Depeche Mode “A Broken Frame” released 40 years ago today, September 27th, 1982. Mute Records. Their second album, which made it to #8 in the UK but barely whispered onto the US charts at #177, marked the departure of former primary songwriter Vince Clarke and Depeche Mode’s turn toward the dark side. While a few tracks retain the bright synthpop sound of Speak & Spell (the singles “See You” and “The Meaning of Love” #6 UK and #12 UK, respectively), most of the album goes more shadowy, yet still not quite as the dark as the industrial sound they’d develop on their next LP, Construction Time Again. I really love the mysterious sounds of “Leave in Silence” (#18 UK) that leads off with with vaguely menacing vocals oh-ohing in minor and the edgy danger of “My Secret Garden” and “Monument.”