Photo of Martin Gore and Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode by Toni François
When keyboardist and founding member Andy Fletcher passed away suddenly in 2022, fans of Depeche Mode wondered what was coming next. The heart of the band, he was invaluable in helping to manage the band’s business affairs and serving as the middleman between multi-instrumentalist Martin Gore and singer Dave Gahan, whose relationship has at times been contentious.
At the time of his death, the band was working on Memento Mori, their fifteenth studio album. With Fletcher gone, many thought the band would call it a day.
However, his passing had the opposite effect. The band released the album in his honor and embarked on a massive worldwide tour. (You can check out our review and photos from the Nashville show on that tour here.) This frames the context for Depeche Mode’s latest release, a combination package consisting of a film and live concert recordings.
The set includes M, the concert film released in theaters last spring, and an accompanying live recording culled from their three concerts in Mexico City.
With this project, Depeche Mode explores the dance between life and death through the lens of their music. While they could have easily wrapped themselves in nostalgia, Gore, Gahan, and their band chose to press on and, once again, move forward.
Great for fans who missed the Memento Mori tour or simply want to relieve the experience, this live package captures the essence of the group.
M is now available as a CD/Blu-Ray/DVD set. It includes 2 DVDs or Blu-rays and 2 CDs. Disc one features the concert film M, while disc two includes the entire live set from their concerts there. Memento Mori: Mexico City is also available as a standalone release on CD and vinyl.
Both releases feature the accompanying live album, Memento Mori: Mexico City, as well as four previously unreleased bonus tracks recorded in sessions for their last album.
While Depeche Mode has often released concert films in the past (namely their popular 1989 concert film 101), M was totally different.
Heading out on the road, the tour served as a form of grief therapy for Gore and Gahan, who clearly were emotionally moved by the experience of performing live.
Conceived and directed by award-winning Mexican filmmaker Fernando Frías, the film blends concert footage with interpretive interstitials and archival material that delve into the heart of Mexican culture’s relationship with death. Deploying different forms of media to tell that story, these segments are framed by live performances from Depeche Mode during their Memento Mori tour.
Filmed over three sold-out concerts during their 2023 Memento Mori World Tour stop at Mexico City’s legendary Foro Sol Stadium, the film opens with an explanation of the role of death in Mexican culture. Then images of the city flash by, leading viewers on a virtual trip to the venue before launching into live concert footage.
Playing before over 200,000 people in the city of palaces, they jumped into “My Cosmos Is Mine”and “Wagging Tongue”from Memento Mori. Next came a throbbing rendition of “It’s No Good.”
Next is the first seminal moment of the show, a blistering throwdown of “Everything Counts” where the familiar bassline was accompanied by bashing percussion from Chrisian Eigner. Gore’s backing vocals are exceptional here.
Two reflective tracks, “Speak To Me” and “Soul With Me” are next. Both are sung with emotional gravitas. These are followed by the equally emotive “Ghosts Again.”
From here, the tempo picks up considerably. There’s a clip of a photo of Fletcher being printed on a dot matrix printer preceding “World In My Eyes.” Depicting one of the concert’s more poignant moments, the song features the late member’s picture on backing screens behind the band and in handheld images held up by the audience.
Next comes a powerful rendition of “Wrong”that leads into a sleek and sexy version of “Stripped.” While the band obviously can’t play everything, it would have been nice to hear more selections from another album tinged with melancholy, 1986’s Black Celebration.
Ever the frontman, Gahan spends a large part of the show twisting, turning, spinning, and preening vivaciously. Those in attendance eat it all up. As for Gore, his timeless vocals are accompanied by some great guitarwork.
Both musicians’ talents come vibrantly to life in the last section of the concert. “Enjoy The Silence”is an unabashed dance fest filled with a driving beat and winding synths.
Next, Gahan works the crowd into a mad frenzy of waving hands with “Never Let Me Down Again,” arguably the highlight of the evening. Closing out M is rousing “Personal Jesus,”which features gore throwing down a wicked guitar intro before the song plunges into a bombast of beats that celebrate the band’s legacy.
Throughout M, the audience response is relentless. Massive in size, they form a symbiotic relationship with the band, one whereby both parties feed off the energy of the other.
Frías perfectly captures this dynamic on film, giving the entire movie a vibe that is celebratory and sorrowful. His filmed bits wedge into the concert without being disruptive or jarring.
For Depeche Mode fans who just can’t get enough, Memento Mori: Mexico City presents the entire concert without Frias’ portions. Available as a standalone concert film and audio recording with exclusive live photos from the concerts held at Foro Sol, a multipurpose stadium built in 1993.
While M features a truncated version of the concerts, Memento Mori: Mexico City presents the full set. Running over two hours, it features several fan favorites.
Presented early in the set “Walking In My Shoes” is plaintive with Gahan providing more restrained vocals. “In Your Room” is a slower cut that adeptly celebrates the somber and forlorn.
The rousing “I Feel You,” absent from M, opens with a screeching of textured feedback and noise before kicking into a full-on, balls- to-the wall celebration of lust.
While “John the Revelator” is a take it or leave it number, “Waiting For The Night” is a selection that should have made its way into M. Presenting in minimalist fashion with only Gahan and Gore singing, it’s the most poignant moment of the concert.
Taken as a set, M and Memento Mori: Mexico City wonderfully encapsulate the global phenomenon around Depeche Mode. The releases accentuate their standing as an arena band in every aspect.
Both the film and full concert recordings illustrate how the lads from Basildon give live shows filled with kinetic energy and jubilation. Here, they respond to the loss felt by the death of their friend by celebrating his life through the healing power of music while honoring their legacy. | Rob Levy
