MG x CD + JL = - Cross Whisper
Heavy synths, elusive whispers, and a melody that stays close: “Cross Whisper” finds its spark in connections beyond explanation.
Some connections seem to reach beyond what we can explain. Recording as MG x CD + JL =, Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore and artist and lyricist Cliff Damavandi, with additional vocals from Gore’s daughter, explore that mystery on “Cross Whisper,” a song born from a conversation about loss and the unexpected appearance of birds.
Gore explains:
“I was out with some friends and we started talking about death so I shared that whenever someone close to me has died, birds start appearing, sometimes arriving every day for a year outside my window. When my mother died, a bird came, and again when my dog passed. When my cat died, a bird came into the house and flew downstairs into the room where it slept!”
To my ears, this is Martin Gore at his best: heavy synths and thrilling electronics, with whispers that draw you closer. A simple, catchy melody grounds it all, staying with you long after the song ends while the sounds leave room for your imagination.
Moved by Gore’s story, Damavandi wrote the lyrics, which Gore then set to music. Damavandi adds:
“When Martin was sharing his story, he was so alive, and I could feel the story as well as hear it. There was an otherness that compelled me to write the words.”
“Cross Whisper” is out on Mute, with a 12-inch vinyl release featuring five remixes arriving on December 4, 2026.
That sense of something just beyond our understanding lingers in “Cross Whisper,” as does the pull to listen again. Listen to “Cross Whisper,” our Song Pick of the Day:
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