix It (with Jimmy Savile 😳) where they played their new new song and gave away a keyboard to the fan.
I don’t recall seeing it at the time but here it is on UA-cam
ua-cam.com/video/znB48rSMB0Q/v-deo.html
It’s all very cringe to watch as the DM boys were all young and Alan had just joined and we all know about Jimmy Savile but it’s a nice little snapshot of the niceness and innocent awkwardness of the band at that time.
They really were a lovely bunch of normal down to earth guys who politely endured me and my friends throughout the summer of 82.
I would also add. I saw them at Hammersmith Odeon (as it was at the time) on the Broken Frame tour in October 82 and met them at the stage door (with Alan this time) and they recognised us and greeted us like old friends. A great time
🎹🎤🎹🎹
C.T.A . Is a very industrial, mechanic album and the approach of "making it sound different than before" is quite well fulfilled .
In my view it felt a bit too mechanical when remembering the first listen - But this gets well compensated by such atmospheric songs like "Love in itself" and my absolute favorite "The landscape is changing" - An Alan Wilder song that has a lot feeling - ( If only it wasn`t an environmental song but a love song).
EVERYTHING COUNTS has to my ears a far more funky approach than GET THE BALANCE RIGHT which also had a very odd and innocent flutey b side called THE GREAT OUTDOORS!! that i still love listening to ( also an A Wilder song).
MORE THAN A PARTY is one of those DM songs again that can be played by a rock band line up - Hard, dark and heavy, although the lyrics sound in parts quite naive " Then take all the ice cream so we've got none"..... *slap wrist* "cuck cuck cuck...) :))
Love this album !!! Back in 87/88 S&S, CTA, SGR were always in the discount bin in cassette format haha ... Great video !!! Looking fwd to part 2 ...
My mind is open to delve deeper into this album and really see the pieces that make the puzzle. I’ve always looked through the eyes of a 15 year old with a crush on the cute lead singer. Never realized how deep the music and all involved really are. Love your views and input Vaughn.
Alan is a few years older than Martin and Fletch who were born in 1961. Alan lied about his age to get the job and was born in 1959.
OMG he is turning 60 this year... when's his birthday?
It already passed it was on June 1st.
Get The Balance Right was (in my opinion anyway) the first 12” where Depeche Mode’s creativity really started to shine through and separate them from everyone else. Compare that remix to anything that they had done previously (Leave in Silence, See You, Just Can’t Get Enough etc) and it is clearly apparent that this song was when they started going off piste and were on the road to becoming the masters of the 12” remixes.... Martins songs + Gareth and Alan in the studio were the holy trinity (although I simply have to give Flood a mention for the production on Violator as well)
I fail in describing how important, overwhelming, and breathtaking this album was for me. Not only was it the very first "real" music album I ever bought with my own pocket money at the age of 13, it was also the very first Depeche Mode album I ever bought. The soundscapes, the composition, the contrast and almost contradiction of the "weird" noises with the "pop" appeal, sometimes even within one song ("Told You So"), especially at the time in 1983... it all blew me away completely. This album has not only initiated my love for DM, it has truly shaped and expanded my taste in music, my love for "noise" in music (I didn't know the term "industrial" at the time, of course), and electronic sounds in general. I could go on and on but it wouldn't fit into one comment. 😀
Love and can entirely relate to this comment!
I believe the two songs Alan wrote were linked to his previous contract, or something like that. When you think about the ecological mood we live in currently, these songs were really 30 years in advance on their time...
Daniel Miller and Frank tovey "fad gadget" found gold
Wow. I have something in common with Depeche Mode... I had a DX7! 🤣 30+ years later, still learning something new every day...
Bernard Sumner has used the melodica and it worked. And let us not forget the great Augustus Pablo. So there. If anybody out there is interested, try and find a copy Mojo Magazine's Limited Edition Electro-Pop Special from 2005. It has articles on Kraftwerk, Pet Shop boys, David Bowie's Low, New Order, Gary Numan and much more great reading. Plus a three part history of Depeche Mode. And Dave, Martin and Fletch are the cover stars as well. Sadly, no Alan.
