Depeche Mode Songs Of Faith and Devotion 20 years on

Songs of Faith and Devotion was released 20 years ago this spring. It was a difficult album for the band who probably had no idea how to follow the massive success of Violator 3 years previous. It was a big departure from the synth-laden electronics of Violator and had -shock-horror- real drums played by Alan Wilder, who's last album with the band this was. Recorded over 8 months in Madrid in 1992, with Gahan coming out of a divorce and hooked on drugs, it was a difficult process.

The band and label Mute Records pushed the boat out and promoted the pants off this album, releasing four singles and over 20 remixes from the cream of the crop of upcoming and established artists such as Portishead, Brian Eno, William Orbit, Meat Beat Manifesto, Renegade Soundwave and others. They again employed the magnificent Anton Corbijn to handle the visuals.

I remember the release date. It was a few days before my birthday and I was waiting outside the record shop and went straight back home, skipping lectures at the University to listen before my housemate who was also a massive fan. I was already prepared for the guitar of I Feel You, and the recorded-in-one-take string laden Martin gore vocal of One Caress but after the first listen, I must admit I was disappointed. It wasnt Violator II. In fact, it was a massive departure from the three previous albums. However, upon repeated listens, especially on headphones, this album came alive and the production was so clean and yet complex and layered which revealed something new with each listen. I found it to be quite a slow affair and the faux-gospel annoyed (Condemnation, Get Right With Me, Judas). But with Rush, Higher Love, Walking in my Shoes and Mercy in You along with some inspired remixes of half of the album it has grown on me over the years and I still go back to it.

hidden CD inlay if you were lucky enough to buy an early edition.

I think over these past 20 years it has stood the test of time and it doesn't sound like the rest of 1993. That summer I went with my housemate and we saw Depeche Mode at Crystal Palace and an early glimpse of a newly tattoed Gahan and was the beginning of an epic 14 month tour that would eventually tear the band apart for almost 3 years, and almost kill Dave Gahan with a drugs overdose. Andy Fletcher also quit the tour in April 1994 due to "mental instabilities". 

You really need to watch the Devotional tour video. Its a fantastic display of a band with amazing sound complemented by great visuals (by Anton Corbijn). At times Dave Gahan looks like he's lost his marbles and does dive into the crowd during In Your Room.

Here's a site that has links to a recording of the San Francisco show in 1994 (soundboard) featuring lots of SOFAD tracks. 

And here's my favorite track from the album: