Tag Archives: Recoil

Keep Calm & Listen to Depeche Mode

Ah yes, I’m still on my European vacation high.  I have a couple of “Keep Calm and Carry On” catch phrase items that I brought back with me in the form of a magnet and tumbler.  I found the above image through Google on Red Bubble (click the picture to buy the shirt, I’m going to buy one). I know it’s how I definitely keep calm!

Here are a few pictures that show just a bit of my Depeche Mode collection, which includes Recoil and solo projects by Martin Gore and Dave Gahan.  I sometimes use them as subjects for the “Photo a Day Challenge” themes on Instagram because the themes have words that appear in their lyrics or song titles, and that album or single will be the first image to pop into my head (if you want to join in on the “Photo a Day Challenge” meme, go to Fat Mum Slim for details).  Some day, I’ll do some kind of photo essay of everything I own that is Depeche Mode related.  Until then, I’ll continue to share photo collages of selections from my collection. 

August 26: Dream (Dreaming of Me, 7″ UK imported single)

August 31:  Hidden (Hidden Houses by Dave Gahan from the album Paper Monsters)

September 16: Strange (Strangelove 7″ and 12″ domestic singles; Strange & Strange Too on VHS; A Strange Hour in Budapest on Blu-ray DVD and USB by Recoil)

September 18: Price (Early Depeche Mode song called Price of Love on Live at Crocs vinyl album from Amoeba Music)

Spirit of Talk Talk Launch Party Tonight!

I’ve known about this event for sometime, but my trip to London did not at all coincide with this launch party, otherwise I would have bought tickets straightaway! 

There are a lucky few of you out there who were able to score tickets to the Spirit of Talk Talk launch party tonight at 229 on Great Portland Street in London (see posts from the Recoil blog and the Spirit of Talk Talk blog).  Every time I see Great Portland Street, I just think of the Metropolitan Line because that’s a few stops away from the hotel we stayed at.  I read that  Alan Wilder may make an appearance (*sigh*).  For those of you going, have fun, and I will be there in spirit and living vicariously somehow through you all tonight!

Flyer courtesy of the Spirit of Talk Talk Facebook page

Show Me Your Luscious Apparatus: My Recoil Contest Entry

Last week on Facebook, the Shunt staff of Alan Wilder’s group Recoil announced a contest called “Show Me Yours” (I added Luscious Apparatus, which is a Recoil song), to celebrate the arrival of the DVD “A Strange Hour in Budapest” (abbreviated as ASH here).  Fans were encouraged to show off their DVDs and any other products they bought having to do with ASH (post here).  I created two entries:  the first entry was a collage that I submitted through Instagram (the second picture seen above).  I then submitted another entry, which actually turned into an outfit post, featuring my rock t-shirt of the week. 

The shirt peaking out from underneath the jacket is my Recoil shirt from the concert where I met Alan Wilder (post here).  That shirt will always remind me of what a wonderful experience it was to meet Alan and see his live show presentation with Paul Kendall.  I also played with the photo editing capabilities of my Acer Iconia tablet, which rendered some cool effects.  By the way, there will be five winners, and each will receive a photo from the concert, signed by Alan.  I have many items signed by him, but knowing that Alan Wilder himself will be picking the winner was the driving decision behind entering the conest.  I’ll be sure to post if I win!

Outfit – Forever 21 faux leather studded biker jacket; Recoil t-shirt; H&M skirt; Sam Edelman “Lorissa” pumps; Wendy Brandes rings; Coach sunnies

A Strange Hour In Budapest: Red Edition

I missed the pre-order of the Deluxe Edition of Recoil’s “A Strange Hour In Budapest” on Alan Wilder’s birthday last week, and now they have sold out (it was in a digi-pack, individually hand stamped, numbered and limited to 1000).  I saw all of the hype leading to the release and still didn’t make the cut.  THANKFULLY the Shunt staff will be releasing a more standard edition of the DVD (the Red Edition).  I just ordered that yesterday, along with the 8GB USB Stick.