An interesting dynamic from my memories of the Get The Balance Right time. The single was very well received but the 12” was massively popular. The 12” limited editions (blue, red and green) with live tracks from the Broken Frame tour allowed for a re-appraisal of the first two albums by current fans but also was a nice introduction to the back catalogue for new fans. It really helped transition them into the Construction Time Again album, which as you say, all the stars aligned and industrial electro pop was born. My first concert was the Construction tour where they really got the live sound bang on/loud with a genuine stage act: Gahan jumping around, singing powerfully and the other three hitting stuff as well as playing the keys parts. GTBR was THE turning point to my mind. :)
Loving the videos about my favorite subject. Thank you so much.
I watched this before and now I enjoyed watching it again, Sir. What a fantastic sound. You know your stuff. -Andy Ry Denmark.
So are you saying that Gareth Jones recorded two (or four if stereo) tracks simultaneously.?
One for the dry sound of the Synth/sampler and one for the "wet" reverb of the room?
Or, if multiple microphones were used in the room, multiple mixer channels that were fed the reverberating sound at different positions downmixed to a stereo pair and then recorded on to tape at the same time as the dry sound was recorded.
So he then could fade in our out the "wet" channels of reverb on top of the "dry" channel`, if so.
Gets kind of a home-brew convolution reverb by doing that....
Also a bit similar to the technique when recording drums with "overhangs" which catch some overall sound in stereo that you can mix with individually closely miced "more dry" mono drum sounds?
A bit late to the game, placing a comment here... but watching this video really brings back the feels. Construction Time Again was how I met DM for the very first time, back in 1984 (I think?). See where I am originally from (Turkey), back in the day finding good, recent music on tape was difficult so there was a whole industry of shops that would put music from an album onto tape for you. We used to trawl through these shops to see who had the latest albums, purchased a blank tape from them (or, brought our own) and for a small fee, got them to record our album(s) of choice onto tape. Some of the more "edgy" shops would not only carry the latest albums, but also had a great catalogue of good music to explore. Anyways, I digress... I remember popping into my local "recording shop" one day, and the guy said, "hey I've got two new albums in this week I'd like you to try". He pulled out his favourite, White Feathers by Kajagoogoo, saying it was fantastic. He then pulled out the second one, saying it was "a tad different" and "I may or may not like it". I kid you not, from that moment I set my eyes on that cover, Construction Time Again, I just KNEW... I just knew this was going to be the start of a lifelong journey. I get goosebumps just thinking back and writing about that moment still. He played a couple of songs from White Feathers first (which were pretty good, btw) but when Love, In Itself came on... O-M-G!!! I'm pretty sure the owner said "see, it's not everyone's cup of tea" because he saw my face, but I can tell you I must have gone white or my jaw had dropped or both because I was completely taken aback by that sound. I remember stuttering "uh, lets do both" and spending the next couple of days in a kind of daze still trying to comprehend what I'd heard. I could not wait until my tapes were ready and the rest is history. Thank you for all you do @VaughnGeorge!
When you open with the melody to my favorite song "pipeline" I was like hell yeah!!!
DM, to me is a pop music act that was one of a kind and but still carries the underground elements. Sure, might be pop in the UL but in the US, it’s alternative, music for the non-jocks and mostly antithesis of prom queens. Yeah. Alternative. We Americans carried that new wave underground badge proudly then.
Yeah Gore the “weird” or odd or just being a lyrical genius. Shake the disease. That video was groundbreaking and is still so visually innovative. They are and still ahead of their time. Can’t find any act that tops them.
yesss been waiting for this, this is when the sampling takes hold
I haven't finished watching the video yet but I gotta tell You that you do the best album reviews of my favourite band :-]
Damian That is such a great thing to say !! Thank you mate🎹
I completely Agree with You!! Vaughn's AMAZING, SURPRISING & SO TALENTED!! I Love Him!!
"Work hard" my fav Track ..
Pipeline is an EXCELLENT song, really. Its use of samples is just brilliant !
I am shocked to see that Val Kilmer has such a huge knowledge of Depeche Mode. Great video!
Back in '85 I struck up a conversation with a girl in my class by asking what she was listening to on her Walkman. It was this album and my first listen to DM. Loved it so much I bought it and Some Great Reward soon after.
