A sudden strange, yet comforting, haunting has emerged from the speakers courtesy of Depeche Mode. The iconic synth-pop group yesterday (February 9) shared new single “Ghosts Again,” an effervescent tune that serves as their first new music since 2017 album Spirit. It’s also the first addictive spell from the forthcoming Memento Mori, out March 24 via Columbia; and of course, the first single since the untimely passing of founding member Andy “Fletch” Fletcher.
“To me, ‘Ghosts Again’ just captures this perfect balance of melancholy and joy,” says Dave Gahan via a press release, with Martin Gore adding: “It’s not often that we record a song that I just don’t get sick of listening to — I’m excited to be able to share it.”
Depeche Mode, now powering forward as a duo, revealed news of the album last fall, complete with a world tour that plays New York’s Madison Square Garden in April. See all the dates below.
According to NME, Gore says the title of the record was in place prior to Fletcher’s unexpected passing in May. “Memento Mori” is defined as an artistic or symbolic trope acting as a reminder of the inevitability of death.
“It sounds very morbid, but I think you can look at it very positively as well,” Gore says. “In that live each day to the max. I think that’s how we like to interpret it too… After Fletch’s passing, we decided to continue as we’re sure this is what he would have wanted, and that has really given the project an extra level of meaning.”
Dance along below.
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