Customer Reviews

Black Celebration (Dts) (Dig)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The following review has been 21 years in coming as Depeche Mode's 1986 album and crowning achievement of their discography, 'Black Celebration', has steadfastly remained my most favorite and revered artist album of all time.

Following the moderate success of the highly innovative and experimental 'Construction Time Again' in 1983 and then a more resounding achievement, both in terms of the critical acclaim and subsequent tour which followed 1984's 'Some Great Reward', the time had come once again ("Get out the crane...") for the Basildon four to push the creative envelope further still and reach deeper yet, in efforts to broaden their burgeoning, worldwide fan base. In essence, it was time the world took notice of Depeche Mode and the band was ready ready to be taken seriously as a major and credible all electronic act. Who could have ever imagined an album which featured nothing in the vein of 'radio friendly' singles and lyrics which reflected on the darker nature of "The world we live and life in general", would aid in ascending the band to such stellar heights?

'Black Celebration', a dark, moody, sonic epitome of what the band was all about in terms of sound, word, voice and overall aesthetic, saw the creation of what I lovingly refer to as Depeche Mode's own personal, exclusively electronic sister to 'Dark Side of the Moon.' Indeed, the prodcution values and themes present on this 5th studio album were richer, more densely layered and contained combined elements which would demand the band be regarded as a musical force to be reckoned with by fans and critics alike and also as harbingers of a new era in electronic music.

From the moody, darkly atmospheric, sample laden opening of the albums title track, to the industrial yet plaintive longings of 'Stripped', 'Black Celebration' is a seductive soundscape drenched in reverb, angst and an oppressive, foreboding ambience which conjures heady, if not bleak imagery of life, love and lust. The inclusion of a slightly (final) remixed version of 'Fly on the Windscreen' (1985's 'It's Called a Heart' B-side) was an obvious and proper choice, given the fact the track seemed to lend itself perfectly to the overall vibe of 'doom and gloom' ever present throughout the album. Another slightly new and inventive production technique, previously employed on 'Construction Time Again' (though to a lesser extent) was the mixing and sequeing of tracks together without traditional pauses or breaks. This production value is most notably featured on the albums first three tracks, beginning with 'Black Celebration' and concluding with the heartbreaking yet gorgeous strains of 'A Question of Lust.' The mixing of the first three tracks as one extended album intro, remains to this day the most flawless album opening I've ever experienced and has yet to be duplicated. The albums ebb and flow, as well as its overall track arrangement and order, is nothing short of brilliant. Alan Wilder's meticulous attention to every detail is quite obvious in every sound, note and nuance.

Many of the production elements found on 'Black Celebration' bear a striking resemblance to the sounds Wilder would later experiment with on his Recoil project, while Martin Gore's profound, emotionally resonant lyrics are, I feel, some of the best of his career. 'Sometimes', 'Here is the House' and 'World Full of Nothing' are three of the most beautiful Depeche Mode tracks ever produced.

While I enjoy the track 'But Not Tonight' ('Stripped' B-side and included on the US album release), I do feel the decision to excise it from the re-master re-release was a fitting one as the track lends itself to a more 'pop' sensibility and somewhat diminishes the mood and atmosphere created by the albums preceding tracks. Some argue the song allows the album to conclude on a more positive, upbeat note. However, I feel the albums original (UK release) closing track, 'New Dress', achieves the same task but with more pronounced minor chords and haunting lyrics, while still maintaining an air of optimism against gritty realism - 'You may change the world..."

As for the DVD re-master, the sound is fresh, crisp and startlingly bold and the CD version is nearly as impressive. The albums packaging, replete with the embossed logos of the original LP sleeve and which features red tulips before a looming skyscraper draped in European military styled banners (the explanation of the album covers creation and design is especially interesting on the DVD documentary) is both stark, beautiful and visually appealing as ever. And while I regard Anton Corbijn as an accomplished photographer and graphic designer in his own right, I do feel the band's album and single artwork which followed 'Music for the Masses', suffered an artistic defeat of sorts after the band parted ways with photographer Brian Griffin ('A Broken Frame') and Towne and Country Planning.

After the release and critical success of 'Black Celebration', Depeche Mode continued (and continues) from strength to strength, purifying and always evolving their production prowess to the next level with each subsequent album that followed - a sign of true talent for any band wishing to succeed in the music industry. The sonic artwork crafted on this album has yet to be replicated and I doubt it ever will. 'Black Celebration' was the turning point for the band. It was a moment in time, a testament to 'life in the so-called space age' and an indicator that one of electronicas inimitable pioneers were about to take the world by storm. "I'll drink to that..."

