No matter what you think about Synthpop, "Black Celebration" is the evidence of a more mature perspective on Depeche Mode's career. It doesn't mean that their older albums weren't great, on the contrary, they were absolutely impressive and essential, but it's like their artistic perspective reached a level of sophistication never attained before.
Lucky of those that had the privilege to be present in the Black Celebration Tour made of so deep, intense and emotional tunes. I really wish I could be there. The vocals were explored to their full potential in this album (for example when Dave Gahan sings "Stripped" and "Fly In The Windscreen"), in a way that no other electronic band did at that time. Thanks to Dave, but also Martin Gore, the mainly composer and the more delicate & smoother voice of the band (he was the singer of "Here Is The House" and "World Full Of Nothing", two of the greatest tracks of this LP which, as long as I know, didn't come out on any single).
Every single tune had Depeche Mode's own signature in it, but it's impossible to deny that every new step was higher than the ones before. At least until 1990.