Ultra

Ultra
Studio album by Depeche Mode
Released	April 14, 1997 (1997-04-14)
Recorded	January 1996-February 1997
Genre	Alternative Dance Synthpop
Length	60:04
Label	Mute - STUMM148 Reprise
Producer	Tim Simenon
Professional reviews
Allmusic link PopMatters link Entertainment Weekly (B+) link Rolling Stone link
Depeche Mode chronology
Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993) Ultra (1997) Exciter (2001)
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 after the departure of Alan Wilder from the band, who left to focus on his solo project Recoil.

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

The long time that separates this album from the previous was due to David Gahan's near death 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 #1 in the UK Albums Chart, #5 in the Billboard 200 and producing several hit singles. As of April 2006, Ultra has sold 584,000 units in the U.S. The album was also notable for being the longest the band has ever released until Sounds of the Universe was released in 2009, clocking in at one hour, despite the project initially focused on being an EP.

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

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 Collectors Edition catalogue. The first disc is a remastered version of the original album, on a SACD/CD hybrid (except for in the U.S., where it's a CD only). 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 the album's singles can be listened to as well, including the stand-alone single "Only When I Lose Myself" and its b-sides.

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...)", the subtitle of which comes from Martin Gore's thoughts about Alan Wilder's departure. The documentary begins with discussion from all parties of Wilder's departure before moving on to early album sessions despite Dave Gahan's drug issues present. Eventually, it moves on to Gahan's "death" and rehab. The documentary then covers the recording of Ultra and ends with a discussion on The Singles 86>98 and its corresponding singles tour. The documentary is around 45 minutes to an hour long. The whole band is interviewed, along with Alan Wilder, Daniel Miller, producer Tim Simenon, Mute executives, Peter Gordeno, Christian Eigner, Anton Corbijn and others.

Track listing

All songs written by Martin L Gore.

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 (hidden track)

• A ninety second pause separates "Junior Painkiller" from "Insight", which is actually only around five minutes in length.
• Martin takes lead vocals on "Home" and "The Bottom Line", while Dave Gahan sings the rest. "Uselink", "Jazz Thieves", and "Junior Painkiller" are instrumental interludes.

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 the following bonus material:

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)

Singles

1. "Barrel Of A Gun" (3 February 1997)
2. "It's No Good" (31 March 1997)
3. "Home" (16 June 1997)
4. "Useless" (20 October 1997)

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 - Richard Smith[1], Area.

• Label: Mute

Chart positions

References