Depeche Mode

Featuring in a just-tweaked-enough single remix that keeps the song's driving brutality while making it a touch more smooth for airplay, via less echo and more prominence on Gahan's vocals, "A Question of Time" is another Depeche classic. With lyrics obliquely addressing societal and sexual role playing -- and being forced into them against one's will -- the combination of Gore's ear for a song, Wilder's arrangements, and Gahan's singing hits the perfect note here. Admittedly, Gahan sometimes lets his vocals fade back too much, but otherwise it's a thorough winner, with a big, smacking beat, a thick, snarling synth hook, and more besides. The extended mix has some semi-industrial fun with the opening and closing parts; more interesting is an odd two-part "new town/live" remix. The opening section is a reasonable enough mix of the track with some extra tweaks, which then bleeds over into a full live version of the song. A clutch of other live tracks from this release captures part of a Birmingham show from 1986 for the Black Celebration tour. For subtler moments, like the very start of "Black Celebration" itself, things sound a little too murky for what should be an official recording, but the core songs themselves come through with big, bold strokes, showing that the band really could cut it very well live. Still, hearing hollow drums on "Something to Do" tends to defeat the point of the song. If nothing else, Gahan's arena-friendly yelps and audience salutations show that the showman in evidence on 101 had plenty of practice beforehand. The "black tulip" mix of "Black Celebration" is the remaining number, somewhat marred by a bizarre moment toward the end when Gahan's vocal gets a slowed-down and stretched-out treatment. Rather than making him sound threatening, he just sounds goofy. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide