The Singles 86>98 cover

The Singles 86>98

Released

With Depeche Mode unable to tour Ultra due to Dave Gahan’s continuing recovery from addiction, they waited until the following year to hit the road, focusing on delivering songs from this simultaneously released collection, featuring a new, pleasant enough single in the form of “Only When I Lose Myself.” But it’s the wall-to-wall reach of those earlier singles that really does the business, covering everything from Black Celebration cuts to the then-present day, and demonstrating conclusively how the band’s reputation shifted from growing cult status to full-on worldwide chart impact.

Ned Raggett

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