Depeche Mode sample sources

From DM Live - the Depeche Mode live encyclopedia for the masses
Jump to navigationJump to search
This article is about the various sample sources used on Depeche Mode songs recorded between 1986 and 1998. For sample sources used on Depeche Mode songs recorded between 1981 and 1985, see Depeche Mode sample sources 81>85. For sample sources used on Depeche Mode songs recorded between 2000 and the present day, see Depeche Mode sample sources 2000-present. For sample sources used on Recoil works, see Recoil sample sources.


MP-Thumb2.png This article is excessively long and needs to be condensed or divided into smaller articles. If you wish to discuss or dispute this change, or inquire as to what steps must be taken to resolve this issue, please do so on this article's talk page.
Glossary
Terms used in this article

In audio production, sampling refers to the use of a portion (or sample) from a sound recording within another recording. As pioneers of the electronic music genre in the early 1980s, Depeche Mode were among the most prolific acts to make use of sampling technology within a traditional pop music format. Among the thousands of original samples recorded and utilized by Depeche Mode to enhance the atmosphere of their musical output are many that originated elsewhere, including brief passages of musical recordings by other artists, snippets of audio from television shows, radio broadcasts, films, environmental sounds, and more. Analysis of these sample sources and how they are manipulated is a popular topic of discussion amongst fans of the group.

Key
Official
The sample is confirmed to have been used in the specified song by a past/present member of Depeche Mode, an individual involved in its production, or band archivist Daniel "BRAT" Barassi.
Confirmed
The sample is independently confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Likely
The sample is likely to have been used in the specified song but has not yet been confirmed.
Unconfirmed
The sample is not yet confirmed to have been used in the specified song.
Disproven
The sample is confirmed to not have been used in the specified song.
Unknown
It is unclear if the sample was used in the specified song.

Information

This page aims to document all verifiable sound sources for many of the musical parts used by Depeche Mode in the production of their studio albums, official remixes, live performances, and other works released between 1986 and 1998.

Due to the manipulated nature of the samples described in this article, there is unavoidable potential for error or sample misattribution. To ensure accuracy, this article strives to use verified quotes from band members and recording personnel with citations wherever possible, audio examples, and independent research voluntarily contributed by Depeche Mode and Recoil fans worldwide. This article provides an interesting document on this topic in a tabular format that is organized, well-researched, and reasonably accurate. Please bear in mind that due to the limited number of relevant quotes for each sample from band members or associates involved in producing the music described on this page, audio samples that lack official confirmation are not guaranteed to be accurate.

This article differentiates samples by origin: Self-made samples, which describe any material initially recorded by Depeche Mode or Recoil, and Sourced samples, which describe samples not initially recorded by either group. In addition to confirmed samples, this article also covers samples commonly misreported as having been used but directly refuted by a member or associate of Depeche Mode or Recoil.

If you notice an error or wish to contribute or request the removal of information contained within this article, please feel free to contact us.

Black Celebration (1986)

"Black Celebration" - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Verse melody Emulator II factory library disk #24: Clarinet & Bass Clarinet - Preset #1: "Clarinets
Confirmed
A sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #24 "Clarinet & Bass Clarinet" is utilised for a melody during the third verse of "Black Celebration".

"Fly On The Windscreen" - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
"Over and done with" vocal sample Alan Wilder confirms the origin of this vocal sample in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "'Over and done with' courtesy of Daniel Miller if memory serves correct."[1]

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"[...] Their living hell [...]" vocal sample Peter Jennings, ABC World News Tonight (television news report, unknown date)
Unknown
Jennings was an active news anchor from 1 February 1965 to 1 April 2005. The exact date of the report this sample derived from is likely to have occurred sometime before or between November 1985 and December 1985.
Sampled scratch N.W.A. - "Fuck tha Police" - 1988
Confirmed
The scratch effect in the intro of "Fuck tha Police" by N.W.A. is sampled and played several notes down from its root key throughout the Devotional tour arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen". Notably, this scratch sample is also used throughout the Devotional tour version of "I Want You Now".
Verse piano layer Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #01: 16' Piano - SAMPLE "127 C1", SAMPLE "127 C2", SAMPLE "100 C3" and Bank B, voice #01: 8' Piano - SAMPLE "100 C3", SAMPLE "127 F#3", SAMPLE "127 C4"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen" employs a series of piano samples derived from the "16' Piano" and "8' Piano" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. Varying combinations of these piano samples are also performed live in the Devotional arrangements for "Walking In My Shoes", "Mercy In You", and "Something To Do".

