Martin L. Gore “Counterfeit e.p.” 1989. Today, July 23rd, is Martin Gore’s birthday (b. 1961) so I’m spinning his first solo project outside of Depeche Mode. It’s a six-song release of covers that hit #102 in the UK and #3 on the US dance charts, all Gore’d up (or, rather, down) into darkly lush synthpop. Though Gore only sings occasionally for Depeche Mode albums, his voice is really lovely and distinct, which does have the side-effect of most of the songs on Counterfeit reminding me of tracks like “Somebody” and “A Question of Lust.” I especially like “Smile in the Crowd” (originally recorded by UK post-punks/Factory Records act The Durutti Column, 1983), the more industrial goth “Gone” (originally by another UK post-punk band, Comsat Angels in 1981; Depeche Mode played their first official concert supporting Comsat Angels at the Bridgehouse in London on September 24th, 1980) and “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth” (originally by US glam rockers Sparks in 1974). Depeche Mode as the whole band also released a cover version of “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth” in 1987 on flexidisk as a fan-club only Christmas special release.