Editorial Reviews
Music Review:
Music Review
The Last Great Wilderness [Soundtrack]
Music: Club 80's Italia [Import]
The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project, Vol. 1
This Is Not 4 Free [CD-single]
Prokofiev: Peter & the Wolf, Cinderella (excerpts from Ballet) / Neeme Jarvi
Amazon.com
Counterfeit proves that Martin Gore has exemplary taste in music. The Depeche Mode songwriter's first full-length solo excursion is a covers album in the tradition of David Bowie's Pin-Ups. The 11 selections range from obviously classic works by rock lords Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and John Lennon; to a pop-trash wildcard--a winsome version of David Essex's "Stardust." What’s more, most of the songs fit in with Depeche Mode’s fascination with masochism, drugs, decay, and disillusion. The problem lies in Gore's lack of emotional and musical range. Fans will take great comfort in the set's familiar moody minor chords, electronic touches, echoing darkness, and Gore's vocals. But the end result is uniform in texture and tempo, and songs as originally powerful as "In My Time of Dying" or Cave’s "Loverman" just seem to float into the background, deprived of edge and individuality. Still, Gore plays Weill’s "Lost in the Stars" piano-and-strings straight, and seekers of tasteful ambience may enjoy the idea of various cult rock, folk, and country songs being transformed into Mode-ish mood music. --Garry Mulholland
Album Description
Songwriter and one of the founding members of Depeche Mode, offers the second installment in this counterfeit cover-version series. Featuring classic tunes by Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Kurt Weill and John Lennon. 11 tracks. Mute. 2003.