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You're about to cover "A Broken Frame" by Depeche Mode - in full. An interesting project, as this album is not regarded as one of the "stronger" ones with less remarkable songs. Even DM have crossed this release off their list; except for "The Sun And The Rainfall", songs have quietly disappeared into their band history and are never performed live.

Why did you chose this album?

Sophie: We were between "Some Great Reward" and "A Broken Frame". We chose "A Broken Frame" because it is the most underestimated Depeche Mode album and we worked with it better as it is closer to our style! Maybe Depeche Mode have denounced it but we are sure this will change in the future. If people could only think that "A Broken Frame" was literally a new beginning for DM (much harder than "Speak And Spell") then they would realize the importance of the album. Something similar happened to Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark with "Dazzle Ships" album. Maybe it had really bad reviews when it was released or a disaster concerning the sales (even OMD had denounced it), thirty years after that though it is proven that it has influenced countless artists. We believe the same is going to happen with "A Broken Frame".

When did you first come across "A Broken Frame", and can you remember the feelings you had way back then?

Marianthi: Neither of us had bought "A Broken Frame" when it got released. We were too young and more into Duran Duran (Sophie) and The Cure (Marianthi). We knew of course the albums singles and the songs that were played at the radio. To be honest we never thought DM would have such a great success after Vince (Clarke) left. It was a great surprise when we realized how great "A Broken Frame" was.

Which song is your favourite on this album?

Sophie: Sun And The Rainfall!
Marianthi: Leave In Silence...

How did the Broken Frame project start, and how did it evolve?

Marianthi: While we were on a trip together, about 4 years ago, when we checked in each other's  IPOD and realized we both had, among other DM songs, the entire "A Broken Frame" album. We heard it again together and we've got this idea since then, to cover the whole album. We started working on it quite a few months but we didn’t have any deadline or rush to finish it. Then we sent the "Monument" and "The Sun And The Rainfall" to the guys in Undo Records, they loved it and said they want to release it. "A Broken Frame" is ready now and we are very satisfied.

You've posted a little teaser of "Secret Garden" on the internet. Seems as if it is your intention to stay close to the originals, right?

Sophie: We wanted to have the original line and give our own sound to it. It's safer this way if you don’t want to have troubles and take the license for the cover versions. But we‘ve experimented a lot in the studio, in "Nothing To Fear" for example we made a second version, one that has vocals in it, different than the original, which is instrumental. The final work is very Marsheaux though!

What are your feelings when recording songs of the "almighty" Depeche Mode? Respect? Humbleness? Fear?

Marianthi: We feel respect for DM either recording or not. They are very important to us for many reasons. We met in a Hysterika (Greek Depeche Mode fan club) party for one and lots of other stuff in our life's are connected to DM. Their songs are too familiar to us and therefor easy to cover. We never of course even dare to touch "Shake The Disease", "Stripped, Dressed In Black" or "Stories Of Old". Some songs are sacred, never allowed to be touched.

Did you already get in contact with DM? Did they comment on your plans?

Sophie: Nope, but Nick and George (Undo Records) did have an appointment with Mute in London and among other they discussed about it...

Rumour says that this album will only be available at the merch table on live venues. Is this true? And if so, why don't you offer this album in regular record stores, as well?

Marianthi: This was our original thought but then our label insisted on releasing it properly. Audioglobe who is our distributor had the same idea. The messages and mails we got in general after posting the teasers of "A Broken Frame" ("Monument"+"My Secret Garden") were very encouraging, so it didn't take us long to change our mind. The same happened with "Ebay Queen Is Dead" compilation, we sold it only in our lives, but then people that didn't have access to it, started to complain that it was unfair for the rest, so we sold the rest of the copies through Undo Records Store...

|| INTERVIEW: DANIEL DRESSLER | DATE: 08/12/14 | CONTACT | [INTERVIEW: GERMAN TRANSLATION]


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