Depeche Mode – Songs Of Faith And Devotion

I often agree with honest reviewers. On this occasion I don't. This lusciously glossy packaged and flat heavy pressing looks lovely. But it falls short with it spinning with a cartridge on it. Gain is low so volume cranking is needed, sibilance is very present on track A4 and even some IGD on the last tracks. Personally I think this is where DM fell off the 80's quirky atmospheric synth and became too equipment clever, doomy and industrial, imho. Some folk may disagree with the quality of this pressing however....
Used: Thorens TD-1600 and Hana ML cart, Whest Audio Two.2 phonostage, Yamaha DSP-Z9 in Pure Direct Mode with Black Rhodium, Duelend Coherent and Audioquest cabling with Jean-Marie Reynaud Euterpe Supreme Speakers.

Not the most silent pressing in terms of surface noise (MOV as usual has a LOT of variability among copies, and the overall level is not particularly hot so you have to turn the volume a bit higher than average), but very acceptable once music is playing. Mixing is a bit busy/muddy, but that's how this album has always been, and not a fault of this release; the actual mastering here is similar to the SACD, so in honest truth the best it has ever sounded (although with the limitations of the original mix): meaty, full, majestic, dark and thick, definitely crankable.

Audio on this one is OK. Bit heavily eq-ed on the low side. :)

I have an assumed unofficial copy of this record on blue marbled vinyl, STUMM106A and B in the dead wax. There is no mention on here of this coloured version so any further advice would be appreciated.

My favorite DM album. I love all songs, especially In Your Room

OJO, cuidado, la presente portada es pirata. No es oficial

Sounds great. A lot of punch both in lyrics and in sound

This is on of the worst pressings that I own. It's a absolute mess

As Daniel Miller writes in his notes to this remaster by Simon Heyworth, this was not only a difficult album to make - - it was a difficult album to mix, master and above all record. Ah, those were the days: Dave had fully activated God-Mode, Alan played drums, Fletch had upped his clapping game to a whole new level, and Martin kept the music fresh. Sound-wise this is good step above the CD version. It reminds me of my end of high school days, dancing around half naked in my living room and pretending that I was Christ.

I can't compare to other pressings as this is the only one I have, but can confirm that this is a very decent pressing with great dynamics. Seems to be a little lower in price than other OG versions, so well worth a punt.