Notably, the Korg 01/W "16' Piano" voice is famously heard in the video game soundtracks to 1998's critically-acclaimed The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and 2000's The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

Chorus synth choir layer Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #87: Air Vox - SAMPLE "127 C4"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen" employs an "airy" choir vocal sample derived from the "Air Vox" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The choir is layered with a series of sampled synth parts to form the synth melody performed throughout the chorus section.
Chorus synth strings Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #27: String Pad - SAMPLE "60 C2", SAMPLE "60 C3", SAMPLE "60 C4"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen" employs a series of three synth string pads derived from the "String Pad" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer performed during the chorus section. The bass pad is comprised of sample "60 C2" playing an octave comprised of G3 and G4. The remaining two non-octave pads are derived from samples "60 C3" and "60 C4" respectively, the latter of which is resampled with a root key of E6.
French horns Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #02: OrchBrass - SAMPLE "127 F#4", SAMPLE "127 C5"
Confirmed
The Devotional arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen" utiises a series of french horn samples derived from the "OrchBrass" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The samples are layered with a separate brass sample derived from the studio recording of "Fly On The Windscreen" to form the brass instrument performed during the chorus sections.
Chorus brass melody Emulator II factory library disk #46: Assorted Brass - SAMPLE 7
Confirmed
A sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #46 "Assorted Brass" is layered with one or more similar parts to form an ascending brass melody heard during the choruses of "Fly On The Windscreen".
Drum elements Original Concept - "Can You Feel It" - 1986
Confirmed
A section of audio featuring a Roland TR-808 drum pattern is utilised for the Devotional tour arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen".

"A Question Of Lust" - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Reverberated percussive rhythm "A Question Of Lust" utilises a sampled percussive element throughout its verse sections. Notably, this sound is also used throughout "Christmas Island".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Outro synth melody Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #10: GhostRyder - SAMPLE "127 C5" and Bank B, voice #61: Gospel Organ - SAMPLE "127 C5"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "A Question Of Lust" employs an edited "ghostly" vocal-esque sample and a gospel organ sample respectively derived from the "GhostRyder" and "Gospel Organ" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The samples layer together to form the outro synth melody.
Vibraphone Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #65: Vibraphone - SAMPLE "127 F#2", SAMPLE "127 F#3", SAMPLE "100 C4", SAMPLE "100 F#4"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "A Question Of Lust" employs a series of edited vibraphone samples derived from the "Vibraphone" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The samples are processed with tremolo and subtle filtering, then subsequently layered with a separate sample to produce the textured vibraphone fills performed by Alan Wilder during the verse and chorus sections.
Verse strings Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #07: TheStrings - SAMPLE "127 C5"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "A Question Of Lust" employs an orchestral string sample derived from the "TheStrings" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The sample is layered with a separate sample to form a resonant string instrument performed during the verse and chorus sections.

"Sometimes" - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"Sometimes" vocal sample Louis Armstrong - "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" - 1958
Confirmed
A choir vocal singing the word "sometimes" is sampled from the one minute nineteen second mark of Louis Armstrong's "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" and processed with reverb for use in the intro of "Sometimes".[2]

"It Doesn't Matter Two"
Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Celeste-like bell A celeste-like percussive bell element is employed to mysterious and dramatic effect respectively during the later verses and on the final note of the song. This distinctive sound would also see use in several other Depeche Mode songs of the time period, including "Shake The Disease" and "But Not Tonight".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Middle eight melody Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #2 - 2263 Oboe Source
Confirmed
The dramatic melody heard during the middle eight section of "It Doesn't Matter Two" is partly comprised of an edit of the "Oboe Source" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #2. Notably, this timbre is also featured throughout "Lie To Me" and "Blasphemous Rumours".

