Depeche Mode co-founder
Martin Gore has had a history of shifting away from his main band in order to explore different sounds and concepts through side projects. He released two collections of covers under his own name in 1989 and 2003, and reunited with former bandmate
Vince Clarke in 2011, forming techno side project
VCMG, their first collaboration in 30 years. Continuing to work solo as MG, this eponymous album finds
Gore further exploring instrumental electronic music, but instead of the straightforward techno of
VCMG, it comes closer to early-'90s Artificial Intelligence-era IDM, with only a few excursions into buzzing industrial techno. Tracks like "Islet" come close to sounding like
Autechre circa
Incunabula, as well as the more experimental moments of
Kraftwerk albums such as
Radio-Aktivität. The songs' brief running times (only a handful of them are over four minutes) and ominous melodies give the album a cinematic feel, recalling '80s soundtracks by
Vangelis or
John Carpenter. "Crowly" and "Brink" have upfront 4/4 techno beats and growling sawtooth bass, but they still seem primed for an action sequence rather than the dancefloor. Highlight "Europa Hymn" combines unconventional patterns of crunchy beats with simple yet expressive melodies, creating something original and affecting. "Stealth" is a bit more sneaky and mischievous, starting out with an earworm melody that snakes its way throughout the track, then gradually recalling the combination of darkness and soul-searching that made
Depeche Mode's best work so moving. MG is an intriguing diversion that might appeal to
Depeche Mode fans who were put off by the pure, minimalist techno of
VCMG, and it could also come as a surprise to listeners who aren't
DM fans, or haven't kept up with their later work. ~ Paul Simpson