~~~~~~~~~~~ INTRODUCTION ~~~~~~~~~~~ Ah. How do I start? How do I review an album that has served as the musical cornerstone of my life? How do I take a step back, and untangle the music and lyrics so intimately embedded in my every sinew, or the chords and melodies that beat in time with my heart? This album - Black Celebration - is my musical soul - as part of me as anything physical - at times dark and brooding, at other times hopelessly romantic and positive. How indeed do I do this and still stay impartial and objective? The answer is that I can't. Not really. It's like trying to find fault with a favourite child. Your ...  Read the complete review

Black Celebration is the 5th album by UK electronic rock band Depeche Mode who at the time comprised of Dave Gahan on vocals, Martin Gore on keyboards & backing vocals, Andrew Fletcher on keyboards & programming and Alan Wilder on keyboards & electronic drums. Despite the fact its best recorded chart position was #1 on the Swiss Albums Chart it went Gold in America (by selling over 800 thousand units) but it only reached #90 on the US Billboard 200. The album went Platinum in Germany, Gold in France & Silver in the UK selling over 4 million units globally. All songs written by Martin Gore unless otherwise stated, all lead vocals ...  Read the complete review

Black celebration marked a new direction in music for Depeche Mode. The subject matter is far more serious, incorporating strong views on religion, politics and the darker aspects of life. The music reflects these views well and is more intense than any of their previous albums. Some other Depeche Mode albums are a collection of individual tracks whereas Black Celebration is almost single piece of music broken into chapters. It was the first non-commercial album for the group and paved the way to far more diverse music for the band. This of large attaction to myself and I liked the different style. Although it is probably their most moody and dark ...  Read the complete review

Black Celebration is a fascinating album for those who follow Depeche Mode as a band. It represents a turning point in the bands movement from somewhat plinkety-plonk electro pop into a darker territory that provided some of the most amazing songs of the late 80s and early 90s. The strong point of the album is certainly the emotional quality of some of the lyrics, especially the passionate delivery of Question of lust or the urgent and slightly filmic quality of Question of Time. Musically it is not quite so strong as later albums but there are some stand-out tracks such as the pulsing and grinding fly on the windscreen and Black Celebration itself, a song ...  Read the complete review

This is certainly one of Depeche Modes finer albums of the Eighties. The classic DM electro sound, combined with views and comments on politics and todays society. The album, as the name suggests, is certainly on the darker side of the usual sound, but the lyrics more than add an extra dimension to the album. The album starts with the big single 'Black Celebration'. This is an excellent track, setting the tone for the rest of the tracks. The highlights for me are 'Question of Lust' and 'New Dress'. QoL is more of a ballad than anything else, and really shows the band can do serious love songs. New Dress is a political piece, ...  Read the complete review