Click to display/hide audio example

Choir stabs Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices #1" - SAMPLE 1, SAMPLE 3, SAMPLE 4, SAMPLE 5, SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices" is utilised for a repeating choral pattern audible throughout "It Doesn't Matter Two".
Marimba rhythm Emulator II factory library disk #34: Vibraphones & Marimba - Preset #7: "Marimbas"
Confirmed
Emulator II factory library disk #34 "Vibraphones & Marimba" is utilised for a rhythmic marimba pattern audible throughout the chorus, third verse, and outro sections of "It Doesn't Matter Two".
Flute arpeggio Emulator II factory library disk #16: Bassoon & Flute - SAMPLE 11
Confirmed
A flute sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #16 "Bassoon & Flute" is utilised for a hand-played arpeggio heard sporadically throughout "It Doesn't Matter Two".

"A Question Of Time"
Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Guitar-like pluck A brief "plucked" guitar-like sound reminiscent of a guitar or processed piano sample is layered with a bass part to form the bassline. Notably, this sample is also used to play a four note sequence as a fill sporadically throughout "But Not Tonight".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Moan-like vocal sample The Chanters - "She Wants To Mambo" - 1954
Official
A feminine "moan" vocal following the second chorus of "She Wants To Mambo" is sampled and played in a descending two note passage processed with EQ for added top-end during the chorus sections of "A Question Of Time". Martin Gore confirmed the use of the sample in the August 1986 issue of Electronics & Music Maker:

It's not that audible, though. It's a sample from a record called "She Wants to Mambo", an old doo-wop disc. At the end of each verse, the woman who sings sort of moans. We sampled this moan and played it up a few notes, which made it sound like a girl moaning. We used it on the chorus section of "A Question of Time".[3]

In addition to its use in the chorus sections, the sample is also used as a unique "Wha-, wha-, wha-" vocal-like hit that is played repetitively on every step and half step following the percussion fill during the intro and throughout the song's outro. Rather than playing out from start to finish as it does during the chorus sections, the sample is played with a fast decay five notes down from its root key and detuned slightly to form the unique rhythmic hit.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a section of audio from The Chanters' "She Wants To Mambo" featuring a feminine moan is sampled, trimmed, and allocated across the keys of a keyboard to be played back as a melodic part, and is then compared to the center channel of the 2006 5.1 reissue of "A Question Of Time" containing the relevant part. Next, the sample is played back once per beat at a reduced pitch with a short decay time, creating a repeated "wha-, wha-" rhythm that can be heard during the opening and closing bars of the song.
Brass chorus counter melody Emulator II factory library disk #60: Velocity Sax - Preset #5: "HrdRd Tenor
Confirmed
A sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #60 "Velocity Sax" is utilised for a counter melody during the choruses of "A Question Of Time" as it was performed on the 1987-1988 Music For The Masses tour.

"Stripped"
Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Bass drone The textured bass drone sound used throughout "Stripped" is achieved by running a bass sound through a Leslie cabinet.[4]
Exploding firework An exploding firework sound recorded on 5 November 1985 by Gareth Jones in the Westside studio car park[4] is used as a unique drum fill alternative throughout "Stripped". Daniel Miller describes the recording process of this sound in the 2006 Black Celebration remaster documentary:

It was rockets that we were doing, so we thought, if we angled them at a fairly low angle, we could set up a series of microphones and we would still be able to pick up the sound as it traveled along. If we straight up, we would have got just one sound, it would just have sort of disappeared, so we did that. We set up a sort of bottle at a very narrow angle and had, like, 5 microphones maybe, at, I don't know, 15 feet apart, something like that.

Other notable uses of this sample include "Breathing In Fumes", the final moments of "Pimpf" (where it is layered with a large choir stab and played several notes down from its root key) and various live performances of "Never Let Me Down Again".

Tom drums A series of tom drums with a unique "roomy" quality occur throughout "Stripped". Alan Wilder describes the recording of this sound in a 1998 editorial on Shunt, the official Recoil project website: "[...] A hired drum kit was also set up in the large reception area of Westside and used to sample individual sounds, most notably the distinctive toms with their special ambience."[4]

Notably, these tom drum sounds are also used as fills throughout "Never Let Me Down Again" and "Breathing In Fumes".

