DEPECHE MODE SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE LP VINYL 33RPM AND CD NEW

Side: 1 1. In Chains 2. Hole To Feed 3. Wrong 4. Fragile Tension 5. Little Soul 6. In Sympathy Side: 2 1. Peace 2. Come Back 3. Spacewalker 4. Perfect 5. Miles Away / The Truth Is 6. Jezebel 7. Corrupt Side: 3 1. In Chains 2. Hole To Feed 3. Wrong 4. Fragile Tension 5. Little Soul 6. In Sympathy 7. Peace 8. Come Back 9. Spacewalker 10. Perfect 11. Miles Away / The Truth Is 12. Jezebel 13. Corrupt If 2005's Playing the Angel saw Dave Gahan and Co. make a point of proving they could keep up with their younger contemporaries, Sounds of the Universe, the band’s 12th studio album, sounds like they’ve accepted their three-decade long legacy and settled into a role that’s decidedly avuncular. Swapping the industrial clangor for dreamy, analogue atmospherics marred by the occasional buzzing jolt, producer Ben Hillier (Doves, Blur, Elbow) has achieved an impressive consistency with the band’s synth-drenched soundscape. Tracks like “In Chains” see the band descend into middle-aged, forlorn balladry, though the rough and rhythmic "Wrong" and the upbeat, rockist “Hole To Feed” show they still have a gnarly side.--Danny McKenna