Below are the details on the DVD and the USB stick, and both are available at the Recoil Store here.  Get yours while you can!

‘A STRANGE HOUR IN BUDAPEST’

Main format details :

Blu-ray

contents :

A STRANGE HOUR IN BUDAPEST
Running time : 84 minutes

PROMOTIONAL FILMS
Running time : 21 minutes

WANT (Renegade of Noise 808 remix)
PREY (Shotgun mix)
ALLELUJAH (subHuman album version)

Directed by : Dmitry Semenov

LIVE PROJECTIONS
Running time : 16 minutes

Directed by : Steve Fabian, Igor Dvorský and Dmitry Semenov

Download package
(free with store purchase of Blu-ray)
 
contents :
 
1) A Strange Hour In Budapest’ soundtrack sampler (8 mins) – choice of 24bit wav, 16bit Apple Lossless, FLAC or 320 kbps mp3
2) 24 page Blu-ray Art booklet including additional spreads  – PDF format
3) Approx. 75 x high res Recoil live photographs and film stills
4) Project wallpapers for smartphone, iPad and computer screen
 
‘A STRANGE HOUR IN BUDAPEST‘
 
Recorded & filmed at : Szikra, Budapest : 04.12.2010
Produced, directed & edited by : Attila Herkó for Umatik
Executive producer : Alan Wilder
Stereo & 5.1 soundtrack mix : Alan Wilder & Paul Kendall
 
Main film : 1920 x 1080p High Definition : 16:9
Audio : DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround : LPCM Stereo 2.0
Extra material : 1080p HD 16:9 : LPCM Stereo 2.0

(Note: This is a zone-free all region disc which will play in any Blu-ray player)

——————

USB contents :

1) Full 84 minute stereo soundtrack – choice of 24bit wav, 16bit Apple Lossless, FLAC or 320 kbps mp3
2) 3 x ‘A Strange Hour 2′ reconstructions – stereo audio – choice of 24bit wav, 16bit Apple Lossless, FLAC or 320 kbps mp3
3) Extended trailer for ‘A Strange Hour In Budapest’ – approx 5 minutes : 1080p HD mp4
4) 24 page Blu-ray Art booklet including additional spreads – PDF format
5) Approx. 75 x high res Recoil live photographs and film stills
6) Project wallpapers for smartphone, iPad and computer screen

(Images courtesy of Shunt)

Coming Soon: A Strange Hour in Budapest

This was posted a couple of weeks ago on Alan Wilder’s blog:  A concert film will be released of Recoil’s “A Strange Hour in Budapest”, which was a show that came at the end of 2010 (the leg that I attended here in San Diego).   Per the blog:  “The proposed package will feature the full concert film, running at approximately 84 minutes in HD resolution and with 5.1 & stereo audio options. Also included will be some extra promo films and live projections. It has been decided to limit the format to Blu-ray only for a couple of reasons – the main being that the film works infinitely better at its highest resolution and we don’t want to compromise this aspect.”

There has been some discussion in the blog comments of choice to release it to Blu-ray, but I think it’s an excellent idea because the show was both musically and visually stunning and the best format to capture it would be Blu-ray.  Either way, I’m very excited to finally have a copy of a show from the “Selected” tour.  I’ll post when it’s available as soon as I find out!

(Photos taken by me during the “Selected” tour in San Diego, October 2010)

Depeche Mode/Recoil Updates

New Life:  VCMG – Remember when I reported that Vince Clarke and Martin Gore were going to collaborate (post here)?  They’ve gone and done it!  Depeche Mode’s official site has announced that EPs will be released first by the end of November 2011, followed by a full album (full article here).

Cover Me – Depeche Mode have covered “So Cruel” for the AHK-Toong BAY-Bi Covered album, which consists of covers of songs from U2’s Achtung Baby.  It also features artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Garbage and The Killers.  It’s available for download exclusively on iTunes with proceeds benefitting Concern Worldwide.  If you were one of the lucky ones, you would have received a copy with your Q Magazine back in October (full articles here).

