Martin L. Gore: Lays (English-French Bilingual Edition) (English and French Edition)

This is a de-luxe edition featuring for the first time ever in the form of a book the virtually complete lyrics written between 1981 and 2005 by MARTIN GORE for British band DEPECHE MODE. The 87 songs -- picked from DM's past 11 studio albums and myriad B sides -- span two and a half decades, and are gathered together in one volume along with their translation in French. The book was put together over a several-year period with Martin Gore's blessing. Legendary German artist KLAUS VOORMANN contributed half-a-dozen original illustrations made specifically for the book. The editor also received help from world-renowned Dutch photographer ANTON CORBIJN, who provided the rare black-and-white portrait adorning the cover. ~ The band's greatest classics enjoyed such massive commercial success over the decades, it is easy to forget the masterful language, the timelessness and, quite often, the dry wit that characterize them. The translator annotated the French version with an unstinting eye for detail and rock history, allowing us to connect Gore's unique voice as a British songsmith with the American blues-and-rock tradition that informs those songs. ~ The 87-song retrospective is compiled into one lavish volume, more akin to a fine vintage poetry book than a typical rock coffee-table tome. Foreword by rock journalist Gerard Bar-David (Rolling Stone France, Best) who de facto acted as France's DM expert ever since their debut back in 1981. ~ This rare, limited-edition item is a must-own for not only DM fans around the world but also any book lovers.