Depeche Mode proceed in an unhurried fashion

So it's looking like we're going to have a new Depeche Mode album, which is good. But not this side of Christmas. Possibly not this side of Easter:

“We’ve probably got 20 songs demoed,” Gahan told Spin. “Some of the songs are in really good shape, some need some work, but we’re definitely on track. We have a deadline of the end of November, and there’s no reason we why we won’t meet that at the rate we’re going.”

Not entirely clear what the November deadline is for - hopefully not finishing the album as that would give months of leak-time before the vague "early 2013" release date. If the record turns out to be on everyone's phones before you start the promo tours, you'll only have yourselves to blame.