Recorded at Electric Ladyboy (Santa Barbara, CA) and Shangri-La (Malibu, CA) Shangri-La Studio Assistant: Gregg White Mixed at Studio Zona (London) Mastered at Metropolis Studios (London) Additional vocal recording at Blanco Studio (New York, NY) Design assistance for Antonymous BV
[On inner jacket] Andrew John Fletcher 1961 - 2022 'in our hearts and minds' dave & martin
[On hype sticker] Depeche Mode New album Memento Mori 2x 180g vinyl Limited Edition Opaque red vinyl 19658792641
Side D is etched with a floral arrangement and "est vere malus".
In runouts GZ Media and Memphis Records Pressing identifiers are stamped, the rest is etched.
Track times not given on release.
Comes in a trifold embossed sleeve with a poster. Some copies show both some transparency and translucency
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode (Printed): 1 96587 92641 0
Barcode (Scanned, UPC-A): 196587926410
Label Code: LC00162
Rights Society: BIEM/GEMA
Rights Society: BMI
Rights Society: PRS
Rights Society: ASCAP
Other (On inner sleeve of record 1): 19658784211SV1
Other (On inner sleeve of record 2): 19658784211SV2
Normally, one always reviews really great reissues or special editions, but with this first edition, I have to say that this is an incredibly good-sounding record. Everything is just right.
I’m happy with the clear vinyl pressing. It’s not audiophile quality but it’s more than good enough. Especially following the lousy Spirit. I heard an interview with James Ford recently, and he was saying that Spirit was one of his worst experiences in a recording studio whereas MM was the complete opposite and everyone had a really constructive time making it. You can hear this in the end result. Spirit always sounded a bit “That will do. Next track” to me. Like the band were losing interest in the songs even as they were recording them. With Memento Mori they definitely sound more engaged and impassioned. The only negative I have with MM is the whole pricing around it. Especially the CD ! Even now, a year later, the CD is still £20 in a lot of retailers. Crazy money. For that, Im glad I paid an extra £12 and got the clear vinyl. Worth it for the beautiful sleeve, if nothing else.
Are the cover and inners exactly the same for all versions? I own a clear and red copy whose covers and OIS were damaged in a water leak and I am wondering if I can replace them with the same from the standard (cheaper) black version...
The mix and production are excellent, like all the DM production... But, for the high price of this 2LP, we deserve a better pressing plant than this poor factory named GZ Media ! Impossible to have a perfect pressing with this cheap factory... cracklings, distorsion...I hate GZ Media so much... The album itself is not bad, not good, another album without melody where only the Dave's voice bring a song between cheap electronic sounds. There is not a good album since Alan Wilder left... The band lives on his legendary high tops like Violator and Songs of faith... but nothing else.
I am so sad to write this but this album is so obviously chop-thrown together from God knows how many takes. Not that it is not good. It is. I mean, it is OK but not nearly as good as DM can do the record (studio album). I love DM's dark mood but tracks on the record 1 (Sides A & B) feels not done completely. More like sketches than anything else. Good sketches but nothing more. However, Side 3 is really good. True DM sound. Well, I can't skip maybe a track or two on the first record but that is all. Honestly, I expected more of DM! Much more!!! I would loooove to see the day when boys will repeat the quality of production, arrangements, mixing and recording of their future album like they pulled it off on Violator, Music for the Masses, Black Celebration, Some great reward or even Exciter for that matter. I give this album a solid 2/slim 3 (out of 5) with great hope in boys to release something from their true and best arsenal like on any of these mentioned albums from the past. Now, vinyl itself is OK (writing this review after critical listening to the Red Opaque version). Also waiting on clear vinyl one for the archives. I am always on my tiptoes when GZ is in question. It is always a hit or miss. Lately their pressings are OK. In the past that wasn't the case. Well, since we are talking about this album it is only fair to mention mixdown, mastering and lacquer. All this is done great but dynamic range on the album is so tiny. Why in the world are people forcing slamming music as hard as possible, squashing the life out of it. But I am aware I will not see that movie anytime soon. All in all, I am a happy camper with yet another DM release. Bravo boys! Bravo! Keep us happy and don't stop making music!
Always loved Depeche Mode, but there has been a clear lack of edge and a tendency to move to a more 'rounded/polished' sound since Alan Wilder left. Shame, because the edge that they had was what pulled me in. Dave has recorded better material with Soulsavers and as a solo artist.
"Ghosts Again" and "Always You" are the most beautiful. I don't like "My Cosmos Is Mine", "Soul With Me" and "Caroline's Monkey" (for the sound), but it's a good album, not at the level of "Playing The Angel", but it's a good album. If it had been 9 songs (by removing the 3 tracks mentioned above), it would have been perfect.
"Ghosts Again" e "Always You" sono le più belle. Non mi piacciono "My Cosmos Is Mine", "Soul With Me" e "Caroline's Monkey" (per il sound), ma è un buon album, non al livello di "Playing The Angel", ma è un buon album. Se fosse stato di 9 canzoni (togliendo le 3 tracce sopra citate), sarebbe stato perfetto.
Sad my copy won't ship until May.... colored version (red?) Have seen it in stores but plain black version. Have heard album and its an odd duck, some songs great others are meh.