Martin Gore, songwriter and founding member of Depeche Mode, releases an exhilarating new track ‘Mandrill’ on 17 November 2020 on Mute, taken from the forthcoming 5-track instrumental EP The Third Chimpanzee out 29 January 2021.
‘Mandrill’ is a ferocious slice of electro, and, like the four other tracks, has Martin Gore’s hugely atmospheric musical trademark stamped all over them. ‘Mandrill’ was produced and written by Martin and recorded this year at Electric Ladyboy in Santa Barbara, California.
The accompanying visual is a cosmic trip through the jungle: https://youtu.be/
“The first track I recorded had a sound that wasn’t human,” Martin explains. “It sounded primate-like. I decided to name it ‘Howler’, after a monkey. Then, when it came time to name the EP, I remembered reading the book ‘The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee’. It all made sense to call it that, as the EP was made by one of the third chimpanzees.”
The Third Chimpanzee EP is available for pre-order now on CD, limited edition 12” Azure Blue vinyl (which includes an art print), and digitally. Artwork is by Pockets Warhol.
It’s been five years since Martin released the acclaimed instrumental album MG. ‘Mandrill’ follows the 2017 release of Depeche Mode’s global monster Spirit. Last week the band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Third Chimpanzee EP tracklisting
1. Howler
2. Mandrill
3. Capuchin
4. Vervet
5. Howler’s End
Pre-order the EP: https://mute.ffm.to/mg-ttc
‘Mandrill’ on YouTube:
