(Single from album, “Ultra”)
I got tickets to see Depeche Mode at the O2! Time to celebrate - perhaps not with one of the old tracks though; I can't exactly imagine "See You" or "What's Your Name?" getting played...
"Ultra" is an odd album. Following '93's drug induced musical coma, "Songs Of Faith And Devotion", the biggest fan-base betrayal, perhaps, of all time, I think people were finally expecting a follow-up to 1990's tremendous "Violator" after the car crash that was the previous album. It was not, however, meant to be.
The devastating effects of the mammoth 3 leg, 96 show '93/'94 world tour took their toll on the band who, several drug overdoses, 1 suicide attempt, and 3 musically silent years later, gingerly stepped out of the dark and back into the charts with "Barrel Of A Gun", a single which was modestly successful, but still, nothing special. Following singles "It's No Good" and "Home" paint, for those who haven't yet heard the album, a dim view of what's to come. "Useless", the fourth and final single, doesn't save "Ultra", an album, which, despite being better than "Songs Of Faith And Devotion", is still, ultimately, poor. It does however paint Depeche Mode in an alternate light; after this song, you'll know not to spend the rest of your life waiting for Violator 2; this is the best of a bad bunch, but, essentially, you can see the cogs of musical evolution turning, and at least, begin to understand how the guys who wrote "Just Can't Get Enough" landed here...
The guitar heavy sound which started as a weak overdub on 1987's masterpiece, "Music For The Masses" and became more prominent on "Violator" has taken a lead role, and, except for the radio edit, there is no evidence of a synthesiser on this track (the main change that early Depeche Mode fans will notice). "Violator" pretty much divides the fans; you're either a pre-1990 Depeche Mode synth fan, or a post-1993 Depeche Mode rocker - few people are both.
Really, I'm the former, but for me, "Useless" has a tinge of the synth composition, even during its most Manic Street Preacher-esque moments; its a rich sound, and the bass and guitar are well written, regardless of your personal preference. The lyrics are corny as ever, the cornerstone of any good Depeche Mode track, and the baritone lead vocal, despite years of abuse, feels rich, deep and emotionally tainted. With this band, the voice is just as important an instrument as the guitar.
Most importantly, and the absolute telltale sign of this being the same band as they wee in 1982, the song is melancholy but still danceable. You can imagine dancing to this, just as you could dancing to any of the songs from "Construction Time Again", its just that the drum kit is real, not synthesised, and much louder. This is, as mentioned, by no means my favourite Depeche Mode song, but you can still hear the vocal, notice the background synths, and still feel at home with the band.
I know, pretty much for a fact, that, when I see this band, they will play a ton of post-1993 stuff. I don't really care; now I can see that "Black Celebration" and "Violator" are seminal genius by themselves, and stepping stones to an altogether more mature, aged, evolved and perfected sound and atmosphere, I don't really mind so much. 2009's "Sounds Of The Universe" felt a little like a proper comeback, being a seriously keyboard heavy album on the verge of dub step a few years before the sound kicked off; this coupled with what I said before, means its going to be brilliant.
And I can't wait...
★★★★
Versions of "Useless"
Single Remix - 4:53
Album Version - 5:12
Album Edit - 4:44
Live at "Ultra Launch Party", Adrenaline Village, London, England, 10/04/1997 - 5:21
The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session - 9:10
CJ Bollard Funky Sub Mix - 5:38
CJ Bollard Ultrasonar Mix - 6:03
Air 20 Mix - 7:56
Escape from Wherever: Parts 1 & 2 - 7:17
Cosmic Blues Mix - 6:57