Top tracks — play these first
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Dancing With Tears in My Eyes — This track became one of Ultravox's most notable hits, showcasing their signature blend of synth-pop and poignant lyrics about heartbreak amidst a backdrop of impending disaster.
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Lament — The title track encapsulates the album’s emotional core, merging somber melodies with reflective lyrics that articulate a sense of loss and yearning.
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One Small Day — This song exemplifies the band's ability to fuse melodrama with electronic soundscapes, effectively conveying themes of hopefulness against a backdrop of uncertainty.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Lament showcases strong synth-driven melodies but lacks cohesive flow due to bonus tracks disrupting the original sequence.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature a consistent use of synthesizers layered with atmospheric vocals, establishing a moody soundscape.
- Several songs incorporate dynamic shifts in tempo, particularly noticeable in 'Dancing With Tears in My Eyes', which contrasts upbeat sections with more reflective moments.
- The album closes with two extended mixes that recontextualize earlier tracks, creating a sense of continuity and exploration.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- contemplative reflective moods
- wave-like pacing transitions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on April 6, 1984, Lament was Ultravox's fifth studio album and marked a pivotal moment in their career following their commercial peak with the hit album Rage in Eden. At this stage, the band was seeking to evolve their sound while maintaining their new wave identity, as evidenced by their continued collaboration with producer Stephen Hague.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gary Numan· Kraftwerk· Depeche Mode
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Lament
A stark shift occurs when the narrative voice directly confronts the weight of personal grief, marking a departure from abstraction to intimate vulnerability.
This direct confrontation with sorrow provides a raw authenticity that deepens the emotional impact of the song, setting it apart from more distant reflections elsewhere.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 White China 3:52
- 2 One Small Day 4:33
- 3 Dancing With Tears in My Eyes 4:44
- 4 Lament 4:44
- 5 White China (special mix) 8:24
- 6 One Small Day (extended mix) 8:31
- 7 Man of Two Worlds 4:28
- 8 Heart of the Country 5:09
- 9 When the Time Comes 5:00
- 10 A Friend I Call Desire 5:12
- 11 Lament (extended mix) 8:01
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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