Car ignition sound The ignition of Dave Gahan's Porsche 911 was recorded and sampled for use in the opening moments of "Stripped", playing in time with the first bass note.[4]

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Motorbike idling sound Emulator I factory library disk #81: Motor Cycle Rev - Motor Cycle Idling (08-001-117M1)
Official
"Stripped" employs a sample of a motorbike engine idling played one octave down from its original pitch.[5] The sample is looped to form a "chunky" repeating rhythm that occurs throughout the song. The loop is also present on Martin Gore's demo recording. Wilder confirms the origin of the sample in a summary of the Emulator II lot listing on The Alan Wilder / Depeche Mode Collection auction site:

I remember when we first inserted the huge floppy disc into the [Emulator I] and listened to the ‘Motorbike Idling’ sound (which later became the mainstay rhythm behind the song "Stripped"), I was hooked.[6]

Notably, this sample is also used in "Breathing In Fumes" and the Music For The Masses tour arrangement of "Pipeline".

Click to display/hide audio example

Piano verse melody Emulator II factory library disk #04: Grand Piano - Preset #1: "Piano #1", SAMPLE 2
Confirmed
The repeating melody heard throughout the verse sections is partly comprised of a manipulated piano sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #04 "Grand Piano".

Click to display/hide audio example

Snare drum New Order - "Love Vigilantes" - 1985
Confirmed
The first of four snare drum hits audible in the opening moments of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order is utilised throughout "Stripped". Similarly, this snare sound is used throughout "Breathing In Fumes", "Christmas Island", "Never Let Me Down Again", and "Nothing".

"Here Is The House" - Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Mandolin-like sampled guitar Martin Gore told Electronics and Music Magazine in 1986:

[...] Then there’s the mandolin-like part on "Here is the House". That was an acoustic guitar sampled twice — once on a down-stroke and once on an upstroke. We used them on alternate notes, so every other note was a downstroke and all the in-between notes were up-strokes. It sounded very funny — almost like a real player.[7]

"New Dress" - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Looping electronic drum sequence Kraftwerk - "Home Computer" ("Heimcomputer") - 1981
Confirmed
A brief section of an electronic drum sequence looping throughout the verse sections of "New Dress" is derived from Kraftwerk's "Home Computer". Notably, a separate selection of audio from "Home Computer" would later be used as a minor percussion element throughout "World In My Eyes".

"But Not Tonight"
Depeche Mode
1986
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Mandolin-like sampled guitar Sampled upstroke and downstroke guitar elements originally sampled for use in "Here Is The House" are layered with another sampled part to produce the lead riff. Martin Gore told Electronics and Music Magazine in 1986:

[...] Then there’s the mandolin-like part on "Here is the House". That was an acoustic guitar sampled twice — once on a down-stroke and once on an upstroke. We used them on alternate notes, so every other note was a downstroke and all the in-between notes were upstrokes. It sounded very funny — almost like a real player.[7]

Vibraphone-like percussive bell A vibraphone-like percussive bell element is employed during the latter half of each verse section, utilising a 1/4 delay to achieve a hypnotic "bouncing" effect. This distinctive sound would also see use in other Depeche Mode productions, including "Shake The Disease" and "It Doesn't Matter Two".
Guitar-like pluck A brief "plucked" guitar-like sound plays a tight four note sequence with a fast release time as a fill sporadically throughout "But Not Tonight". Notable uses of this sample in other songs include the bassline of "A Question Of Time".
Hi-hats (open and closed) A sequenced 4
4
hi-hat rhythm comprised of one closed and one open hi-hat is employed throughout the song. These hi-hat parts are also used in several other songs produced at or around the same time, including "Here Is The House" and "Shake The Disease".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Choir stab Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices 1", SAMPLE 3
Confirmed
The reverberated choir sample utilised throughout "But Not Tonight" is derived from Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices".

