By Ian McIvor
One of the most influential electronic bands, Depeche Mode returns for their 15th album Memento Mori, following their induction into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame. To promote the album release, the band released the single "Ghosts Again" and a music video with album pre-orders. This album is the first recorded as a duo, as founding member Andy Fletcher passed away in 2022 just prior to recording the album.
What Worked
Following 2017’s album Spirit, Martin Gore returns to the introspective lyrical content that the band built their career around. Although the development of Memento Mori began prior to Fletch’s passing, this event no doubt shaped the album, and its presence is felt in "Ghosts Again" as Dave Gahan sings Martin’s lyrics: “We will be Ghosts Again.” Despite the tragedy, the lyrics and music provide optimistic hope that someone will be reunited with loved ones beyond this mortal plain.
The video has long-time art and video director Anton Corbijn referencing the film The Seventh Seal, with Dave and Martin pitted against each other in a game of chess. While the stakes are unknown, one has to wonder if Martin is battling for his deceased friend.
What Didn’t Work
While the music video works in the context of the song, long-time fans will clearly notice and feel the absence of Fletch, no doubt reminding them when Alan Wilder was missing when the "Barrel of a Gun" video premiered back in 1997.
As a lead single, it is hard to judge how it will fit in with the album as a whole. Given the content of the song, hopefully, it did not take attention away from other album tracks. But for a comparison to previous lead singles, "Ghosts Again" does not catch the listener’s attention like "Barrel of a Gun," "Precious," or "Wrong" did, but it does not exactly fall short like "Heaven" or "Where’s the Revolution" when those singles were released.
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