Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel

Playing the Angel, originally released in 2005, marked a powerful new chapter in Depeche Mode’s legacy. Moody, abrasive, and emotionally charged, the album reasserted the band’s ability to evolve while remaining unmistakably themselves. It introduced a new generation to their signature blend of electronic minimalism, industrial grit, and soul-baring lyricism.

Anchored by the pulsing lead single “Precious,” the record dives deep into themes of longing, faith, lust, and redemption. Tracks like “Suffer Well” and “John the Revelator” showcase the band’s sharpened edge, while moments of vulnerability in “The Sinner in Me” and “Damaged People” provide haunting counterpoints. For the first time, Dave Gahan contributed original songs to the album, adding a fresh dynamic to the group’s chemistry.

Produced by Ben Hillier, Playing the Angel crackles with raw energy, marrying analog synth textures with modern electronics. It is both feral and elegant, a darkly cinematic body of work that remains a fan favorite and a critical landmark in Depeche Mode’s later career.

This edition is pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl across two LPs, offering the full, immersive experience of one of the band’s boldest statements of the 21st century.