Added to my Collection – I received my “Collected” DVD last week (my actual copy is pictured above).  I’m always reminding those of you who are also fans, like myself, to get these rare items when they become available because of the limited stock, and this is a must have.  The entire “Collected” series is on one DVD, along with extended footage and photos.  Click here for the Recoil store to get your copy, while it lasts!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and have a great weekend!

(Photos 1 & 2 courtesy of depechemode.com)

New Recoil DVD + Calendar Release November 1, 2011

I received an email from The Shunt Staff last week, and put my order in.  It’s for the limited edition “Collected” DVD and new 2012 calendar.  If you want your own copies, details are below!

———–

From the Shunt Staff:

On November 1st, Dentez Lab and Shunt will release a limited edition, remastered DVD of Martin Vladar’s documentary film which accompanied the AW/DM historic equipment, vinyl and memorabilia auction.

Thank you for all the feedback following our request for a response on this. As the original auction run proved so popular and to satisfy many who missed out, we have decided to produce this superior quality transfer of the film. Based on your comments, we are manufacturing a limited run of 1000 copies, with extra material available, entitled ‘Alan Wilder Collected +‘

Directed and edited by Vladar and featuring new artwork and photo manipulations by Akos Szenasi, the ‘Collected +’ DVD comes shrink-wrapped in a cardboard sleeve and includes 4 extra scenes of unseen footage – with more Emax demos from Alan, other outtakes which never made the final cut, a film review of the day at Zion in Manchester, and a 67-shot photo gallery. Total running time – about 62 minutes.

You can pre-order your copy right now! The DVD will ONLY be purchasable from the new Recoil Official Store. 

Full content details:

ALAN WILDER COLLECTED +

01 ‘Collected’ (running time : 36.10)

02 ‘Collected +’ : 4 additional scenes (18 mins)

a) Overview
b) Fanatics
c) Emax 2
d) Auction day

03 Auction gallery : 67 photographs (8 mins)

All regions : PAL 16:9 : PCM Stereo : Subtitles: English

(Note: ‘All region’ discs will play in any DVD player)

————

Also available for pre-order at the store (shipped from November 1st) – the brand new Recoil Calendar 2012 presenting 13 large photographs by Steve Gullick, all chosen by Alan. The A3 calendar is produced using waterproof, resin-coated, high gloss photographic paper. If you need an Xmas present for your fellow Recoil friends, here it is! Order yours soon as this is a very limited run up until the new year.

The Shunt team plans to bring more items to the store in the future, including a new selection of T-shirts and some other merchandise. Keep checking back and let us know which products you would most like to see appear there. Contact: [email protected]

For further details about the AW/DM auction :

www.auction.recoil.co.uk

Official catalogue

Secret is Out: Alan Wilder Confirmed to do a Secret Gig 9/3/2011

In searching for news about Alan Wilder, I came across a soon-to-be-new-addtion to my blogroll:  Gothic News.  They have confirmed that Alan Wilder has decided to play a “virtually free concert” on September 3, 2011, following the “Collected” main sale event in Manchester at the Zion Arts Centre, which is the Alan Wilder/Depeche Mode memorabilia auction.  All the details can be found on the Gothic News post about the concert here.  The only way to get tickets is to register by contacting the company running the online auction, Omega.

Seeing Recoil/Alan Wilder in concert is a must for any fan, so if you have the opportunity to go and you are in the Manchester area, hop to it!

My family and I are off to Vegas for the holiday weekend.  Hope you have a good one!

