Songs of Faith and Devotion is an amazing album

If Depeche Mode could be narrowed down to one song being their peak creatively, I think it's this song. It's the best of Martin's songwriting, Alan's production, and Dave's vocals. It's a synth heavy song, but comes across as more organic than that, more than the sum of its parts. That's the legacy of Alan Wilder. And Martin's gothic romantic lyrics had never sounded so desperate and longing. So very different to the synth pop they started out playing. Thanks for the reaction!

When I saw them in 93 they were on the edge of collapse but fuck were they brilliant, 41+ years a devotee

On Alan’s Recoil album playback evenings he said this was his favourite song from his time in Depeche. The album version being an intricate hybrid of 3 or 4 versions of the song they worked on and if you listen to the orchestration changing between verses you can pick this up. There’s also classic Alan-isms too, like the cleverly timed marimba break delay which avoid normal 1/4 beat timing but instead use what I think might be a dotted 8th in one channel. All in all the album version is preferred by a lot of fans and Depeche eventually reverted back to in on their live shows. Watch the devotional tour performance in Milan.

For me you chose by far the superior version to review. Dave Gahan prefers the remixed single version though and it was probably more suitable for a crack at the charts in that form

The official video has a totally different orchestration, so it almost feels like a different song. You should check it up also. Both versions are great ! :-)

They were using drums more seriously as well on this album. Sonically live this most represents a move to driven songs

This song is sooooo creepy. I feel as if a vampire is in my room and is not leaving till I’m done…. Dave kills this !!! By be creating an atomosphere that sets a mind scape unsafe …. Buckle up boys and girls and hope you have enough to get you through the night

Depeche Mode - Stripped 🎼🎶

I think the best thing that Depeche mode has done was "ULTRA" Dave gahan was getting up from a serious rehab. The melancholy is noticeable on the album, try "The Love Thieves" is beautiful.

The way he's bobbing his head in the beginning....I wondered if he was listening to something else🤣

I like how you listened to the whole thing before commenting. I see too many of these music reaction KZfaqrs pausing a song every 10 seconds to make a comment.

best dm song - devotion 93 live is the best

You should take a listen to their song Home.

You should review Faith No More's song w/Sparks called "This Town ain't Big enough for the both of us"

Really enjoyed your take on the song. Please check out Wrong video version for something really different by them.

Depeche mode is another fav band like duran duran .My screen name tells all.

Hey Marcus, I want to recommend "Sons of Kemet" is a type of modern jazz with a very strong beat. maybe you can like it. Try "In Memory Of Samir Awad" of "My Queen Is Doreen Lawrence" Greetings!

It's about addiction.

you have to buy some better headphones !! ;)

Coming in with a late comment, but for clarity/help: the song writer fo the group (who usually does background vocals, guitar, and keyboards, among the occasional lead lik the song “Home” I saw you’ve reacted to and am going to next) is openly submissive in his relationships (both and mostly romantic/bedroom, but also leaning that way within social circles… ) so this and *many* of their songs are written from a romantic or sexually consensually -submissive /slave view.

I prefer the video version but this one is amazing too. Songs of faith and devotion is in my opinion their best album along violator, such masterpieces.

I wouldn't have chosen this version. It sounds like a remix.

Not reading the comments before I write this but I'll get ahead of the disappointment and say NO - THE ALBUM VERSION ISN'T BETTER - it is different. That is all.