In an age of surprise record drops and exclusive streaming site marketing strategies, it sure is nice to hear from bands that simply love playing music. Take Toronto’s By Divine Right, who have been playing in various forms for 25 years, and on May 27 release their newest – a track-for-track cover of Depeche Mode’s 1981 album Speak & Spell.
“We did it for the sheer fun of making music together,” says frontman José Contreras. “And then we discovered the riffs! It was a bit ‘wink wink’ at first. We thought it was a fun, cool idea – a bit cheeky, but then when we tracked it, we really connected to these crucial rock riffs. The album became real to us, and important too.”
Speak & Spell was Depeche Mode’s last album written by Vince Clarke, who later joined Erasure and was replaced by singer Alan Wilder. If you don’t remember the 80s, you’ll at least know Just Can’t Get Enough, which you’ve certainly heard on commercials and soundtracks.
“I think these songs are perfect,” says bass player Alysha Haugen. “Vince Clarke forever. Recording this record was possibly the most fun I’d ever had.”
By Divine Right recorded the album in just one weekend
“It was pretty much the best,” says drummer Geordie Dynes. “Who would have thunk that a bunch of old Depeche Mode tunes would become such staples in our sets? It’s ’cause they rock so much.”
The result? Synths have been replaced by guitars to produce a softer, fuzzier rendition of the hook-heavy record.
Listen now:
And for those of you born in the 90s:
By Divine Right celebrates their record release at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre on Friday, May 27. $10, starts at 10 pm.
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kater@nowtoronto.com | @katernow
