40 years ago, Construction Time Again was released, Depeche Mode's 3rd studio album

Summer 1983, the turning point. Depeche Mode releases its third studio album. Construction Time Again marks an important stage in the career of the British group. It not only introduced keyboardist Alan Wilder to the band, but also laid the foundation for a new sound, skillfully blending elements of industrial music into their well-known electronic sound.

A few months before the release of the album, the songwriter Martin Gore attends a concert of the German group Einstürzende Neubauten, “Collapse of new buildings” in French. That's it, the idea of ​​mixing pop and industrial was born. Depeche Mode began to import samples from different factories, in particular to produce its track Pipeline and create a unique industrial sound atmosphere.

In Construction Time Again, Depeche Mode tackles more serious and political subjects. The album cover, depicting a worker trying to hit the peak of the Matterhorn with hammer blows, reflects this new artistic direction. Everything Counts, the first single from the album, is one of the band's biggest hits in its home country, marking their ability to evolve while retaining their distinctive musical imprint.

Although sometimes forgotten in the history of Dave Gahan and his band, Construction Time Again marked a major transition towards a more industrial and experimental aspect. The album broadened the band's sonic palette, setting it up for ever more groundbreaking later works, such as Some Great Reward and Black Celebration.

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Two decades later, Depeche Mode remains a powerhouse in the global music arena. In 2023, to mark the release of their 15th studio album, Memento Mori, the band embarked on a 100-date world tour. In France, they have lit up the stage four times, and plan to return in March 2024 with two exceptional concerts at the Accor Arena in Paris.