The portents seemed promising for the latest Depeche Mode long player. Since 2001's OK but largely unexciting 'Exciter', frontman Dave Gahan managed to conjure up a top quality solo album and he even manages some co-writes on 'Playing The Angel'. As it turns out, his three contributions are terrific: the subtly infectious 'I Want It All' and 'Nothing's Impossible' in particular. Yet Martin L. Gore once more dominates, whether it's reclaiming any of the industrial power lost to young upstarts like VAST on 'The Sinner In Me', or showing the vulnerability behind the electronic grind on 'Precious', he is still the chief of operations. Indeed, the Gore-sung 'Damaged People' seems to represent the whole ethos behind Depeche Mode, encapsulated in the lyric "Disturbed souls playing out forever". In that same way, Depeche Mode seem destined to continue working together, releasing new material and when the output is as modern and relevant-sounding as this, the saga should continue.