It's been a minute since we heard from Depeche Mode, but the long-running synthpop institution is finally done with a new album, Sounds of the Universe. Mute will release the album on April 20 in Europe and will team with Capitol to release it on April 21 in the U.S.According to a press release, the band recorded the LP in Santa Barbara and New York using tons of vintage synthesizers and drum machines, which is a good sign considering that the last fifteen years or so of Depeche albums have brought them a bit too close to broody schmaltz-rock. Ben Hillier, the Britrock maestro who produced their last album, 2005's kinda meh Playing the Angel, will be on board again, which is not such a good sign. "Wrong" will be the first single; other album tracks include "Jezebel", "In Chains", and "Hole to Feed".In other Depeche news, they're planning a massive tour that will span the summer and take them all over Europe. read more