Depeche Mode

Sounds Of The Universe | The 12" Singles, a deluxe collector's edition box set, contains seven 12" vinyl discs presenting singles–including Wrong, Peace, the double A-side Fragile Tension/Hole To Feed–alongside B-sides, remixes, dub versions and other recordings contemporaneous to Depeche Mode's 12th studio album, Sounds Of The Universe, originally released by Mute Records in April 2009.

"Playing The Angel | The 12" Singles" contains a total of ten 12" vinyl records in this collector's edition issued as a deluxe box set, representing the single releases from Depeche Mode's eleventh studio album "Playing The Angel" released in October 2005, and which, in addition to the actual tracks "Precious", "A Pain That I'm Used To", "Suffer Well" and "John The Revelator / Lilian", are also extensively equipped with B-sides, remixes, instrumental and dub versions, as well as other recordings from the album environment. The tenth and final disc, specially compiled for this collection, offers B-sides and remixes that were scattered on CDs and maxi-singles at the time

Exciter | The 12" Singles, a collector's edition deluxe box set, contains eight 12" vinyl discs presenting four singles–Dream On, I Feel Loved, Freelove, and Goodnight Lovers–with B-sides, remixes, instrumentals, acoustic versions and other recordings contemporaneous to Depeche Mode's tenth studio album, Exciter, originally released in May 2001.

Consider this a primer, because there is no way a career spanning 25 years can be summarized justifiably within the cramped space of an 80-minute disc. The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1 takes a very selective skip through the group's past, and it leaves no room for anything off Black Celebration an album many fans (albeit the most depressive ones) cite as a favorite. While the relatively thorough Singles 81>85 and Singles 86>98 can be seen as the proper entry route, they don't have the benefit of covering 2001's Exciter or 2005's excellent Playing the Angel, so this disc as of 2006, at least is very nearly the best possible way to get a feel for the whole daunting discography.

The set includes six maxi-singles on vinyl that feature the singles from Delta Machine, the first LP the band recorded for Columbia Records: "Heaven" (original release: March 2013), "Soothe My Soul" (original release: May 2013) and "Should Be Higher" (original release: October 2013). On Delta Machine: The 12" Singles, in addition to the reissues of the original Maxis, there are three other newly compiled discs with remixes, dub mixes, instrumental and live versions, radio mixes and the bonus track "Goodbye (Gesaffelstein Remix)".

One of Depeche Mode's greatest strengths is also their greatest weakness. The band comes up with some of pop music's most inventive lyrics, and at the same time, they always give the impression that they'll arbitrarily sing about anything, as long as it's depressing. But on Exciter there's an autobiography in the lyrics that, for the first time, strikes a chord with skeptics and believers alike.

Depeche Mode debuted in 1981 with a catchy brand of synth-pop, but quickly intensified their sound. On classic albums like 1987's Music for the Masses and 1990's Violator, chief songwriter and keyboard wizard Martin Gore mixed fiery rock and blues riffs with cutting-edge electronic beats, and frontman Dave Gahan delivered smoldering tales of spirituality and excess. By the late '90s, Depeche Mode were an institution in the worlds of alt-rock and dance, and they've continued to evolve with innovative albums like 2001's techno-tinged Exciter.

Depeche Mode Pioneering English band Depeche Mode took the underground electronic club sounds of the early '80s and expanded them to stadium-sized levels within a decade, becoming one of the best-selling international groups in the process. One of the first acts to establish a musical identity based completely around the use of synthesizers, they debuted with a bouncy electro-pop spirit which gradually developed into a darker, more dramatic synth-rock style that ultimately positioned them as one of the most quintessential alternative bands of their era.