Seems like neither drugs nor time can kill off Depeche Mode.

Back now with Rehab king Dave ‘I actually died once’ Gahn firmly in the driver’s seat – after himself and freaky white rasta Martin Gore had ill-fated stabs at going solo – the Mode are currently hard at work on a new album.

Recently a bit of club fave (could there be any worse recommendation? Poor sods) after a bunch of their mixes hit the crop-top-and-whistle market, Depeche Mode can apparently survive anything. Even their track ‘Just Can’t Get Enough‘ being turned into a Bontempi lounge version to advertise This Morning apparently.

With their last (admittedly somewhat coasting) album Exciter given a right royal slapping by critics on its release four years ago, hecklerspray hopes their new effort will prove a break from the norm. They’ve got Ben Hillier co-producing, fresh from working with Blur and the Doves, so early signs are promising if nothing else.

“Ben Hillier has brought a whole new dynamic to the group which is quite inspiring.” said Gahn speaking from their current base of operations in California and definitely not sipping a cold beer.

Surely nobody can deny Mode need a fresh burst of energy if they are going to cut any ice with a new fanbase. We might all want to hear ‘Never Let Me Down Again’ or ‘Enjoy the Silence’ played a different way with a new title, but that’s not going to bother whichever indie wannabes next crawl out of the woodwork very much.

Depeche Mode has probably got one last proper crack left.

Saying that, Remixes 81-04 the band’s compilation comeback released last year, did sell in excess of one million copies around the world. Not too shabby for an old school electro band named after a wanky French magazine. Of course we’ve not actually read the magazine, but it’s French and that’s always worth a free dig.

The new album’s due in the autumn. Until then buy a bit of classic Mode to get you in the mood at Amazon.

[story by Chris Laverty]