Thank God that this CD wasn't another victim of the "loudness war" that has recently permeated the CD mastering industry. The dynamics are well preserved and there is very little clipping of the audio. Those who are afraid that this CD would sound like "Playing the Angel" or the two Singles compilation need not worry. The engineers showed restraint with this one.

In addition to the "careful" remaster, there's a nice HOUR LONG documentary included with this CD.

This one is definitely a very worthy purchase.

Black Celebration is the culmination, in this author's opinion, of all of themes of love, depression, darkness, loneliness and otherwise alienation that Depeche Mode could have possibly enumerated on. From the start, with the punching keyboards and bass line, the album begins to envelope you in it its "darkness." What is so stunning about the "black" nature of it is that it's really not that frightening as the title makes out. Sure, it's not an album "for the masses" as others were, but it touches on subject matter that would affect even the most mildly emotional person. The start of the album, "Black Celebration", which finishes with "A Question of Lust" is one of the best Depeche Mode uninterrupted segments I have ever heard. As I said it was Depeche Mode, I would say that it is the best regarding any album I've heard. Granted, my taste is quite narrow (late 70s through the 80s and a few 90s to modern bands - very few), but I deeply feel this is the best. Perhaps it speaks to my feelings about relationships, life and interpersonal business better than other albums do. For some people, that's a massive turnoff and they want nothing to do with it. For Mr. and Mrs. Lonely Heart, this album is your ticket to relief - at least for the evening.

The songs of the album are generally introspective, romantic and otherwise personal. They deal with relationships, unrequited love, immoral (stachatory) love and finally public infatuation. For the most part, it is a romantic album. Not in the beautiful, flower oriented and otherwise idealistic romantic notion. Rather, it is love that is difficult, upsetting and painful. I find it cathartic. Perhaps that is its biggest downfall; you might require a certain mindset to appreciate all of the nuances and pain that is laced throughout its eleven tracks.

Regardless, I think it is a beautiful album that any synth fan should own. Also, anyone who is perhaps suffering from unrequited love should listen as well. Per the remaster, it is incredibly well down. Simon Heyworth is no slouch. The gentleman has perfected his technique especially with SACD (only available on import editions) but even with remasters. He knows not to maximise and consequently make albums as loud as possible. The disc is tastefully done in a fashion that is "loud" enough for today's market without being offensively so. I strongly encourage all to order the European import edition as it is a Super Audio CD. The price is prohibitive, I admit. But if you ever own a 5.1 multi channel system with SACD, you will discover the beauty of Mr. Heyworth's remixes. Not only do you get the stereo mix in an uncompressed fashion, but you get a 5.1 one mix (much like any modern film mix in five channels), as well as having been overseen by Alan Wilder (in the band until 1995) and given his consent. I love SACD and thus own the import editions myself. I have the privilege of owning SACD compatible hardware. Even if you don't have the hardware, SACD allows you to listen like a regular CD and if you get the hardware one day, you'll be able to enjoy! So you win either way. Enjoy. Depeche Mode creates beautiful music.

You already know the album... you're probably interested in this for the documentary... I know I was. After the 30 minute affairs on the other disks, I was prepared for a pretty good movie given this amazing period in their history. Well, the movie is an HOUR long, with a good mix of creative, business, studio, and Tour stories.

I can't believe how good this album is. Why do I say that? Because in the early `90s when I bought it for the first time -- on cassette mind you -- I actually *exchanged* it for something else because I didn't like it at all! And the funny thing is, this was coming from a group that I did like at the time, ever since I fell in love with their brand of electronic synth pop upon listening to the "Catching Up" compilation (and the fact that I'm a keyboard player doesn't hurt either). I guess I can only conclude that my musical appreciation skills must be getting sharper.

I admit I only have a small portion of the entire Depeche Mode discography. I'm not even sure if this is their absolute best album -- maybe that's why I didn't fall in love with it at first (Violator, Playing the Angel, and Music for the Masses are their finest masterpieces in my opinion). Still, I think anyone who likes the dark tones and somber imagery of Depeche Mode will truly appreciate this CD. You obviously have to listen to it carefully -- and, of course, probably more than once -- but it will definitely strike a chord with you if you give it a chance. The songs really flow well from one to the next, and there is no escaping the blasphemous melancholy that is clearly evident in the music and the lyrics.