Click to display/hide audio example

"Christmas Island"
Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Operatic vocal Hildegard of Bingen, Gothic Voices, Emma Kirkby, Christopher Page - A Feather on the Breath of God - "Columba aspexit" - April 1985 (recorded 14 September 1981)
Confirmed
An operatic vocal derived from a September 1981 performance of "Columba aspexit", a piece of sacred vocal music written in the 12th century by German abbess Hildegard of Bingen, is featured throughout "Christmas Island". Featuring the British vocal ensemble Gothic Voices with soprano Emma Kirkby, the sampled performance is layered with a sample derived from Depeche Mode's "Master And Servant" to form a vocal stab audible throughout "Christmas Island".

Click to display/hide audio example

Snare drum New Order - "Love Vigilantes" - 1985
Confirmed
The first of four snare drum hits audible in the opening moments of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order is utilised throughout "Christmas Island". Similarly, this snare sound is used throughout "Stripped", "Breathing In Fumes", "Never Let Me Down Again", and "Nothing".

"Breathing In Fumes" - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Snare drum New Order - "Love Vigilantes" - 1985
Confirmed
The first of four snare drum hits audible in the opening moments of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order is utilised throughout "Breathing In Fumes". Similarly, this snare sound is used throughout "Stripped", "Christmas Island", "Never Let Me Down Again", and "Nothing".

"Fly On The Windscreen" (Death Mix) - Depeche Mode
1986

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"I don't care how you feel!" vocal sample Richard Pryor - Unidentified film
Unknown
"[...] help the dying [...]" vocal sample Steve Kroft, CBS News (television news report, unknown date)
Unknown
Kroft was an active television news anchor with CBS News starting in 1980. It is likely the exact date of the report sampled by Depeche Mode occurred sometime before or between November 1985 and December 1985 at the latest.

Music For The Masses (1987)

"Never Let Me Down Again"
Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Guitar riff In a 4 July 2019 interview with Super Deluxe Edition, Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe recalled the recording process for the guitar riff:

[...] I remember Martin had his guitar, and it’s used quite a bit... the beginning of "Never Let Me Down [Again]" for example... What a wonderful, happy accident that was. It was supposed to start with the snare drum and then go straight in, but because of the nature of technology at the time, the guitar [riff] was played, then we sampled it into the Synclavier and it just kicked off as soon as it got code at the beginning of the track and we all went ‘Wow, that's great’, so that was an accident.[8]

Lead melody The lead melody is comprised of a plucked guitar-like sample combined with a vocal-like pad with a short loop (itself derived from a non-looped sample that is layered with another vocal-like sound to intensify the final four bars of each verse section in "I Want You Now"). The resulting voice is mixed with reverb to produce the textured, "roomy" effect heard on the album version of "Never Let Me Down Again". For live use, the part is played back comparatively dry.

Other notable appearances of the guitar-like sample include a two-note fill during the verses of "Strangelove", the lead melody heard throughout the "Spanish Taster" mix of "To Have And To Hold", and a verse melody in "Blue Dress". In addition to its use in "Never Let Me Down Again" and "I Want You Now", the aforementioned solo vocal-like pad is also heard during the chorus sections of "Nothing".

Exploding firework An exploding firework sound originally sampled for use with "Stripped" is occasionally played on the final note during live performances of "Never Let Me Down Again". Other notable uses of this sample include the final moments of "Pimpf", where it is layered with a large female-esque choir stab and played several notes down from its original key.
Synth bass A synthesized bass layer audible throughout "Never Let Me Down Again" is likely derived from the PPG Wave 2.3 wavetable "031 Piano/Sax". Notably, A similar synthesizer bass drone originally recorded for use with "Policy Of Truth" is layered with this sound as it was performed during live performances on the 1993-1994 Devotional and Exotic tours.
Tom drums In an April 2020 interview, Bascombe confirmed that the tom drum fills heard throughout "Never Let Me Down Again" are comprised of the tom drum sounds originally recorded for use in "Stripped" layered with other drum samples.[9] Alan Wilder describes the recording of this sound in a 1998 editorial on Shunt, the official Recoil project website: "A hired drum kit was also set up in the large reception area of Westside and used to sample individual sounds, most notably the distinctive toms with their special ambience."[10]
Wine glass arpeggio In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Wineglass (106)", features an untitled preset ("NULL PRESET"), which contains a bell-like sample, presumably the sound of a wine glass being tapped. This sample is used to produce the textured arpeggio that occurs throughout the chorus sections of "Never Let Me Down Again". Notably, this sound is also used in "Behind The Wheel", "Route 66", "Strangelove", and the Recoil instrumental "Grain".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
"When The Levee Breaks" drum samples Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971
Official
In a 4 July 2019 interview with Super Deluxe Edition, Bascombe recalled how the sampled percussion came to be used in "Never Let Me Down Again": "We were round at [Alan Wilder’s] house – and I said 'Right, I want to use "When The Levee Breaks" [Led Zeppelin] drums on [Never Let Me Down Again].' [...] I suggested using them for the main kick and snare."[8]

