Speak & Spell  by Depeche Mode

Somewhere towards the end of 1981, Speak & Spell was released by the debuting British band Depeche Mode, whose compositions seem to have fully absorbed and integrated the forms of the new musical trend at that time, known as synth-pop. A more relaxed listen to the album gives you the impression that Kraftwerk had written dance music and acquired a new performer for their songs.

The album is actually the work of Vince Clarke, who wrote nine of the eleven compositions, while Martin Gore is responsible for two. Most of the songs were ready long before the recording since they were songs that accompanied Depeche Mode's live performances before they recorded anything. After the release of Speak & Spell, Vince Clarke left to form Yazoo.

The album reached No. 10 in their homeland, while in the USA it barely made it into the Top-200, reaching No. 192. As years passed, the song that stood out and remained was Just Can't Get Enough—one of the band's major hits. Listening to this first album now, and keeping in mind what happened in the subsequent decades in Depeche Mode's career, one is certainly surprised.