Mute Records has announced that they will be releasing the debut album of synthpop pioneer Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure), Songs of Silence.
And the first single, The Lamentations of Jeremiah, embedded above, sounds completely different than you might expect.
The label says the album is “unlike anything you’ve previously heard from Vince Clarke. Songs of Silence has about it a more sober ambient electronic beauty, its unique characteristics put it in a category of its own.”
For the creation of the record, Clarke set himself two rules:
- First that the sounds he himself generated for the album would come solely from his Eurorack modular synthesizer gear; and
- Second, that each track would be based around one note, maintaining a single key throughout.
As a result, the album is a clean break from Clarke’s synth pop legacy, but just as electronic as ever.
Songs of Silence is available to pre-order now, and will be released November 17th.
Tracklist:
01. Cathedral
02. White Rabbit
03. Passage
04. Imminent
05. Red Planet
06. The Lamentations of Jeremiah
07. Mitosis
08. Blackleg
09. Scarper
10. Last Transmission
First single has cello by Reed Hays. It’s beautiful.
Off topic, but may I ask, are you the same David Baron that co-wrote and produced Peter Murphy, Ninth?
Yes, that’s me, Ella.
Awesome! I can’t imagine what it’s like to work with Peter Murphy (and I’m not asking) but you sure did craft an outstanding album together. I loved Ninth from first listen and still think it’s one of Peter’s best, along with Deep and Cascade. Great work, David! Best of luck with your future musical endeavours. (Really wish you and Peter had continued working together).
Not what I was expecting and it blew me away.
love it! i like different composition methods like #2. very motiviating.
Admin: Personal attack deleted. Keep comments on topic and constructive.
‘Songs of Silence’, as the name suggests, is instrumental? Well, apart from the mention of the word ‘songs’. The article doesn’t say.
Not what i wanted to listen from an alboum made solely by eurorack sounds…Anyway hopefully the music we get to hear next is closer to what is “promised”. Btw as a listener i don’t care about a compositional methods, this is nice for an academia evening.
I’m asking myself, would people also listen to this if it was made by Mr. Nobody?
yes. never heard of this guy, or any of the many “hero’s of electronic music” yall worship endlessly.
Get yourself educated on the origins and pioneers of electronic music. It might actually benefit you
The video is boring….. and so are the sounds…..
so is the 303. sooooo boring.
Saying 303 is boring is like saying singing is boring.
Full disclaimer this is how my 303 sounds.
https://youtu.be/qeP7iF03wRM?si=xMnkoWQo_aMZRuUq
Here is V*nce synth (lol)
https://youtu.be/IPDlt7NtyFo?si=rlTaXIEFpTNzh0MP
Im going back upstairs to chill with Eric
https://youtu.be/6J5CIU9AiwA?si=QXNJWDWqzSudsPP5
Vince Clarke does the Hans Zimmer
Vince Clarke looking unhappy in a suit..check. Arty black and white video…check. Mournful esoteric cello…check. How sophisticated.
Don’t you just love how artists turn their back on everything you previously liked about their music and expect former fans to go all fanboi and buy something they would never normally be into? Ah well Vince, if you’ve decided to go all serious and make film soundtracks then fill-yer-boots mate. Turning your back on your own musical legacy devalues all the great work you did in the past. If you reply I’ll be busy listening to Upstairs At Eric’s.
So much entitlement and nonsense in one comment, it doesn’t deserve to even explain why.
Heaven forbid an artists does what he/she wants to do. I see no reason why any artist exploring different territory devalues what he/she has already created.
I’m not going to criticize erasure for sounding like erasure (/Yaz[oo]) for nearly 4 decades – nor am I going to criticize Vince Clarke for making a moody, experimental solo album if that’s what he wants to do.
It may not be a coincidence to hear a bit of darker music after the past three years. Though I also still enjoy sparkly synth pop and find it to be a bit of an antidote to the dreariness. I had tickets to the 2022 erasure tour that was sadly canceled, but they said they planned to play again soon, so I expect we have more erasure to look forward to as well.