Martin L. Gore – Counterfeit²

Great project by Martin Gore. I like the first Counterfeit a little more, though.

It’s interesting what Crijevo says below, wishing Martin had reinterpreted his own songs. The “Counterfeit” albums (hint in the title word) are a an odd project in that the (brilliant) songwriter, Martin Gore, chooses to cover other writers’ songs. Given the title, I assume this is a deliberate choice. He has written hundreds of songs and with this project he ‘takes a break’ and successfully covers others’ songs.

It would be wonderful to hear a similar, FULL album of Martin Gore covering Depeche Mode songs in his own way. That said, the hugely charismatic Dave Gahan does have a strong hold over Depeche Mode songs, in the way he sings and performs them, he possesses the songs as the best singers do. Maybe it is a respect for that which keeps Gore away.

There are a few key and important DM songs which are claimed / sung by Martin Gore: Home, Question of Lust, Somebody, The Things You Said (the latter is one of my favourite DM songs ever).

Crijevo – Regarding your comment about In My Other World sounding like a Lynch film theme. Yes it does have that Lynchian sound. I take it you know the song is from Julie Cruise's second album which is composed by Angelo Badalamenti. And of that second album Lynch wrote most of the lyrics, but as it happens, In My Other World is an exception and was written by Julie Cruise and Louis Tucci. The Lynchian factor is present because of the Lynch / Badalamenti / Cruise team.

20 years later, "Counterfeit 2" still sounds more "Depeche" than Depeche themselves do these days... Revisiting the collection, one so wishes these were Martin's originals, with a gem or two that could have been omitted from the final cut ("Loverman" as an example, despite its creepy electronic pulse, is rather tedious). Among the cover gems, "In My Other World" pleasantly sounds like a theme from a David Lynch movie. While his very first "Counterfeit" from years behind remains a nice little oddity, with "Counterfeit 2" Martin didn't do wrong but the word "formal" does question his honest intentions with it more than not.

this work by Martin is much more beautiful than some post Violator DP's

Ok Mart,wheres the reissue of this LP?? ☺ come on...

Boring stuff. Even the originals were that and the new versions won't help on them. Not bad but these songs don't suit to Martin Gore. Instrumentation is good but I don't know why the hell the distortion must be present in all Depeche Mode / Martin Gore related stuff? Some melody-tracks, drums, persuccions are disturbingly distorted (and the worst example is the Exciter). Some synth-usage is very nice here but despite of it, as a massive depeche fan, I doubt I will ever have a hunger for listening the Counterfeit 2 again.

the traditional folk song "in my time of dying" which begins this disc was previously done by bob dylan. i´ve heard it on a dylan album my parents own. dylan´s version is nice, but if you compare the two versions, i can´t help but feel that martin´s brings out a greater depth of feeling than does dylan´s "folkier" version.

"Oh My Love" seals the deal for me, a gorgeous gentle electronic lullaby. Anyone who enjoyed ISAN's remix of "Goodnight Lovers" should love this track, and if you care for the man's angelic voice at all, pick this up.