Home Read Albums Of The Week: Dave Gahan & Soulsavers | Imposter

Albums Of The Week: Dave Gahan & Soulsavers | Imposter

The Depeche Mode frontman remakes a collection of classic covers in his image.

Dave Gahan & Soulsavers 'Imposter' Cover

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “On Imposter, platinum-selling, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted recording artist and songwriter Dave Gahan — along with long time musical partner Soulsavers (Rich Machin) — takes listeners on a personal journey of 12 meticulously chosen reimagined songs from across genres and time periods, including selections from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Charlie Chaplin, Cat Power and Mark Lanegan, amongst others.

But one would be remiss to refer to Imposter as a cover album. Rather, Imposter is a story of songs, which Dave Gahan & Soulsavers listened to, studied, absorbed, and gave a new life. All of the songs have deep meaning to Dave, making Imposter a reflection of Dave’s life — a story told by others, but in his own distinct voice.

“When I listen to other people’s voices and songs — more importantly the way they sing them and interpret the words — I feel at home,” Gahan confesses. “I identify with it. It comforts me more than anything else. There’s not one performer on the record who I haven’t been moved by. I know we made something special, and I hope other people feel that and it takes them on a little kind of trip — especially people who love music and have for years.”

Unlike Dave Gahan & Soulsavers’ past albums, which were transatlantic collaborations where the duo recorded separately and passed parts back and forth, the recording of Imposter was done live as a 10-member band at the famed Shangri-La Recording Studio in Malibu in November of 2019. This allowed for not only a more intimate collaboration, but for Gahan & Soulsavers to truly absorb the atmosphere and have the space to breathe a different spirit into the tracks. “This was the first time we were all in one space. It was kind of lucky (timing) as well… Arriving at Shangri-La every day, it was magical. We’d have coffee, go in, and work.”

Imposter, also produced by Machin and Gahan, serves as the collaborators’ third album, following their critically acclaimed 2015 release Angels & Ghosts and their first release, 2012’s The Light the Dead See.”