Review: Dave Gahan

Review: Dave Gahan

Dave Gahan 'Hourglass': Aidin Vaziri | Declared clinically dead for a full six minutes just over a decade ago after taking a particularly potent combination of heroin and cocaine at the Hollywood Sunset Marquis, Depeche Mode front man Dave Gahan not only came out alive but also continues to roar with renewed creative vigor. After 23 years of singing songs by Vince Clarke and Martin Gore, he released a surprisingly decent self-penned solo album four years ago. Its follow-up is even better, taking the best elements of his band's saturnine electro-rock and updating them with a fresh coat of black enamel. Those who have nearly worn out their copies of "Violator" will want to pay extra attention to the sky-punching glam stomp of "Kingdom" and intense navel-gazing of "A Little Lie," now with added life experience.