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9.0
94144
9.0 |
All Music
Despite dour lyrics to the contrary, Depeche Mode haven't given up on humanity. Spirit exhumes the remains of our better nature and demands its resurrection
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8.0
94157
8.0 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
A painfully accurate record that portrays some of today's main political and social issues
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8.0
94238
8.0 |
Under The Radar
The perennial group has hit yet another career peak
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8.0
94077
8.0 |
The Arts Desk
If it doesn't provide the grippingly coherent listen Delta Machine did, Spirit nonetheless has plenty to reward even the mildly curious
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8.0
94078
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
They’re the last of their 80s contemporaries standing, are managing to keep their artistic integrity intact, and more importantly, have not become U2
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8.0
94106
8.0 |
Q
They sound as if they've been rattled by the world's current critical situation. Print edition only
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8.0
94108
8.0 |
Mojo
Blow by blow, it all adds up to Depeche Mode's best album in years
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8.0
94123
8.0 |
Exclaim
Depeche Mode prove they have both the musical depth and strength of conviction to outlast us all
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8.0
94135
8.0 |
The Guardian
A misguided endorsement from one of America’s most hated figures only serves to make the fury here sound even more righteous
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7.0
94076
7.0 |
Clash
The kind of album that is necessary for shining a light on our basest traits and for encouraging us to think differently all over again; in that sense, for the first time in a long time, Depeche Mode have judged this just right
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7.0
94109
7.0 |
Uncut
Delta Machine saw Ben Hiller help them access their mid-life pain in dark post-dubstep. This stint with James Ford, though, has effected a more overt compromise Print edition only
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7.0
94174
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
With a smart mix of techno-leaning keyboards and bluesy guitar, à la their 1990 high-water mark, Violator, it’s easy to get swept away in their gospel
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7.0
94661
7.0 |
Mixmag
Songs such as the fierce ‘Scum’ and the stately ‘No More’ are worthy additions to the band’s catalogue, and have far more grit and vividness than you’d expect from any band 37 years into their career
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6.8
94220
6.8 |
Pitchfork
Depeche Mode’s most pointedly topical album, but the synth giants still write universal, stadium-sized music. These songs make you feel like singing in response to today’s headlines
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6.0
94392
6.0 |
Spin
A satisfying turn for a band whose effortlessness and competency was starting to work to their detriment
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6.0
94967
6.0 |
musicOMH
Even if you’re broadly in sympathy with the politics though, it can begin to feel a bit hectoring at times. Thankfully, there’s still room for some proper old-school Mode bangers
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6.0
94192
6.0 |
The FT
Dave Gahan’s lyrics suit his louche baritone, while Martin Gore brings a chunky electronic drive to the music
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6.0
94242
6.0 |
God Is In The TV
By no means a perfect record, or even a great one, but it shows that Depeche Mode do indeed still have a bit of spirit in them
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6.0
94130
6.0 |
The Irish Times
There’s plenty to like here – but nothing particularly radical
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5.5
94249
5.5 |
Spectrum Culture
Unfortunately, this Spirit will more than likely fade away as quickly as any micro-revolutions it inspires
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5.4
94230
5.4 |
Gig Soup
One of the finest filler albums you’ll ever come across
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5.3
94252
5.3 |
Paste Magazine
Spirit is Make Depeche Mode Great Again when they were still pretty great anyway
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5.0
94276
5.0 |
The Music
We need Depeche Mode to once more cattle prod the masses
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5.0
94226
5.0 |
Consequence Of Sound
The calls for revolution lack the nuance and wit befitting the band's continued sonic evolution
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5.0
94683
5.0 |
No Ripcord
Rather than going for broke, Depeche Mode eked out a half-decent release that doesn't do either the theme or their abilities any justice
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4.0
94293
4.0 |
The Independent
On Spirit, Depeche Mode get serious and political, which doesn’t really suit them
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