Speak & Spell

Largely written by a soon-to-exit Vince Clarke, the Basildon synth band’s debut is strikingly upbeat, by their later standards. “New Life” and “Just Can’t Get Enough” remain two of the great pop singles of the early ’80s, setting percolating melodies to disco momentum. However, there are hints of a band preparing to explore a darker sound within the sinister pulse of “Puppets” and the unhinged synths of the Martin Gore-penned “Tora! Tora! Tora!”