Depeche Mode are releasing Strange/Strange Too, a collection of music videos directed by Anton Corbijn, on DVD and Blu-ray for the very first time on December 8th via Sony Music Entertainment.
1988’s Strange and 1990’s Strange Too were previously only available separately in now out-of-print VHS and Laserdisc formats. Both were originally directed and filmed in Super 8 by Corbijn and have now been restored from original sources for the DVD and Blu-ray release. Corbijn himself was involved in the tape restoration process, which took place over several years with the participation of other folks involved with the original films as well.
Filmed mostly in black and white, Strange features videos for the three main singles for Music for the Masses and “A Question of Time” from Black Celebration alongside “Pimpf,” the instrumental closing track from the former album. In contrast, Strange Too was shot in full color. It includes the visual treatment for six songs from Violator.
The new Strange/Strange Too collection comes with a 16-page booklet with new liner notes penned by Corbijn, who wrote: “The idea to make this into a connected series of little films and fake interviews came late into the process of shooting these. I was shooting all the films myself on black/white Super 8 film. We put all this together on a shoestring budget, those were the days. We have to look at these films in the light of us being young; we were experimenting and I am happy we were given that space at the time by Daniel Miller.”
Also included are six previously unseen outtake “vignettes” from the Depeche Mode archives, which served as additional interstitial content not seen in the original videos. Pre-orders for Strange/Strange Too are ongoing. See the tracklists below.
“Anton Corbijn’s photography and art direction have played an indispensable part in the evolution of the Depeche Mode aesthetic,” said Depeche Mode in a statement. “Strange and Strange Too are essential titles in both the Depeche Mode and Anton Corbijn catalogs and are the perfect example of Anton’s unique ability to capture the spirit of DM on film.”
Depeche Mode are currently wrapping up the latest North American leg of their “Memento Mori Tour” (get tickets here). In early 2024, they’ll head back to Europe (get tickets here) for another extensive trek through the continent.
Strange/Strange Too Tracklist:
Strange
01. A Question of Time
02. Strangelove
03. Never Let Me Down Again
04. Behind the Wheel
05. Pimpf
Outtake vignettes:
01. Strangelove
02. Behind the Wheel
03. Behind the Wheel (Shep Pettibone Mix)
Strange Too
01. Personal Jesus
02. Policy of Truth
03. Enjoy the Silence
04. Clean
05. Halo
06. World in My Eyes
Outtake vignettes:
01. Personal Jesus (Acoustic)
02. Policy of Truth
03. Policy of Truth (Trancentral Mix)
