"The Third Chimpanzee" is an instrumental EP by English musician Martin Gore, co-founder of the electronic music band Depeche Mode. Released on 29 January 2021, the EP serves as Gore's fifth solo project and his first one since "MG" in 2015. The title of the album refers to the idea that humans are closely related to chimpanzees, with some scientists classifying humans as the third chimpanzee species alongside common and bonobo chimpanzees.
Comprising 5 tracks of dark and atmospheric electronic music, the EP explores themes of primate behavior and human evolution, underlining our kinship with our closest animal relatives. The tracks are named after specific types of monkeys and primates, again emphasizing this connection. The EP has been generally well-received, praised for its thematic consistency and mood-driven compositions.
Significantly, "The Third Chimpanzee" represents a continuation of Gore's musical experimentation outside of Depeche Mode, with him utilizing a wide array of analog synthesizers and drum machines, culminating in a work that embodies both tension and release.
