New Depeche Mode album-Memento Mori 2023

Subject: New Depeche Mode album
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Mar 23 - 02:38 PM

Not folk of course but what the heck. Not listened to Depeche Mode since my kids left home but really enjoying their new album, Memento Mori. Some typical stuff and some surprises. Well, to me anyway :-)

Subject: RE: New Depeche Mode album-Memento Mori 2023
From: GUEST,Diolch
Date: 25 Mar 23 - 07:08 PM

Martin Gore's solo Somebody must qualify as singer-songwriter, surely? The heartfelt simplicity reminds me of Si Kahn. I know it's piano and folk prefers guitars, but I bet it's been covered on acoustic guitar many times.

Anyway, Depeche Mode are in the BBC "Piano Room" slot on the Gary Davies morning show in two weeks, but fans will be pleased to know the performance will be available on BBC Sounds so we don't have to listen to the whole programme. From the press release:

"For Radio 2’s Piano Room, each artist performs three tracks - a new song, one of their well-known tracks and a classic cover version from another artist - accompanied by an orchestra."

"Depeche Mode’s Piano Room will be broadcast on Thursday 6 April and their classic cover is a track by Scott Walker, with their session accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The recording was Dave Gahan and Martin Gore’s first ever time performing at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios, but also their first UK performance since the sad death of keyboard player, Andy Fletcher, last year. Depeche Mode has had a huge influence within both the electronic and alternative music scenes since the 80s and which continues to this day, with 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart, 17 Top 10 albums in the UK chart and having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. The Grammy nominated band has won numerous UK and international awards and accolades, and in 2020 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their 15th studio album, Memento Mori, is due to be released in March 2023."

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/radio-2-piano-room-u2-bono-the-edge-depeche-mode-cat-burns

I couldn't resist checking youtube and, yes, there are multiple acoustic guitar covers of Somebody, some folkier than others, fortunately none recorded in the same circumstances as the original (an in-joke for the fans there). There's even a classical guitar version.