DAVE GAHAN - Live Monsters

Firmly establishing his position as legitimate solo artist, it will be near impossible for Dave Gahan to discard his Depeche Mode legacy. Thus he embraces it. His solo material is more personal than the material given him by the domineering Mr. Gore. Dave may be coming on in years with much excess in his wake, but he still owns the stage and projects the same charisma (albeit with a slight twinge of world-weariness). In this case it is more of a cohesive band as he worked closely with the other members in giving it life, be it Hold On, Dirty Sticky Floors, Stay or A Little Piece. These personal songs are filled with passion and a genuine sense. At times it seems as though he tries to drop his range a little to avoid that trademark DM sound, sometimes diminishing the natural impact he can conjure up. Still, on this live show the already fawning crowd responds with extra vigour when he slips in the DM songs (like when Sting throws in a Police track) - They include the classics A Question Of Time, Walking In My Shoes, Personal Jesus, I Feel You and Never Let Me Down Again. They are less electronic and sometimes delivered more up-tempo. The success and impact of those songs are as much his as the rest of DM and Gahan has nothing to be ashamed of nor need to evade. He will always be the voice of Depeche Mode and if there is a dozen of his new fans who never heard a DM track, that'll be a lot.
Extra features: a three-track acoustic radio appearance and a short film on the tour. Regular Anton Corbijn took care of the photography and art direction.

4 / B
- PB

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