(Image courtesy of auction.recoil.co.uk)

Randomness: Music for the Masses

I see that I have a few new followers, so firstly I would like to say “Welcome to my blog!”  Although this blog is heavier on personal style and fashion, I definitely have a keen interest in music.  Be forewarned that my musical interests are mainly tied to 80’s alternative, especially Depeche Mode, Recoil, Joy Division, OMD, Duran Duran and bands in the same genre.  This means that most of the music news that I report on will be centered around these groups and this type of music.  If you want to get to know more on my musical taste and interest, the “Musically Inclined” category is a great start.  In the meantime, here are some musical tidbits that I’ve either received an email about, found on Facebook or have received a Tweet about.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Independence (Record Store) Day – With the release of Depeche Mode’s Remixes: 81-11 on June 7th came several exclusives.  One I nearly had in my hands, had I gotten myself together earlier in the day.  On Depeche Mode’s official site, they posted several independent record stores that would have a very rare and exclusive 12″ single as a gift when purchasing the 3 CD or 6 LP Remixes release.  Pictured on the left, it was a four song, promo only 12″ single of “Personal Jesus”.  This is how I discovered “Record Store Day“.

The gist of what I understand this to be is that artists create special and exclusive products for their new record/album releases, and distribute these items to only independently owned record stores.  These stores cannot be corporate chain stores and truly celebrates the indie record business.

I think this is a great endeavor because I have almost exclusively patronized independent record stores my entire life and I only go to the bigger chains when I have no alternative.  Since I was a teen, I have gone to local stores like Licorice Pizza before they were sold to a large chain, and Blue Meannie before they became exclusively a store for the metal genre.  The only “large chain” music store I frequented before their demise in 2006 was Tower Records because of the music they stocked and the awesome people that worked there.  Music stores that I shop at now include CSL, Lou’s Records, M-Theory and Amoeba (they all participate in Record Store Day).   I firmly believe that all music enthusiasts should do their part and support independently owned music stores and I’m excited to know that artists feel the same way by driving sales towards these types of stores.

(Image courtesy of Record Store Day)

Alan Wilder Auctions His Goods – I’m now on Twitter more and more, and I discovered that this is also a great place to get news as it happens.  Through Recoil (@recoilofficial and @Recoilboss), it has been announced that Alan Wilder has decided to sell some of his beloved equipment, vinyl and memorabilia that he has collected over the years.  The items range from Depeche Mode rarities, instruments that he’s held on to, and even clothing he has worn to pictorials and videos (although I find it odd to purchase his pants).  You can browse through the items at  The Alan Wilder/Depeche Mode Collection website.  One of my friends stated that he spent 2 hours looking through everything and reading Alan’s comments because it’s like a history lesson Depeche Mode and Recoil.  The actual auction takes place on September 3, 2011 in Manchester, England and online.  If you are a die-hard fan, you will not want to miss this fantastic opportunity.

(Image courtesy of Shunt)

“Girl Panic” Video Shoot – I follow John Taylor of Duran Duran on Twitter (@ThisIsTheRealJT and @duranduran), and there was Tweets galore regarding the new video for the song “Girl Panic” from their album “All You Need is Now”, filmed earlier this week.  Yasmin Le Bon was reunited with her model friends Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, and Helena Christensen for this video.  I’m excited to see the new video, but still worried about Simon Le Bon, who is recovering from a throat ailment that has sidelined their tour in the UK and Europe.   In the meantime, here are some shots from the video shoot on Fashionologie here.

(Image courtesy of Record Store Day)

It’s Time to DANCE with DJ Lance Rock!  If you have kids, you definitely know about the phenomenon that is Yo Gabba Gabba!  It’s a show about four crazy characters (Brobee, Toodee, Foofa, Muno and Plex) and their adventures with their ringleader, DJ Lance Rock aka Lance Robinson.  What I love about the show is that they feature so many good sing-a-long songs that teach lessons in an incredible fun and catchy way.  But the best part of the show are their musical and celebrity guests.  Past performers and guests include The Faint, The Shins, Jimmy Eat World, Chromeo, The Ting Tings, The Roots, Jack Black, and Elijah Wood.

I received a Tweet from @amoebamusic that you can see DJ Lance Rock up close and personal because he performs a DJ set on June 25, 2011 at Hollywood Amoeba location (details here).  Maybe he’ll do a little “Dancey-Dance” with his Gabbaland pals!

