Post-Imperial Review Episode 1: Depeche Mode - “Wagging Tongue”

If you didn’t catch the premise of this exercise, please see Episode 0 for details on the Post-Imperial Review series.

Depeche Mode have been releasing music since 1981’s “Dreaming of Me” single (which would be a fun topic for a PRE-Imperial Review series). If you’re doing the math, you realize that’s 45 years and counting (as of mid-2016). Martin Gore, Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher, and Alan Wilder combined for a long-spanning imperial run from 1986’s Black Celebration through 1997’s Ultra (which, Ultra didn’t include Wilder but let’s not open that discussion again…) and the release of The Singles 86>98.

The exclamation point of Depeche Mode’s Imperial Period was 1990s Violator (even though 1993’s Songs of Faith and Devotion charted higher). “Enjoy the Silence” might be the most recognizable song from this period, but in case you haven’t heard it this is a performance of the track on the Devotional tour in 1993, my personal favorite version:

It’s a highly regarded piece of synth pop perfection, showcasing some of Gore’s finest writing and Wilder’s transformative production; in fact, the track was a slow dirge until Wilder got his hands on it. It’s also possibly the most recent Depeche Mode song the general public is likely to recognize (at least in the U.S., as other parts of the world are much more in tune with Depeche Mode’s later output).

After Violator, later songs and albums would become less accessible to the lowest common denominator. However, for the discerning listener, there are are still plenty of songs which are well worth the price of admission.

Although Alan Wilder left in 1995, Depeche Mode didn’t shunt (DM me if you get it) too far from their Imperial Period until 2001’s Exciter which has become a true outlier in the Depeche Mode catalogue. After Exciter, a series of relatively true-to-form records came about, each with its own character but still undeniably Depeche Mode.

Sadly, in 2022, founding member Andy Fletcher, affectionately known as Fletch, died suddenly. While it’s sometimes debated how much Fletch actually contributed to the overall sound of the band, it is no secret that he was the glue that kept Dave Gahan and Martin Gore from imploding many times. His death in 2022 caused the two remaining members to seriously consider their relationship, and the result was the fantastic Memento Mori record.

Out of the Memento Mori sessions are songs that throw back to the Imperial Period - “Ghosts Again”, or “People Are Good”, for example - but I’m choosing to focus here on a lesser-appreciated track, “Wagging Tongue”.

“Wagging Tongue” is a single, or maybe not a single, another contentious debate, but I’m guessing you have not heard it on the radio. Certainly it is not “for the masses”, if you will, but it is a complex song.

From a sound perspective, “Wagging Tongue” has all the makings of a classic electronic-based Depeche Mode song. The song is built on the foundation of an arpeggiated synth lead line that is supported by minimal electronic percussion, a simple synth bass line, and long drawn out pads. If there is any guitar in the song, it’s buried in the bridge and heavily processed. I’m not convinced there’s any guitar present at all.

Lyrically, I’m not going to give my interpretation here, but it’s clearly figurative and dealing with communication. The words were co-written by Martin Gore and Dave Gahan, something that amazingly has been rare over Depeche Mode’s four plus decades and has really only been happening since 2009. Considering the age and experiences of the two writers, the lyrics should not be any surprise. Anyone with some life experience should be able to relate to the words in some form or another. I’m interested in hearing your own personal interpretations.

If you haven’t listened to later Depeche Mode albums, but are familiar with and enjoy their Imperial Period output, give Memento Mori a listen. But beware - you may end up with the desire to chase down 36 years worth of material. If so, “relax, enjoy the ride.”

Memento Mori is available everywhere. Pick up a physical copy, rip it to your computer, and put it on a Sleevenote Day One edition.