NEW LP
New sealed copy. 2025 reissue. Gatefold jacket.
Depeche Mode's debut studio album, Speak & Spell, arrived in late 1981 and introduced the world to the band's bright, melodic synth-pop sound. The record was largely written by Vince Clarke—who would depart shortly after its release—with two songs contributed by Martin Gore. It was originally recorded on an 8-track setup at London’s Blackwing Studios, resulting in a crisp but economical production that captured the band’s early energy.
The album generated several hit singles, including “New Life” and “Just Can’t Get Enough,” which helped the band break into the UK Top 10. Speak & Spell itself peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and marked the starting point for Depeche Mode’s evolving musical journey.
Critics at the time praised its catchy simplicity and charm, calling it both “cheeky” and “irresistible.” Decades later, the album is regarded as a synth-pop classic—simultaneously a minor miracle of upbeat electronic pop and a launching pad for the darker, more textured sound that the band would develop in the years ahead.
TRACKLIST:
A1 New Life
A2 I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
A3 Puppets
A4 Boys Say Go!
A5 Nodisco
A6 What's Your Name?
B1 Photographic
B2 Tora! Tora! Tora!
B3 Big Muff
B4 Any Second Now (Voices)
B5 Just Can't Get Enough
B6 Dreaming Of Me