(Photo of Dominic dressed as DJ Lance Rock for Halloween last year)

My Favorite Mode – The Tour Edition

Now that the phone and internet situation has been corrected at home (I bumped into the AT&T guy on the way to work), I feel whole again.  This is when I wonder, “What did we ever do before the internet?”  But I digress…

I’ve been really thinking about what my favorite Depeche Mode shows have been.  Most of my favorites were when they were still four members in the band, and the most recent have been the solo tours.  All images of tour programmes are from depmod.com (see the “Listen to This” blogroll), one of the most comprehensive Depeche Mode discography/collectors sites I’ve ever come across.  Ever since I’ve been on the internet, they are my source for everything Depeche Mode (other than the official site).  If you are anywhere near a Depeche Mode fan, you must check out depmod.com.  Your socks will be knocked off.  Plus if you’re like me, you will truly realize there is a lot more that you don’t have in your collection.  Also, all dates listed are for the concert date I attended in San Diego.

Note:  I have the set lists from every concert I’ve seen up until the Devotional Tour because I would religiously write down every song during the concert.  This is why I’ve included the set lists for the first three of my favorite concerts.  I have since stopped doing that because I can no longer see that well in the dark, and I’m just plain lazy.  It’s amazing what you have the tolerance for in your teens to your early 20’s.  The only list I am unsure of the order (with the exception of the encore songs) is the Some Great Reward Tour.

Some Great Reward Tour – April 1, 1985

I have mentioned previously that this was the first concert I had seen by Depeche Mode, and have since discovered that it was their first appearance in San Diego.  I truly feel blessed to have seen this concert knowing that information.  A couple of funny notes about this show:  my friend Eileen and I had not purchased any of their albums yet prior to this show, so we thought “See You” was “Sing You” and “Boys Say Go” was “DE-PECHE MODE!”.   I’m pretty sure we sounded absolutely silly to all the die-hard fans around us, but hey, we were 15-years-old at the time.  Needless to say we each got our parents to purchase all of their previously released albums so that we can catch up.  I think Depeche Mode knew there were many of us out there who were in the same boat because the album “Catching Up With Depeche Mode” soon followed.

I am forever glad that we went to the SGR tour because we got to hear songs live that I never heard again in concert, as you can see by the set list.

Set list:

Master and Servant (instrumental intro)
Something to Do
Two Minute Warning
Puppets
If You Want
People Are People
Leave in Silence
New Life
Shame
Somebody
Ice Machine
Lie to Me
Blasphemous Rumours
Told You So
Master and Servant
Photographic
Everything Counts
See You
Boys Say Go
The Meaning of Love

Encores:
Shout!
Just Can’t Get Enough

Black Celebration Tour – July 11, 1986

This was the tour where we followed the tour bus from the Sports Arena to the…wait for it…Travelodge across the street.  I’m sure they have upgraded their hotel stays since those days, but that’s where they were back in 1986.  I have pictures of their tour bus, which was the closest I ever got to any member of Depeche Mode until I got to meet Alan Wilder last week.  I also remember the first song and the lasting effect of the dropped curtain.  It was “Black Celebration” and if you are familiar with the song, you know that the song starts off very slow.  During this slow beginning, the curtains were still up, so we only saw shadows of the band behind it.  When the lyrics “I look to you…” were sung with music in full force behind it, the curtain dropped and the band was revealed to a screaming crowd.  I still feel the crescendo between the first note to the dropping of the curtain to this day.

I also really enjoyed seeing Book of Love live, who opened for Depeche Mode for the US leg of the tour (I am unsure if they opened up for any other shows).  Their self-titled album was a staple in my CD player for months after seeing them live.

Set List:

Christmas Island
Black Celebration
A Question of Time
Fly on the Windscreen
Shake the Disease
Leave in Silence
It’s Called a Heart
Everything Counts
A Question of Lust
Blasphemous Rumors
New Dress
Stripped
Something to Do
Master and Servant
Photographic
People are People

Encores:
Boys Say Go
Just Can’t Get Enough
More Than a Party

World Violation Tour – July 28, 1990

Of the three dates they were here for this tour, I only went to the first show (a friend of mine went to two dates).  Another bonus was that I won tickets to the show and sold the tickets that I bought before.  I also recall someone saying that they went to the Fashion Valley Mall and saw Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher shopping one of the days they were here.  Depeche Mode, shopping?  In my city?  Where was I when this was happening?

