No random release, Mandrill is the first taste from The Third Chimpanzee, Gore’s upcoming EP. The Third Chimpanzee will mark half a decade since Gores’ solo debut album, MG, which came out back in 2015. 

Mandrill sounds like a well-oiled machine. Fused with electronic sonic, primate sounds, and layered percussion, Gore garnished Mandrill with a techno edge, a sound that alludes to the early days of electronic pioneers, Depeche Mode. 

According to Gore, his new EP is primed and ready for release early next year. The Third Chimpanzee is scheduled for arrival on January 29th, 2021, and is confirmed by Gore to be another instrumental project. 

In a recent statement to NME, Gore revealed how he titled his new EP. Gore relayed that “when it came time to name the EP, I remembered reading the book ‘The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee’. It all made sense to call it that, as the EP was made by one of the third chimpanzees.”

This animalistic theme is everpresent in the EP, especially the first track, Howler. When making Howler, Gore divulged that “The first track I recorded had a sound that wasn’t human. It sounded primate-like. I decided to name it ‘Howler’, after a monkey.”

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Mute Records, the record label of Martin Gore and Depeche Mode as a whole, shared Mandrill and its accompanying visualiser with their 72,000 YouTube subscribers today. Like the succinct, precise nature of the track, the visuals to Mandrill are in complete harmony with the song’s mechanical, primal sounds. 

The video features a cacophony of animated blue, red, white and orange paint strokes, and a pulsating, animatronic baboon. The Mandrill visualiser, which has raked in over 21,000 views, can be watched in full here.

Gore announced the arrival of Mandrill via a post on Depeche Modes’ official Instagram page. Sharing a snippet of the eclectic track, Gore declared that the EP is “Available to pre-order now on Ltd Edition Azure Blue Vinyl and CD”. More information about pre-ordering The Third Chimpanzee can be found here.

The post, which has obtained over 34,000 views and likes, was met with an excited reception from fans. One fan jokingly wrote: “Everyone, say thank you to Michael Gore for inventing music!”

Last week was a memorable one for Martin Gore, as Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. During their induction to the coveted club, Depeche Mode frontman Dave Gahan spoke on the impact music has had on their lives.

Gahan said: “You know, growing up, listening to music on the radio and having music, it really kind of helped us to feel normal, feel part of something. That’s what music does for people and I think that’s what Depeche Mode has done for many people. I think music really brings people together, and God knows we need that more today than it seems any other time.”

The Third Chimpanzee will be out on January 29th, 2021. The tracklist for the EP will go as follows:

1. Howler
2. Mandrill
3. Capuchin
4. Vervet
5. Howler’s End