This collaboration could be REALLY exciting or REALLY boring. After 30 years, Vince Clarke (most known for his role in Erasure, but also Yazoo and a gazillion years ago – Depeche Mode) and Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode) have collaborated as the “creatively” named VCMG to… wait for it… release a brand new album preceded by a series of EPs.
Per the Depeche Mode website:
As Vince explains: “I’ve been getting into and listening to a lot of minimal dance music and I got really intrigued by all the sounds… I realised I needed a collaborator… so it occurred to me to talk to Martin.”
Says Gore: “Out of the blue I got an e-mail from Vince just saying, ‘I’m interested in making a techno album. Are you interested in collaborating?’ This was maybe a year ago. He said, ‘No pressure, no deadlines,’ so I said, ‘OK’.”
This part does not surprise me… the development of the album was done in a “Postal Service-esque” way – meaning they each worked alone in their respective studios, communicating via email, exchanging files until the album was ready. The album was ultimately mixed by California electronic artist Uberzone / Q. Expected release is Spring of 2012, preceded by a series of EPs, one of which is titled “SPOCK” (which will be available exclusively on Beatport at the end of November).
Here are my thoughts on this collaboration:
Good thoughts: Incredibly talented artists who have contributed to some amazing pioneering electronic bands. I like the fact that they used descriptions such as “minimal dance” and “techno”.
Bad thoughts: First off, lazy name (The Other Two – New Order spin-out) was somewhat more creative – I wonder if they fought over whose initials came first? Other DM spin-outs have been boring (Adam Wilder’s Recoil and honestly MG’s Counterfeit was really only good for one song). Will they sing? It would most likely be Martin who does sing, but he certainly has a sometimes sour voice… Will we miss the power of Dave Gahan or Andy Bell’s voices? Neither need to make money at this point – so it could be a “project”. The first EP is named “SPOCK” – seriously, guys?
As you can see I have more bad thoughts on this than good… I guess we’ll have to wait and see… I really really hope I am pleasantly surprised!!
BG
