DBQP Vinyl & CDs

Review: After doing the rounds for years as a bootleg CD, Depeche Mode's Live in Basel 1984 is finally getting a release on vinyl. For fans of the legendary Essex band, or merely those with an in interest in early new-wave synth-pop, the album should be an essential purchase. The quality of the recording itself is rather good (something of a surprise given its age and the fact that it would have most likely been recorded to tape), while the band's performance is superb. It's basically a celebration of the Mode at their early synth-sporting best, teasing and titillating an enthusiastic Swiss crowd. Musically, we get a mix of cult favourites, early album tracks and now iconic singles such as 'New Life' and 'Just Can't Get Enough'. Ace.

Review: Live Aus Der Markthalle Hamburg 1984 catches the Mancunian indie team in live action between official albums one and two - let's not include the Hatful of Hollow compilation for argument's sake. There's a hint of what's to come on Meat Is Murder - which would be their first and only UK number album - in the shape of the bass-led 'Barbarism Begins At Home', which gets two outings here, reprised along with 'This Charming Man' as an encore as well as in the main set. Primarily, though, it's material from the eponymous debut that makes up the running order, along with an outing for 'Hand In Glove' flip track 'Handsome Devil'.