Or rather, it is now official that Ben Hillier is in the studio, and that Depeche Mode are with him. Go figure! Ben’s UK based management updated the producer’s bio with this tiny little line: [Ben’s] now back in the production chair for Depeche Mode following their last collaboration on “Playing The Angel” album”.

Also Ferg Peterkin’s involvement (previously reported on this very site) was confirmed by his management, stating simply that “[Ferg is] currently Stateside with producer Ben Hillier, […] engineering the new Depeche Mode album”.

Mode begun the second set of sessions for the upcoming album last week, this time in New York. Work begun May 5th in California.

After talking to German based promoter, Marek Lieberberg, fellow fansite depechemode.de is reporting as much, and a great deal more! We’ve hit up Google Translate and thrown in a generous helping of editing to give you all the goodies in English… read on! And a huge tip of the hat to Sven at wwwdepechemode.de for the report!

From wwwdepechemode.de:

Every day there are new rumours about the upcoming Depeche Mode tour for 2009. Depechemode.de usually bring you up-to-date, accurate info, and this time is no different. You can start looking forward to 2009 - Depeche Mode will be playing in Germany again!

In a phone interview with concert promoter Marek Lieberberg earlier today, it was confirmed that the plans for the 2009 trek are being made as we speak. Mr. Lieberberg was kind enough to reveal some of the details of the current plans, which include a tour start in Israel in May.

For Germany the plan is to have 6 to 8 concerts during the month of June - all in stadiums. No indoor shows are scheduled at this time, and the shows will not be festivals. Ticket sales will start in October.

DEPECHE MODE
ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF
SOUNDS OF THE UNIVERSE
APRIL 21, 2009

January 15, 2009- Groundbreaking, chart-topping electro legends Depeche Mode are proud to announce the release of their long-anticipated new studio album, Sounds Of The Universe on April 21, 2009 (Mute Records).

Eclectic and energized, the band's new release is their most dazzling and diverse album in decades. Recorded in Santa Barbara and New York, Depeche Mode returned to using a lot of vintage gear, from analogue synthesizers to drum machines, in order to conjure up the retro-futuristic arrangements featured on the album. Lyrically the release contains many of the group's enduring obsessions plus more overt black humor than any of their previous collections.

Like with their 2005 studio album, Playing The Angel, Sounds Of The Universe features writing credits for both Martin Gore, the group's primary songwriter, and Dave Gahan who after honing his talents on two solo albums, has earned his place as Depeche Mode's second writer. The release also marks a reunion between the band and producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Doves, Elbow), who worked with the band to help give their new album its timeless sound. The first single from the release, "Wrong," grabs the listener's attention from its first stack-heeled, staccato shriek. Over stomping beats, screeching synthesizers, and Dave's overlord chant, "Wrong" already feels like a Depeche Mode classic. Other standout tracks include Martin's velvet-lined Scott Walker croon on the sensual lounge-music ballad "Jezebel," to the sci-fi gospel-blues hymn "In Chains" and "Hole To Feed," which marries modern electronics to a floor-shaking, bone-rattling Bo Diddley beat.

As one of the most influential bands of the post-punk era, with global sales in excess of 100 million, Depeche Mode belongs to a select premiere league of super groups who have survived from the early 1980s with their ideals, creative vision and core members intact. Formed in 1981, Depeche Mode - Martin Gore, Dave Gahan and Andy 'Fletch' Fletcher - continue to win critical and commercial acclaim across the world both in the studio and on the road. All of the band's 11 studio albums have reached the Top Ten in not only the UK and USA but 20 plus countries around the world including Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium. Additionally, since their inception Depeche Mode's live shows continue to be a must-see attraction, with the group playing to 2.8 million people across 31 countries on their last tour alone.

Depeche Mode will be announcing additional album details and tour news in the coming weeks. For more information please go to wwwdepechemode.com.