Playing the Angel

Playing the Angel, released on 17 October 2005, is the eleventh full-length album by Depeche Mode. It was supported by the Touring the Angel tour. The name "Playing the Angel" is taken from a lyric in the closing song "The Darkest Star". It is the fourth Depeche Mode album to get its name from a lyric in its album, the other three being Construction Time Again, Some Great Reward and Black Celebration. The album is the first of Depeche Mode's to f... more

Playing the Angel, released on 17 October 2005, is the eleventh full-length album by Depeche Mode. It was supported by the Touring the Angel tour. The name "Playing the Angel" is taken from a lyric in the closing song "The Darkest Star". It is the fourth Depeche Mode album to get its name from a lyric in its album, the other three being Construction Time Again, Some Great Reward and Black Celebration. The album is the first of Depeche Mode's to feature Dave Gahan as co-writer: three of the tracks' ("Suffer Well", "I Want It All" and "Nothing's Impossible") lyrics were written by the singer, while Christian Eigner and Andrew Phillpott wrote the music on these. Gahan is the lead singer on all songs except for the instrumental "Introspectre", and Martin Gore-sung tracks "Macro" and "Damaged People". Gahan also sings backing vocals on "Macro", which was the first time he had sung backing on one of Gore's songs since Violator's "Sweetest Perfection". The album has been called a more... less