Depeche Mode
A Broken Frame
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1982 Original in shrink with insert. "A Broken Frame" is Depeche Mode's second studio album, marking a significant transitional phase for the band. After the departure of primary songwriter Vince Clarke, who left to form Yazoo, Martin Gore stepped forward as the principal songwriter, showcasing his emerging talent and shaping the band's future sound. This album is crucial for understanding Depeche Mode's evolution from a lighter synth-pop band to a darker, more complex act.

Recorded at Blackwing Studios in London, the album features singles such as "See You," "Leave in Silence," and "The Meaning of Love," which highlight Gore's lyrical depth and the band's ability to blend catchy melodies with introspective themes. The production, handled by Daniel Miller and Depeche Mode, reveals an experimental edge, exploring richer textures and more mature sonic landscapes compared to their debut album, "Speak & Spell."

"A Broken Frame" is often noted for its distinctive cover art, a tableau of a woman in a wheat field photographed by Brian Griffin. This imagery contrasts the album's themes of transition and uncertainty, symbolizing the band's journey. Despite mixed reviews upon release, the album has grown in stature over the years, appreciated for its role in the band's development and its early indication of the darker, more layered music Depeche Mode would later create.