If one had to consume a synth-pop album which would encompass all avenues, all the talent, all the experimentation of the genre, and be accessible to everyone, British New Wave band Depeche Mode’s 1990 album Violator should almost certainly be the sole pick.

The album in general is only nine songs long, with a runtime of 47 minutes. It is a landmark in 90s music, which rang in the new decade by combining the evidently synth-heavy sounds associated with the cheese of the 80s, and the sounds of industrial rock and grunge which would come to define the experimental 90s. The album is a cohesive synthesis of the clubby and dreadful sounds of the band’s previous albums – Black Celebration; Music for the Masses – and distils it into a concise and eclectic package which can be listened to, in my personal experience, in all scenarios.

Upon reflection on the themes of the record, my personal understanding of the storytelling seems to consist of the struggles between the addiction towards a romantic partner, and the protagonist’s abuse of illicit substances. The opener ‘World In My Eyes’ sets this tone for the remainder of the project: the lyrical content can be cleverly interpreted in three or even four ways – begging the listener to get involved; acting as a metaphor for the explorative production on the album; a song about bringing a partner on a wild “trip” in a relationship; and an attempt at explaining what the narrator sees whilst on a substance-induced high. The song is up-tempo and accessible enough, with minimalist but layered synth production. Here we are introduced for the first time to Dave Gahan’s almost soothing yet operatic vocals which defined the band for their whole career.

The malicious basslines that run through both songs are unbelievably catchy…

The band’s ability to incorporate so many intersecting themes into one song is striking, and that continues throughout the whole track list. The following song ‘Sweetest Perfection’ again could be viewed as the narrator comparing his addiction to drugs with the lust for his partner. The song ‘Halo’ is a song steeped in religious allegories, which is another example of the narrator undermining motives and advocating for letting go to solve all your problems. The final two songs culminate in the narrator’s full embrace of his partner’s sexual beauty – ‘Blue Dress’ – resulting in his complete disregard of drugs altogether in ‘Clean’.

For myself, it took multiple listens to gather this personal meaning. However the first time I listened to the album the intense and fiery production, the replay value, and the variety of sounds hooked me. For this purpose, the songs ‘Personal Jesus’ and ‘Policy of Truth’ are the most thrilling on the album. The malicious basslines that run through both songs are unbelievably catchy and have been some of Depeche’s favourites to play at their arena concerts. Having seen them live at Twickenham Stadium with my father last year, it continues to be my favourite concert I have ever attended.

The synth work is, of course, impeccable and satisfyingly produced…

The progression of all songs and their denial of conventional melodic structures, and their inclusion of samples of heavy breathing, bells, and even space-age weaponry throughout have never failed to underwhelm me. The synth work is, of course, impeccable and satisfyingly produced, and the genres of the album regularly cross over into – non-exhaustively – metal, psychedelia, trip-hop, RnB and house. The sound of the album is perfectly dark, seedy, and dreadful, but simultaneously it can, and could again, easily soundtrack any underground club; the band are still especially popular in Berlin’s underground nightlife scene, for instance.

While it seems they continue to be popular among the middle-aged, the album, and the band, are criminally underrated by a modern generation. Which has, funnily enough, endorsed a revival in music in recent years which increasingly incorporates 80s and other nostalgic sounds into the mainstream. The album, indeed, still feels fresh. Therefore, everyone will discover a particular song, or even moment, on Depeche Mode’s Violator, which they have never heard before executed with the same quality. Your elders will thank you.

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