I have to admit, I sometimes don't like their slower ballads, but if you use them as a means of transition between the more energetic tracks, then it's certainly possible to enjoy them ("A Question of Lust" and "Dressed in Black" are perfect examples of songs that serve this purpose). And that's what's so great about this album -- there's a near perfect balance between soft beauty and gritty intensity that really takes you on an incredible artistic journey. It ranges all the way from the extremely appropriate opening title track, to the abrasive and soul-pounding "Fly on the Windscreen," further on to the peaceful "Sometimes," and then all the way back to the semi-industrial motif with the deceptively titled "New Dress." "A Question of Time" functions as the obligatory hectic dance tune, "Stripped" sucks you into an exotic chasm, and you'll even be treated with a slight diversion from the predominantly black mood of the rest of the album with the track "Here is the House," which is a lovely, upbeat song that has a very catchy melody and an almost happy, optimistic feel to it.

To sum up, "Black Celebration" is a terrific piece of work by an ingenious band. It is well worth purchasing and listening to.

My new favorite album in the world. What a revelation. I missed this one completely in the 80s, maybe because of the lack of big "hits", but I finally picked it up in 2007. Since then it's been the most-played CD by far in my rotation. The tracks delight every time with a variety of energies and moods, atmospheric, danceable and mature, with gorgeous vocals from Gahan and Gore, and sophisticated blends of synthesizers and other sonic surprises, like the rockets on the title track. The sweet spot for me is "A Matter of Time" + "Stripped". The DVD is a mildly interesting account of their touring and the making of the album. The album is simply terrific, perfect for aging new-wavers.

"Black Celebration" was the album thousands of dyed hair and make-up kids in the late 80's poured their alienated hearts out over. "Black Celebration" is almost unmatched in its relentless gloom-mongering and only on the closing "But Not Tonight" does the tone turn even vaguely optimistic. (Interestingly, the lyrics are reinstated on this booklet after being omitted from the original CD.) Not that the music wasn't outstanding. That was the main attraction about the richer sounding "Black Celebration." The state of the synthesizer had risen considerably since "Some Great Reward," and the breakthrough of Compact Discs had just begun. It brought a fuller sound out of Depeche Mode and gave them more room to deepen -- or maybe darken -- their sound. They had also stumbled into areas when less meant more, as the haunting "Stripped" exemplifies.

Just because the mood was dark also did not mean "Black Celebration" stayed mired in dirges. The frantic tempo of "A Question of Time" continued DM's ongoing string of modern rock dance singles, keeping them astride the likes of New Order and positioning them as the anti-Duran Duran. (Even though all three of these bands were at their creative peaks in this period.) The DM videos were getting better and it was just one more year or so before all three bands were world wide massive stars at the same time!!! (Duran Duran with "Big Thing," New Order with "Substance" and DM with "Violator.") It was certainly heady times for lovers of synth-rock, and "Black Celebration" remains one of my favorite CDs from that period.

The remaster is superb, filling the room with sound WITHOUT just making the CD louder. The nearly hour-long historical film is interesting, watching the band work out issues and seeing mid-twenties DM dealing with the earnestness of being young and creative.

What an incredible album, recorded and mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, where Bowie's Heroes was recorded. Oh, wait. This version was mixed recently, using pro-tools, without the wonderful ambience of Hansa... without Gareth Jones and Alan Wilder at the helm.

Unfortunately, it shows.

However, the extras are worth getting, and I dare say it's worth buying just for an A/B comparison with the original issue just to show how real acoustics beat out convoluted (their word, not mine) reverb algorithms EVERY TIME.

Excellent 5.1 mix of this Album, only wish it was available in SACD format! The production is flawless! I would strongly recommend this to anyone who owns a DTS Surround system!

For me this is the real beginning of Depeche Modes career. Everything Depeche Mode produced 1986 and beyond is amazing to listen to. Martin Gore was in full swing of the bands controls and they never sounded better. The album starts off with Black Celebration a very moody song that catches the listeners ear and goes all the way to an amazing collection of songs and ends with the up beat 'But not tonight'. I highly recommend Music for the Masses, Violator, Playing the Angel, and Songs of Faith and Devotion also.