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings and choir pads Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - I. Primo vere (In Springtime) - Ecce gratum - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Southend Boys' Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus - 1 February, 1976
Official
"Never Let Me Down Again" utilizes two edited choral samples derived from a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Southend Boys' Choir/Brighton Festival Chorus performance of the Primo vere movement of Primo vere, the first section of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. The performance, conducted by Antal Doráti on 1 February 1976, featured soprano vocals by Norma Burrowes, tenor vocals by Louis Devos, and baritone vocals by John Shirley-Quirk. The Latin words being sung within the samples include the final moments of the lyric "Hyemis sevitia. Ah!" ("The rigors of winter. Ah!").

In an April 2020 interview, Dave Bascombe described the technical challenge of manipulating the sampled audio for use in "Never Let Me Down Again": "I think it was Carmina Burana [...] It took ages getting it all in time and in tune. [Nowadays] that's a piece of piss."[9]

Click to display/hide audio example

Brass layer Emulator II factory library disk #63: ARP 2600 - SAMPLE 3
Confirmed
An edited synthesizer sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #63 "ARP 2600" is utilised as a synth brass layer throughout the chorus sections of "Never Let Me Down Again".

Click to display/hide audio example

Brass layer Emulator II factory library disk #21: Assorted Trombones - SAMPLE 13
Confirmed
A looping trombone sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #21 "Assorted Trombones" is utilised throughout the chorus and outro sections of "Never Let Me Down Again".
Pizzicato/strings Emulator II factory library disk #08: Cello & Violin - SAMPLE 8, SAMPLE 16
Confirmed
Two cello and violin samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #08 "Cello & Violin" are layered to form an octave with a sound previously recorded for use in 1986's "A Question Of Time" to form the pizzicato-like phrases audible during the second chorus section of "Never Let Me Down Again".

Click to display/hide audio example

Snare drum New Order - "Love Vigilantes" - 1985
Confirmed
The second of four snare drum hits audible in the opening moments of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order is utilised throughout "Never Let Me Down Again". Similarly, this snare sound is used throughout "Stripped", "Breathing In Fumes", "Christmas Island", and "Nothing".

Click to display/hide audio example

Tom drum layer Emulator II OMI Universe of Sounds Volume 1 - Track Kit - "TRACK_KIT_SAMPLE 3"
Confirmed
An edited tom drum sound derived from the Emulator II OMI Universe of Sounds Volume 1 voice "Track Kit" is layered with a custom tom drum sound originally recorded for use with "Stripped" to form the tom drum fills heard throughout "Never Let Me Down Again".
Guitar riff and drum elements 3rd Bass - "Wordz Of Wisdom, Pt. 2" - 1989
Official
American hip-hop group 3rd Bass employed an uncredited sample of the opening guitar riff from Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again" for their 1989 track "Wordz Of Wisdom, Pt. 2". Depeche Mode were fond of their use of the sample, and would in turn sample it back from "Wordz Of Wisdom, Pt. 2" and employ it during the live interlude of "Never Let Me Down Again" as performed on the World Violation tour. Wilder would later use this sample and other elements from "Wordz Of Wisdom, Pt. 2" in the live production of "In Your Room" as part of Recoil's 2010-2011 Selected Events tour.

