Depeche Mode “New Life” b/w “Shout!” 1981, Mute Records. Today, May 9th, is Depeche Mode vocalist Dave Gahan’s birthday (b. David Callcott, 1962). “New Life” is one of my favorite DM songs ever; written by Vince Clarke, it appeared on their debut album Speak & Spell. “New Life” was the second single from the LP and the group’s breakthrough, going to #11 in the UK and was the first song the band played for the TV show Top of the Pops (they are so adorable, so young and so awkwardly lip-syncing). I love the bright, optimism of this classic new wave synthpop track, and the B-side “Shout!” has a similar sound though a bit more exotic; it too was written by Clarke.