Soulsavers | OohYeah

The second chapter of the ambitious collaboration in the history of rock begins: after the emotional album "The Light The Dead See" (2012), Soulsavers and Depeche Mode soloist Dave Gahan represent the long-awaited continuation of the creative union - "Angels & Ghosts". The previous album received the support of fans and critics and reached the 12th line in the charts of Germany. The new album is even stronger, with its narrative approach and bringing a relief of optimism in the face of desperation. All nine songs are written by Dave Gahan and Soulsavers.Dave Gahan is an integral part of the legendary British band Depeche Mode, where he has been working for more than 30 years. In addition to being a talented frontman and singer, the 53-year-old musician can also boast of his writing skills, which have only improved over the past few years. Dave wrote several songs for the albums "Playing The Angel", "Sounds of the Universe" and "Delta Machine". In addition, he released two successful solo albums - "Paper Monsters" and "Hourglass" in 2003 and 2007.Soulsavers are British musicians who started their careers with remixes and released three albums. Before Machin (a native of the English city of Stoke-on-Trent) met Dave, he worked with former member of Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan, who adorned the songs of Soulsavers with his outstanding baritone. Through the participation in the Lanegan project, Dave learned about the Soulsavers. When the musicians met in the Los Angeles studio, Gehan was already a longtime admirer of Machin's work. "The album" It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land "was exactly what you need," Dave recalls. - The same feelings were when I first heard a teenager "London Calling" from The Clash, or Sigur Ros. This music touched my soul. "In turn, Machin grew up on the music of Depeche Mode, becoming their fan in 1990 after the release of the album "Violator", then he was a teenager. "Their albums had a dark atmosphere," he recalls. - In addition to electronics, the arrangements included gospel and blues elements, which I loved so much. Depeche Mode introduced me to new approaches in music. " During their first meeting, Machin strongly stated that he wanted to go on tour with Depeche Mode. After the tour, I had the opportunity to work together."It was an obvious collaboration," says Rich. - It clearly worked. It's interesting to experience a musician on live instruments when he's used to electronics. I like to look at things from another angle, and we did it without any effort. I worked with different people, but such chemistry is quite a rare phenomenon. When this happens, you just need to succumb to the current. " After working on The Light The Dead See, Machin and Gehan did not go home, but continued their work. Even before the first album, Dave sent Rich a sketch of the song recorded on the iPhone, which opens a new album - "Shine". In the future, the musicians and worked: sent each other records across the Atlantic, until the album was not ready. Rich sent Dave tools, and Dave commented."Music told me words and melodies," he says briefly. To record the main tracks, Machin gathered a group of his familiar musicians from around the world. "These are not session musicians, but people I've worked with for a long time and who immediately understand my needs," he explains. "They are part of the project, although they live in different places: on the West Coast, on the East, in North England, in South England ..."In these difficult conditions, the task of Dave and Rich was to record the album as if it had been done live in a studio from one take. "We listened to a lot of Ray Charles," Rich says. "And they wanted to achieve an organic," spatial "sound, so they worked in large studios." For example, the musicians shot the studio Sunset Sound Studio in Los Angeles, where wind instruments and strings were recorded under the mastery of the arranger Daniel Luppi. "I worked with him for 6 or 7 years," says Rich. He puts his hand on my shoulder and leads me into my world. His passion is contagious. "Even with backing vocalists, Machin worked more than 10 years. The vocal of one of them, Wendy Rose, was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York. "I let the vocalists sing naturally," Rich says. "I like it most of all." Machin likes to conduct the process imperceptibly. Maybe he is slightly underestimating his ambitious plans, wanting to include different musicians together in the sound of Soulsavers. "The song" You Owe Me "is about how love helps you escape from reality," Dave explains. "You see her everywhere, but in the end you have to let her into your life." But this is a one-way road. The lyrics of the song reveal the dark part of my soul that is following me - and as if tearing in two. "It is not easy to achieve such emotionality and openness in a song that lasts a few minutes, but Gahan proves once again that he is a true master in this art. When he explains why Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer and Nick Cave sing with such conviction and faith, it becomes clear that he himself refers to the same type of performers - impressive and mature.As already mentioned, the album opens with a track "Shine" - a combination of gospel and "Chain Gang Blues", hence the listener goes on a journey that he will not forget for a long time. The album is built as a vinyl record, which has two sides, where the "first side" assembled electronic elements, vocal parts, orchestra and Gehan's existential reflections - all of this together gets out of the usual concept of "rock music". Immediately after the beginning of the "second side", the listener plunges into the track "One Thing" with its heavy atmosphere to the sounds of the piano, revealing even more profound torments of the author. And only at the end of the album tonality again goes up and reaches the epic finale with the "My Sun" track. "I wanted to make an album that involves from beginning to end," says Machin."Angels & Ghosts" is a belated candidate for the nomination "Best Album of 2015". The musicians are going to play the album live. Several concerts are planned, which in no case can not be missed.