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Speak & Spell
 
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Speak & Spell [Extra tracks]

~ Depeche Mode
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio CD (31 Dec 1993)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Extra tracks
  • Label: Mute
  • ASIN: B0000242AD
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 5,358 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #27 in  Music > Pop > Dance Pop > New Romantics
    #89 in  Music > Rock > Indie Rock & Punk > British

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

It's always good to know where a band came from so you can see how far they've come. Speak and Spell is really the work of Vincent Clarke, who, with Andy Bell, would later form the happy-go-lucky pop-dance megaforce Erasure. And it shows in the catchy, upbeat songs "New Life", "Boys Say Go", "Photographic", and the most famous single, "Just Can't Get Enough". When Martin Gore took over the songwriting, Depeche Mode veered toward a different thematic direction by developing the goth-pop that would become their signature. Still, it's an important album not only because it is Depeche Mode's first but also because it is one of the best representations of early-1980s minimalist synth music. --Beth Bessmer


CD Description

Influenced by Kraftwerk, Eno and the punk DIY ethic as it extended to synthesizers, these boys from Basildon were one of the first and most influential synth-pop bands. Along withOMD, Human League and others, Depeche Mode combined the early-'80s New Romantic aesthetic of post-Roxy Music electronics and faddish androgyny with pure pop songcraft straight outof the '60s pop-rock tradition. Theirs was a fresh sound, bubbling over with youth and enthusiasm. With the use of sequencers as well as real-time playing they constructed frothy,infectious pop/dance tunes on their effervescent debut. Vince Clarke was the musical mastermind, and his arrangements layered several melody lines over one another, eschewing fullchords almost completely. Tunes like "New Life" and "Just Can't Get Enough" struck a chord with those enamored of the "New Wave" sound but ready to hear something besides electricguitars (DM initially used synths exclusively). A vastly important and influential album, SPEAK & SPELL is virtually ground zero for British synth-pop.

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Dated but still perfect 80's synth pop, 1 Mar 2002
By sensoria@tiscali.co.uk (The Peoples Republic of Modesville) - See all my reviews
1981 was the year when synth pop really arrived and took over the UK charts. Even today Human League's "Dare" and Soft Cell's "Non Stop Erotic Cabaret" are considered to be classic synth pop albums of the early 80's. DM's "Speak & Spell" should also be included...after all DM have lasted the course much healthier than either Soft Cell or Human League.

Yes, it can sound a little dated now and really bears no resemblance to the DM we know and love today. Much of that is due to the fact that the most of the album was penned by the soon-to-depart Vince Clarke (of Yazoo and Erasure fame).

However, tracks like the singles "New Life" and "Just Can't Get Enough" really show why DM were at the forefront of electronic pop. Upbeat and catchy these were both big hits even if the lyrics were total nonsense that no one apart from Clarke seemed to understand.

The pop vein is continued by the excellent "Boys Say Go", "I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead" (which I first heard on pre-album flexidisc (are these still made?)) and irritating "What's Your Name?" (which allegedly is about the pop pinup of 1981, Adam Ant!!!).

However, 20+ years on it's the moodier tracks which capture the attention. "Puppets" is a lovely and emotional slower moment whilst "Photographic" is still considered a classic piece of DM.

Martin Gore chipped in with "Tora! Tora! Tora!" and schoolboy smirk inducing "Big Muff" but it's fair to say he was to go on to write much better stuff.

All in all, this is an album that sounds and reflects the very forefront of electro-pop and should be in the CD collection of anyone serious about DM or electronic music.

My only grumble is that the CD cover only shows a portion of the original vinyl cover. That swan in a polythene bag mesmerised me as a 13 year old in 1981!!!

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars stands the test of time, 20 Mar 2004
By Jp Wills "big jon" (blackpool, lancs United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Bought this on vinyl when it was first released, after having listened to the band on 'real' late night radio, Peel and Nightingale.

I loved the album back then and now 20'ish years later I still love it. It's just such good pop at face value but when you listen to the music and hear the words its no wonder this band are still about today. They've earned their stripes, now go buy this album and be entertained.................

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Early DM, tinny but excellent for the time, 12 Mar 2002
By A Customer
When this album first appeared in 1981, DM were being pitched against Human League, Ultravox, and Soft Cell. Unfairly, this album was considered the weakest of the lot, but in truth DM were doing different things. Notably is the Clarke influence (soon to team up with Alison Moyet), which ensured commercial success with "New Life" and "Just Can't Get Enough." But the real gems are "Photographic" and "Any Second Now." The CD is of high quality but a shame the record company has not blessed us with a copy of the outstanding original artwork/front cover. Had it done so, then '5 Star' rating would have been given here. "Speak and Spell" is worthy of it's shelf space against the aforementioned groups.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Very catchy
This was their first album but it sounds more like Erasure and Yazoo because most of the songs are written by Vince Clarke. There was one track I did not like. Read more
Published 9 months ago by R. Gutteridge

4.0 out of 5 stars Turning Point
I hated Depeche Mode when they first appeared. I was much more enamoured with heavyweight synth feasts from Numan, Ultravox, New Order and the like. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2003 by Sean Dynan

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy but don't push it too far
This album is a must for anybody who likes Depeche Mode but sometimes it can get a little too happy in places ( Just Can't Get Enough and What's your... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2001 by filterite

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