Depeche Mode Playing The Angel

If 2001’s Exciter had Depeche Mode experimenting with glitches, loops and abstractions like a goth Radiohead, Playing the Angel restores some of the drama and majesty of their late ’80s/early ’90s stadium years. Bruised by broken love, “Precious” suggests the towering peaks of 1990’s Violator while featuring one of Dave Gahan’s most emotive vocals. Thirties gospel-blues standard “John the Revelator” is covered with salacious zeal, and “Nothing’s Impossible” throbs with rare, chest-beating optimism.