I see you saw all the documentaries about DM, as i am, and quoted them, that's good, we are fans.
To me there's nothing "wrong" to say about "Get The Balance Right", it's a strong track, i've really never undersand why they and the people put this one on the trash... it was just 1983, and they did good with it, Alan is fantastic and put the song toegether, it's a really good move. Anyway, Gareth Jones help them to be who they are today, with the amount of industrial realm involved, definitely. Martin is a genius, no way out, with a really good team, over the years.Thanks ! Cheers
I agree with everything you said here. But before this album, we also had another album which somewhat anticipated this. I am referring to Metamatic, by John Foxx. Yes, not as pop as Depeche Mode but not as artsy either as Kraftwerk or Einstürzende Neubauten.
Everybody loves Violator. But Construction Time Again is the album I probably listened to the most. I absolutely love this album.
Best album ever, by any band.
Very nice. I love this era with Garreth Jones. I think this one is tied with Some Great reward for my favorite album. I love all their other stuff too of course.....well up through Ultra.
My personal favourite album by them. I think it has a very layered soundscape and really set the tone for a lot of later industrial acts (Work Hard for example sounds very much like a lot of Rammstein). I also like the socio-political aspects of it in the lyrics
One of the explanation the "new direction" with this album : Einstürzende Neubauten.
I thought it was a full Berlin album, but actually I realised that it was realised in London and mixed in Hansa Studio in Berlin
But we still say "the Berlin trilogy"
And Then... Is My GoTo Favorite Track On This "Masterpiece"!
SO GOOD!
Its funny you talking about songs like "its called a heart" as only the other day I was thinking I wonder what Vaughn will do with all the non album tracks, look forward to part 2, this album is one of my most listened to and I am going to have a heck of job trying to work out which is my favourite track, never mind discarding one.
I'm going to be really unpopular for saying this, but I've always struggled with this album, and I've owned it since it came out. Out of all the early albums this is my least favourite, but it does contain one of their best singles 'Everything Counts'. I respect that I will be in a minority on this one.
Andy Hudson fair enough matey !! There are no wrong opinions !! 😎👍
Lose: The Landscape Is Changing (sorry, Greta)
Radical: More Than a Party, so fast, obscure and "esoteric", it hit me a lot at the time
Listened to the most: Everything Counts
The one I prefer now: Told You So
Overall: 8,5/10
Great video! I have a question.. I consider myself an "expert" on DM gear.. I actually own an Emulator 1 and 2+, two Emax l, DX7, etc...even an Alesis Andromeda signed by Alan Wilder. But I never found any information about them using the Teisco 110F (which I also own)... can I ask you where did you take that information from please? Thanx in advance!
For me always remains THE question: who the hell is singing "2 Minute Warning"??? Its NOT Dave. Its sounds like Alan a lot but why he always denies it???
And the answer is: Dave sings it!
another great review, many thanks.
Hey Vaughn, CTA is my most-loved DM record and I am so happy to hear your thoughts on it. You forgot to mention the extra 'percussions' like wrenches, ping pong balls, spaghetti strainers etc. used as samples :P Do share if you have information on the specific objects used in the making of the sounds on the record.
I really loved this album with the beginnings of sampling and the continued wonderful lyrics and music Martin and Alan put together. The mono/poly is also my favorite synth.
Oh, V, now with multiple parts you wanna keep us in agony! Like the tv series! Althought I enjoy every single video, I can't wait for the real thing to start! Black celebration up to SOFAD. But first things first..
Shoreditch in the 80s was a bomb site now it's a Millenial bar mecca!!! As for the Hommer Melodica I can play that part from everything counts learnt it of there vdo on on VHS video player when I was 15 oh the good old days
Patricia Richardson well said !! V😎👍
Ahhhhh what a happy Sundayyyyyy as always buddy a pleasure, I love when u get of track and rooster is a super sound effect hahahaa
Depeche Mode need Alan Wilder but Alan Wilder needs Depeche Mode to show his true genius. Was the Roland Jupiter 8 modelled to look like a Death Star Console ?
At this stage the entrance of Gareth Jones was probably more important than Alan joining the band, as Alan's influence would grow with time. Indeed this seems quite a happy and democratic time for the band, with all 4 members being involved in finding interesting noises to sample and use to create the music
Get the Balance Right - one of my favorite songs !
