Dubstep Depeche Mode: The Best of Both Worlds?

A lot of people ask me what my favorite music is. I usually say that I like all types of music, but if I had to choose one genre, it would be dubstep. I’m a big fan of Depeche Mode, so when I found out that they had a dubstep album, I was intrigued.

Introduction

It is no secret that Depeche Mode and dubstep have a lot in common. Both genres are dark, atmospheric, and often deal with themes of alienation and isolation. Dubstep also shares a lot of sonic similarities with Depeche Mode’s music, particularly in the use of heavy bass and layered synthesizers.

In many ways, dubstep can be seen as the natural evolution of Depeche Mode’s sound. As electronic music has become more and more popular in recent years, it has only make sense that a genre would emerge that takes everything that is great about Depeche Mode’s music and amplifies it. This is precisely what dubstep does.

Of course, not every fan of Depeche Mode will necessarily enjoy dubstep. But for those who are open to it, dubstep can be a truly exhilarating experience. In many ways, it feels like hearing Depeche Mode for the first time all over again.

What is dubstep?

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as a development of UK garage and jungle.

Origins

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and disco dub.

Characteristics

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2000s. It is characterized by a distinctive rhythmic style featuring syncopated basslines and staccato synths.

While dubstep shares some sonic characteristics with other genres of electronic dance music, it is distinguished by its focus on bass and drums, as well as its dark, atmospheric sound. Dubstep tracks often include elements of other genres, such as grime, hip-hop, and garage.

The dubstep sound has been influential in the development of other genres, including trap and future bass.

What is Depeche Mode?

Depeche Mode is an English electronic band that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group’s original line-up consisted of Vince Clarke (keyboards, vocals), Andy Fletcher (keyboards), Martin Gore (keyboards, vocals, guitar), and Dave Gahan (vocals). Depeche Mode’s last album, Delta Machine, was released in 2013.

Origins

Depeche Mode is a British electronic band that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group’s original line-up consisted of Vince Clarke (keyboards, guitar), Andy Fletcher (bass guitar), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter after 1981) and Dave Gahan (lead vocals). Depeche Mode has had fifty songs in the UK Singles Chart, as well as one US chart topper, “Enjoy the Silence”. They have released fourteen studio albums, four of which topped the UK chart.

In the late 1970s, Clarke and Gore formed a band called No Romance in China. Soon after, Clarke left the band to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet. Both Gore and Fletcher recruits were fans of synthesizer-based pop music and they found common ground in their shared taste for the work of German electronic bands such as Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream. Excited by the prospect of forming a band with somebody who shared their love for this type of music, they recruited Gahan to be their lead singer.

Characteristics

Depeche Mode is a English electronic band that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group’s original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan (lead vocals, occasional songwriter since 2005), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, vocals, chief songwriter since 1982), Andy Fletcher (keyboards) and Vince Clarke (keyboards, chief songwriter from 1980 until 1981). Depeche Mode released their debut album Speak & Spell in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. Clarke left the band after the release of the album, leaving the band as a trio to record A Broken Frame, released the following year. Gore took over as primary songwriter and in 1982, Alan Wilder (drums, keyboards, backing vocals) joined to fill Clarke’s spot; he was integral to helping shape the band’s sound over the next fifteen years.

The band’s next album Construction Time Again was released in 1983 and included hit singles “Everything Counts” and “Love, in Itself”. A documentary film titled 101 was released in 1988; it documents the band during their1987 Music for the Masses Tour across North America and Europe. Depeche Mode’s fourth album Some Great Reward was released in 1984; it peaked at number five in both Britain and Germany and marked a change in direction for Gore as its primary songwriter. The album yielded another UK top ten single with “People Are People”.

Wilder left Depeche Mode in 1995; he cited creative differences as well as disagreements with Gahan’s alcohol addiction. subsequent albums recorded by the group were produced by Flood, who helped achieve higher levels of commercial success for 2001’s Exciter and 2005’s Playing the Angel. In 2009–10 Gahan undertook a solo tour promoting his second solo album Hourglass exclusively across Europe while all three other members worked on new material for what would become their thirteenth studio album Delta Machine which was released on 26 March 2013 worldwide by Columbia Records and Mute Records. The thirteenth studio album Spirit is scheduled to be released globally on 17 March 2017 through Columbia Records/Mute Records.

How do dubstep and Depeche Mode compare?

Depeche Mode and dubstep are two very different types of music. Depeche Mode is a synthpop band that formed in 1980, while dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the early 2000s. While they both have their fans, there are some key differences between the two. Here’s a look at how dubstep and Depeche Mode compare.

Tempo

If we’re talking about BPM, or beats per minute, then Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” clocks in at around 118 BPM, while Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” is a breakneck 170 BPM. That’s a pretty big difference – almost 50%! – so it’s no wonder that they might feel quite different when you listen to them.

Of course, there’s more to tempo than just BPM. The way the beats are arranged can also make a big difference. For example, both tracks have a kind of stuttery, stop-start feel to them, but in “Enjoy the Silence” it’s much more gradual and gentle (especially at the beginning), while in “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” it happens much more suddenly and jarringly. This can make a track feel faster or slower than its actual BPM would suggest.

Bass

The defining characteristic of dubstep is the wobbly, murky bass that dominates the sound. Depeche Mode also prominently feature bass throughout their work, particularly in their early work. However, the bass in Depeche Mode is often cleaner and moreTreble-focused than in dubstep. This results in a less muddled sound overall, but it also means that the dubstep-style wub-wub effect is less prevalent. Nevertheless, the two genres share a focus onbass, and this is one of the key ways in which they overlap.

Synthesizers

Dubstep and Depeche Mode both use synthesizers to create their music. However, they use different types of synthesizers. Dubstep uses digital synthesizers to create its sound, while Depeche Mode uses analog synthesizers.

Analog synthesizers create sounds by manipulating voltage levels. This results in a warmer, more organic sound. Digital synthesizers use computer code to generate sound. This results in a colder, more robotic sound.

Depeche Mode’s music is based around melody and emotion, while dubstep is all about the beat. Dubstep is often criticized for being repetitive and not having much variety, but there are some dubstep songs with complex melodies and interesting chord progressions.

Conclusion

So, what is the verdict? Do dubstep and Depeche Mode go together like peanut butter and jelly, or are they two worlds that are best kept apart? We think they can definitely coexist – after all, both genres have a lot to offer. If you’re a fan of either, or both, then we say go ahead and give it a try. You might just be surprised at how well they go together.