The documentary also includes interviews of some of the producers of DM records such as Gareth Jones, Dave Bascombe, Phil Legg, and Steve Lyon. Each saw different phases of DM's career as they worked on developing an identity and changed over the years.
The interviews, pictures, and footage from DM's early days on are mixed beautifully to provide a structure and timeline by which you can see and hear the progression from dance music to their darker and more philosophical tracks later in their careers.
From my perspective, it was informative to see DM go from tracks like "Just Can't Get Enough" to "People are People," "Strangelove," "Personal Jesus," and beyond. What a transformation from those early days with Vince Clarke to Alan Wilder's keyboard influences and the post-Wilder era. If you listen to the Clarke-era of DM and then listen to Yaz or Erasure, it's very easy to hear what he contributed to those early days. But once Wilder was on board, I think a bit of the darkness that DM is known for became more prevalent and has continued.
In addition to the main documentary, there is an extra called "Playing for the Masses" that includes some additional bits of the interviews strung together. Thomas Dolby and Andy McCluskey chat about the DM concert at Rose Bowl Stadium for the Music for the Masses tour.
My only complaint with the DVD is that it doesn't include any new interview material from current band members Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher, or ex-band members Vince Clarke or Alan Wilder. That would have turned this from a good documentary to a great one.
If you don't know much about DM's early days, Depeche Mode - The Dark Progression is a wonderful way to get your feet wet and see how DM rose over the last 30 years to become the iconic band they are today. Be sure to check it out when it is released on June 16, 2009.
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