Release party for Playing the Angel

The release of any new Depeche Mode album is always cause for proper celebration, and Gothenburg’s devotees gathered accordingly. Rather than simply pressing play on the new album, the evening offered something far more entertaining: a live tribute from the aptly named band 101.

The lineup alone was enough to draw a crowd. Robert Enforsen of Elegant Machinery handled the vocals, joined by Alexander Hofman of S.P.O.C.K., stepping in for Jarmo Ollila of Mr Jones Machine and Daily Planet. Johan Billing from Diskodiktator and Magnus Johansson of Top Gun (yes, Jay-Jay Johansson’s brother) completed the all-star cast.

Playing The Angel on plastic.

With a brand-new Depeche Mode album to celebrate, one might have expected the band to focus on recent material. Instead, they traveled backwards through time to the pleasure of the crowd. The setlist was a love letter to the early years, digging deep into Speak & Spell and the albums that followed. Songs like “Work Hard”, “Nodisco” and “Everything Counts” reminded everyone just how many gems are hidden beyond the obvious radio singles. In fact, the newest song of the evening turned out to be “Enjoy the Silence” from 1990, a choice that probably says as much about the aging audience as it does about Depeche Mode.

The sound system occasionally seemed determined to sabotage the festivities, and a few technical gremlins wandered onto the stage uninvited. Even so, the band carried on with enthusiasm and obvious affection for the material. Alexander Hofman’s interpretation of “Somebody” may not have been what anyone anticipated, but that’s part of the charm of nights like these.

After all, nobody came expecting perfection. They came to celebrate Depeche Mode. Mission accomplished.