Shocking that I didn’t pick the Music for the Masses as one of my favorite tours, and it’s only because of the sad memories of not going to the Rose Bowl concert (still a very sore spot for me).   Truly, I liked this concert because it is one of my all time favorite albums.  I also really loved the images of the band dressed as cowboys and that some of those images were actually funny in nature.  The highlight of the show was seeing “World in my Eyes”  and “Halo” live.

I’ve always regarded Depeche Mode as “my band” because I didn’t follow the crowd when I discovered them (like Duran Duran).  I felt for a long time like they were my little discovery, and would share them when I decided to.  But after the Wherehouse store incident, there was no escaping that the boys were on the map, and three sold out shows in San Diego just proved to everyone that Depeche Mode were no longer some obscure band.  They were on the charts and violating the world, in a city near you.

Set List:

World in My Eyes
Halo
Shake the Disease
Everything Counts
Master and Servant
Never Let Me Down Again
Waiting for the Night
I Want You Now
World Full of Nothing
Clean
Stripped
Policy of Truth
Enjoy the Silence
Strangelove
Personal Jesus

Encores:
Black Celebration
Question of Time
Behind the Wheel
Route 66

The Singles Tour – December 15, 1998

Because I did not go to the Exotic Tour or the Ultra Parties (neither came to San Diego, but I should have gone to the Irvine Meadows show), the first concert I went to where I saw the band as three was the Singles Tour.  I went with my friend Angi, and we had a hard time in the beginning of the show with a few guys behind us who just kept chanting like it was a soccer game.  They finally stopped a few songs in, which was such a relief.

I have to say I was quite apprehensive seeing the band live without Alan Wilder.  For years he was my favorite, and after five concerts, you get used to looking forward to seeing him with the rest of the guys.  But I was surprised at how much I enjoyed myself and was looking forward to more Depeche Mode albums and tours with the three left.  Alan kept putting out Recoil music, so at least he was still around, even if he wasn’t with them.  I really missed not seeing Depeche Mode live.  It had been five years since the Devotional Tour, so this was a welcome sight.

Paper Monsters Tour, David Gahan – August 21, 2003

My sister and I went to this concert not knowing exactly what to expect.  I think it’s because it was Depeche Mode’s front man, the voice of the band, on tour without anyone else that we recognize.  How could Dave be up there withtout Martin or Fletch?  No matter how we felt about a tour without his band mates, we would not miss this for the world.

I liked the single “Dirty Sticky Floors” and thought the rest of the album was pretty good.  I knew that Dave would definitely infuse Depeche Mode songs in there, so we were not surprised when he closed with a song or two.  I just remember my jaw dropping when he sang a bit from a song that I have always thought he would be great at because his voice is so similar to Ian McCulloch, which is “Lips Like Sugar” by Echo and the Bunnymen.  When the words came out of Dave’s mouth, my sister and I looked at each other in disbelief.  Easily the highlight of the show for me.

A Strange Hour, Recoil – October 23, 2010

Of course I would pick this as a favorite show, simply because it had been 17 years since I have seen Alan Wilder live with Depeche Mode, or live at all.  If you’ve seen my “Strange Hours” post, you will know exactly how I felt about the concert and the whole experience of meeting him, so I won’t repeat it all here again (just click the link for my post on Anthology’s blog).  Suffice it to say that sitting in a club with my sister watching Alan Wilder in a very intimate setting has made up for the fact that the Tour of the Universe concert date was canceled last year in San Diego.  Hands down.

I hope you enjoyed this portion of “My Favorite Mode”.  After this weekend, I will post my favorite B-Sides and rarities, then a list of my all time favorite Depeche Mode songs.  I just haven’t decided how long the list will be yet!