Hi ! Do you know the Belgian band Front 242 (no Shuffle) ?
this is the album that made me a fan of depeche mode
Great information, Vaughn. Thank you!
Yes! Waited for it for a while!
My first DM album - a well worn cassette tape that got me hooked on the boys from Basildon
After the passing of Fletch I’ve been back through the catalogue in chronological order, just for a refresh. From Speak and Speak to Ultra, as this is where the wheels fell off! It’s a nice comparison to hear them all in this way as opposed to hearing them adhoc. Anyway this album to me is a low point. Technically a huge leap forward but it’s such a bleak and harsh listen that I find it hard to love.
would love to hear more thoughts on the alan wilder tracks!! i sincerely think in your memory and fools are really fantastic tunes. Wilder is not a songwriter as much as he is an architect of mood, and those songs and the unsound methods albun really encapsulate that.
Depeche are humble and self effacing, (U2 are pretentious)
I can't listen to U2 thanks to the hypocritical Bono and his self justice warrior antics!! VG:-)
Vaughn George as a zuit Afrikaans don’t go there
@@Reprodestruxion I'm Not Afrikaans :-)
Get the Balance Right is one of my fav DM songs!
Here, here
Get The Balance Right is so underrated. Its them seeing and raising Vince's Yazoo. i would replace it with any of the tracks on Side 2.
I agree, it’s such an underrated track
It was huge in the clubs in Sydney at the time
All well explained as usual. If you need another pair of hands when you go in Shoreditch , let me know, I’m not too far
Also. Vaughn, do you have "Melody Maker" magazine in your collection, where DM posted an ad to find a new keyboardist?
1) Lose … hang on a minute, I like all these songs enough to keep. Do I have to lose one? well my least favourite is Love, In Itself ; 2) Most Radical - Pipeline ; 3) Most listened to Without a doubt is Everything Counts ; 4) My Favourite song from this was and still is Told You So ; 5) overall score, 8 1/2 out of 10, same as A Broken Frame but for all different reasons. DM were groundbreaking n these days.
Vaughn, let's play all 15 songs from the album in part 2! 🎹
Was construction time the emu era ir a fairlight? I think the dx7 was used on music for the the masses
The production for everything counts is so awesome in my opinion
1. leave out - shame. ratical song - pipeline 3- listen to side A. 4 - love now - more than a party/pipeline 5-rating 7.7 / 10 - i have the original 1983 vinyl lp, brought at moola's record store in johannesburg in the carton centre walking line in 1988. when i start working for the fist time in my life.
“Get the balance right” is my first DM political message that made senses to a teen at that time.
I love the song And Then
Scene: Wholesome British girl waits anxiously in her living room as she waits for Fletch to arrive; soon she will introduce him to her parents
Fletch: *knocks on door*
Mum: " 'ello, you must be Fletcher; how do you do?"
Fletch: *does killer clap*
Mum: "Aww, he's nice"
Dad: *peeking head out of the hallway* "hmm..good choice"
CTA is the realy the first album of DM, experimental,a strong sound concept, and now a days is hard to listen it for me.
I loved get the balance right! It’s the song that turned me on to Depeche Mode
Love!!
Some great song writing. The lyrics are top notch Martin gore the demigod.
Love, in itself. Just a song that I never t tired of. The down tempo. And horns and the quasi improv of synth horn jabs to close it out is my thing!!
ua-cam.com/video/oRHYe1xJG-I/v-deo.html
And then there is told you so. Love this synth dance track.
Everything counts was a highlight of my music for the masses tour where they ended their first session at Jones Beach, NY. OMD opened for them that night.
Get the balance right is my jam!!! And nice insight on Derrick May. Flexible is even funkier.
Thanks for this, V!
For some reason, a rather widespread (ie = found in regular stores) pirate version of this album came out in Germany in the early 2000s with different artwork and not the original album title ("Shame". Appropriate title for a bootleg?). The whole album in a different sequence that makes no sense, and screws the continuity/transitions. Why this album, why in Germany (even if copies could be found in other countries), I have no idea. It usually happens with public domain material, but... "Construction Time Again", really?