PRAISE FOR DAVE GAHAN’S SECOND SOLO ALBUM ‘HOURGLASS’

“…astonishingly brilliant new solo record…squaring off with everything from nihilism to the tyranny of humans.  And all the while aching for something of real value and consequence.”

“…the man is just now blossoming into a gifted songwriter…has crafted a genuine album utilizing old and new tricks in surprisingly adept and original ways.”

"It's a dark, introspective affair that's one of my favorite albums of the year."

"Hourglass goes all the way electro, filling the mix with bloopy-bleepy synth blips. Like Gore, Gahan broods over God and humanity and the bleakness of existence in ballads like ‘Kingdom’ and ‘Saw Something.’ But he gets off a fantastic sex-hound growl in ‘Use You,’ with a gospel vibe recalling Songs of Faith and Devotion…”

“His growls and distorted synths result in an industrial edge that gets backup from pounding beats and aggressively sexy lyrics.”

"’Kingdom' once again explores the familiar contrast between cold, nasty industrial squelches and Gahan's exquisitely velvety pop vocals…"

"…one of the most instantly arresting synthpop albums to come along in some time."

"…continues to roar with renewed creative vigor…taking the best elements of his band's saturnine electro-rock and updating them with a fresh coat of black enamel. Those who have nearly worn out their copies of Violator will want to pay extra attention to the sky-punching glam stomp of ‘Kingdom’ and intense navel-gazing of ‘A Little Lie,’ now with added life experience."

"…a strong, futurist-blues record of frank, even aggressive emotions…."

“…vibrant…”

“…a collection of electronic songs that mixes dungeon-master sexual predation with angst-ridden introspection.”

"…[the album is] dark and moody, filled with thick, dense beats and pulsating grooves. The ambient ‘Saw Something’ is a haunting, echoey opener, followed by the glam rock-ish ‘Kingdom.’ ‘21 Days’ and ‘Use You’ sound almost industrial, while the bass-heavy ‘Deeper and Deeper’ is strikingly gritty and fierce. Lyrically, Gahan gets personal, musing on inner struggles and religion (‘I don't believe in Jesus, but I'm praying anyway,’ he sings on ‘Miracles’).”

"…Gahan continues here where he left off with 2003’s Paper Monsters, digging deeper for lyrics while trading the guitar textures of his solo debut for an emphasis on darker electronic shading."

“Dave Gahan’s dirty, sexy, electronica-laden Hourglass couldn’t be a more perfect title for an album that has all the yearning, burning, menace and baritone that fans expect from the Depeche Mode frontman, but this time, the lanky, dancing, tatttoo’d superstar is opening up wider that ever before…  Engrossing from first synth and drum kick to last blush, Gahan has finally allowed himself to say his peace, and what listeners find within should keep ‘em writhing, sweating and psycho-analyzing until the wee small hours.”

"…opener ‘Saw Something,’ a soothing meditation which relies simply on glassy bleeps, a soft pulse and Gahan's trademark baritone. Of course, the record also packs some punch with cuts like leadoff single ‘Kingdom,’ fueled by thumping 4/4 and jagged synth-bass, and ‘Use You,’ Gahan's stab at sleazy electro-blues-rock."

"…nearly as perfect as perfect can be.   Many of the songs seem to carry and ongoing theme of a sort of ‘running out of time,’ and the listener ends up being engulfed in its manic undertones.  Awesome. "

"an engrossing piece of work"

“induces goose bumps”

 
“Gahan’s solo career continues to impress.”

“As Dave’s confidence increases, so does the quality of his songs.”

 
“…enough to make fan’s eyeliner leak…it’s all here, stadium scaled.”

 "….'Insoluble,' a song good enough to hold its own with Bowie's Berlin period."

“…it rocks, it pulses, it throbs.”

 
“…his best set of solo remixes to date.”