Ultra (album)

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Ultra
Studio album by Depeche Mode
Released	April 14, 1997 (1997-04-14)
Recorded	1996-1997
Genre	Alternative Dance Alternative Rock Industrial Rock
Length	60:04
Label	Mute - STUMM148 Reprise
Producer	Tim Simenon
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link
Depeche Mode chronology
Songs of Faith and Devotion Live (1993) Ultra (1997) The Singles 86>98 (1998)
Singles from Ultra
"Barrel of a Gun" Released: February 3, 1997 (1997-02-03) "It's No Good" Released: March 31, 1997 (1997-03-31) "Home" Released: June 16, 1997 (1997-06-16) "Useless" Released: October 20, 1997 (1997-10-20)

Ultra is Depeche Mode's ninth full-length album, which was released by Mute Records on April 14, 1997 (1997-04-14). The album is the first album after the departure of Alan Wilder, who left to focus on his solo project Recoil.

Ultra keeps the industrial rock sound of their previous album and has a considerably darker tone than Depeche Mode's previous releases.

The long time that separates this album from the previous was due to David Gahan's near suicide and recovery from addiction to drugs. These two events caused many to speculate the end of Depeche Mode, but this turned out to not be the case.

Instead, Ultra was eventually released, reaching number one in the UK Chart, and producing several hit singles. As of April 2006, Ultra has sold 584,000 units in the U.S. The album is also notable for being the longest the band has ever released, clocking at an hour, despite the project initially being an E.P.

The remastered album was released on "deluxe" vinyl March 30, 2007 (2007-03-30) in Germany and October 1, 2007 (2007-10-01) internationally.

[edit] 2007 re-release

On October 2, 2007 (October 3 in North America) Ultra was re-released in a two-disc set, along with Exciter, completing the Depeche Mode catalog. The first disc was a remastered version of the original, on an SACD/CD hybrid. (Only a CD in the US) The second disc is a DVD which features the album in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM Stereo. The B-sides from Ultra can be listened as well, including the live B-sides found in the "Home" and "Useless" singles. In addition, the single "Only When I Lose Myself" from The Singles 86>98 and it's b-sides can be listened to.

Finally, like the other albums, there is a documentary on the making of Ultra titled "Depeche Mode 95-98 (Oh well, that's the end of the band...)" which the subtitle comes from Martin's thoughts after Alan leaving. The documentary begins with the talks of Alan Wilder's departure before moving on to recording the album with Dave's drug issues. Eventually, it moves on to Dave's "death" and rehab. The documentary then moves on to the recording of Ultra and ends with a discussion on The Singles 86>98 and its tour. The documentary is around 45 minutes to an hour. The entire band is interviewed, along with Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller, producer Tim Simenon, Mute executives, Peter Gordeno, Christian Eigner, Anton Corbijn and others.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Barrel of a Gun" – 5:35
2. "The Love Thieves" – 6:34
3. "Home" – 5:42
4. "It's No Good" – 5:58
5. "Uselink" – 2:21
6. "Useless" – 5:12
7. "Sister of Night" – 6:04
8. "Jazz Thieves" – 2:54
9. "Freestate" – 6:44
10. "The Bottom Line" – 4:26
11. "Insight" – 6:26
12. "Junior Painkiller" – 2:11*

• All songs written by Martin L Gore. Martin sings lead on "Home" and "The Bottom Line", while Dave Gahan sings the other songs. "Uselink", "Jazz Thieves", and "Junior Painkiller" are instrumental interludes.

• * Unlisted bonus track. A 90 second pause separates "Junior Painkiller" from "Insight", which is actually only around five minutes in length.

[edit] 2007 re-release: (CD/SACD)

• Disc 1 is a hybrid SACD/CD with a multi-channel SACD layer.
• Disc 2 is a DVD which includes "Ultra" in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM Stereo plus bonus material

1. "Barrel of a Gun" – 5:35
2. "The Love Thieves" – 6:34
3. "Home" – 5:42
4. "It's No Good" – 5:58
5. "Uselink" – 2:21
6. "Useless" – 5:12
7. "Sister of Night" – 6:04
8. "Jazz Thieves" – 2:54
9. "Freestate" – 6:44
10. "The Bottom Line" – 4:26
11. "Insight" – 6:26
12. "Junior Painkiller" – 2:11 (unlisted bonus track)

Live tracks in London, April 1997 (in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo)

1. "Barrel of a Gun"
2. "It's No Good"
3. "Useless"

Bonus tracks (in DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, PCM Stereo)

1. "Painkiller"
2. "Slowblow"
3. "Only When I Lose Myself"
4. "Surrender"
5. "Headstar"

Additional Material

• "Depeche Mode 95-98 (Oh well, that's the end of the band...)" (50 minute documentary)

[edit] Singles

1. "Barrel of a Gun (Depeche Mode song)" (3 February 1997)
2. "It's No Good" (31 March 1997)
3. "Home" (16 June 1997)
4. "Useless" (20 October 1997)

[edit] Personnel

• Depeche Mode is:
  • David Gahan
  • Andrew Fletcher
  • Martin Gore

• Produced by Tim Simenon.
• Mixed by Tim Simenon & Q.
• Engineered by Q.
• Programming on all tracks by Kerry Hopwood.
• Keyboards & Keyboard Programming on all tracks by Dave Clayton.
• Recorded at:
  • Abbey Road - Eastcote - Westside - Strongroom - RAK, London
  • Electric Lady, New York
  • Larrabee West, Los Angeles
• Assisted by Paul Hicks, Guy Massey, Lee Fitzgerald, Tom Rixton, Gary Forde, Lee Phillips, Jamie Campbell, Jim, Greg, Audie Chamberlain, Robbie Kazandjian.
• Mastered by Mike Marsh at The Exchange.

• Additional musicians:
  • Victor Indrizzo (misspelled in the credits as "Endrizzio"), percussion: "Barrel of a Gun" & "It's No Good".
  • Jaki Liebezeit, percussion: "The Bottom Line".
  • BJ Cole, pedal steel guitar: "The Bottom Line".
  • Gota Yashiki, drums: "Useless".
  • Keith Le Blanc, drums: "Useless".
  • Danny Cummings, percussion: "Useless" & "Freestate".
  • Doug Wimbish, bass: "Useless".
  • Daniel Miller, System700: "Uselink".

• Vocal coach Evelyn Halus.

• "Uselink" & "Jazz Thieves": Mixed by Tim Simenon & Gareth Jones.

• "Home", "Love Thieves" & "Freestate": Additional vocals engineered by Gareth Jones at RAK Studios

• "Home":
  • Strings arranged by Dave Clayton;
  • Strings scored by Richard Niles;
  • Strings coordinated by Graham Perkins.

• Special thanks to: Daniel Miller, Howie Klein, Anton Corbijn, Andy Ferguson, Donna Vergier, Pepe Jansz, Gerald Myers, everyone at Mute Records, Craig Kostich, Rich Fitzgerald, Steve Tipp, everyone at Reprise Records, Ronnie Harris, Andrew Thompson, Keith Drinkwater, Michael Pagnotta, Bernard Doherty, Karen Stringer, John Kennedy, Daryl Bamonte, Lynn Newcombe, Michaela Olexova, Richard Bell, Richard Smith, Ian McAndrew, Emma Feather, Philip Bagenal, Dundas Brothers.

• Management: Jonathan Kessler for Baron Inc.
• London office: JD Fanger.

• Art direction, photography & front cover - Anton Corbijn.
• Color prints - Brian Dowling.
• Sleeve design - Area.

• Label: Mute