"The Things You Said" - Depeche Mode
1987

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Choir layer Emulator I factory library disk #16: Male Voice - Female Voice - "Female Voice" (02-002-101M2)
Confirmed
"The Things You Said" utilises choir chords played using a "grainy" choir sample derived from the upper register of the Emulator I factory library disk #16: "Male Voice - Female Voice". Notably this choir sound is also used throughout "Strangelove".
Choir layer Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices 1", SAMPLE 8
Confirmed
The sustained choir utilised throughout the live arrangement of "The Things You Said" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses tour is comprised of three unique choir samples. One of the three samples is derived from Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices". Notably, a manipulated edit of this sample is also used to memorable effect as a pitch-bending choir stab throughout "Blue Dress".

"Strangelove"
Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Four note bell-like wine glass riff In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Wineglass (106)", features an untitled preset ("NULL PRESET"), which contains a bell-like sample, presumably the sound of a wine glass being tapped. This sample is layered with a sitar sound derived from the "Sitar 2" preset of the Emulator II factory library disk #61 "Sitar" and other sounds to produce the four note riff heard throughout the intro, chorus, and outro sections of "Strangelove". Notably, this sound is also used in "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind The Wheel", "Route 66", and the Recoil instrumental "Grain".
Bass piano In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Depeche Bass Piano", features two similar untitled presets ("NULL PRESET"), which contain a sample of a one-shot two octave piano hit playing an E and a similar sample playing an A. The former sample is used throughout the middle eight of the album version of "Strangelove". Notably, this sound is also used throughout "Nothing".

Click to display/hide audio example

Synth bass In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late 1980s. One floppy disk, labeled "Synth Bass (24)", features a preset titled "Wave Bass" that features two "squelchy" synth bass samples that are layered with other sounds to form the bass stabs heard during the middle eight of "Strangelove".
Bass guitar In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late 1980s. One floppy disk, labeled "Bright Bass-GTR", features a preset titled "bright bass" that is comprised of two bass guitar samples which are used during the chorus sections of the album version and throughout the single version of "Strangelove". Notably, these bass guitar parts are also used throughout the Recoil instrumental "The Sermon".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the contents of the Emulator II voice are compared to the chorus section of "Strangelove" as heard on the SACD LFE channel of the 2006 Music For The Masses 5.1 reissue.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Main choir layer Emulator I factory library disk #16: Male Voice - Female Voice - "Female Voice" (02-002-101M2)
Confirmed
"Strangelove" utilises choir chords played using a "grainy" choir sample derived from the upper register of the Emulator I factory library disk #16: "Male Voice - Female Voice". Notably this choir sound is also used throughout "The Things You Said".

Click to display/hide audio example

Intro high pitch loop Emulator II factory library disk #72: Jungle Adventure - Preset #1: "MONKEY TALK", SAMPLE 5
Confirmed
The album version intro of "Strangelove" employs a looped sample of a monkey screeching derived from the "MONKEY TALK" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #72 "Jungle Adventure". The sample is truncated to remove approximately 700 milliseconds from the tail of the sample, looped, and played seven keys above its original key layered with another looped sound to produce the unique textured loop heard in the album version's opening moments.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a sample derived from the Emulator II factory library disk #72 "Jungle Adventure" is trimmed, looped, and played seven notes above its root key. The result is then compared to the equivalent sound as heard in the opening moments of "Strangelove" as heard in the front stereo channels of the 2006 Music For The Masses 5.1 reissue.
Electronic percussion Kraftwerk - "The Telephone Call ("Der Telefon-Anruf"" - 1986
Confirmed
An electronic percussion sound derived from Kraftwerk's "The Telephone Call (Der Telefon-Anruf)" is used for a double snare fill periodically throughout "Strangelove".

Click to display/hide audio example

Metallic filtered synth sample Emulator II factory library disk #71: DAS Synth - Preset #3: "BASS BANG", SAMPLE 4
Confirmed
"Strangelove" employs a metallic synth stab derived from the "BASS BANG" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #71 "DAS Synth". The sample is used to play a six note melody accompanying the lyric "Yes, and I'll make it all worthwhile" during the first and second verses.

Notably, an edit of this sample is also used in "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses tour.

Click to display/hide audio example

Sitar pluck Emulator II factory library disk #61: Sitar - Preset #3: "Sitar 2", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
A plucked sitar sample derived from the "Sitar 2" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #61 "Sitar" is layered with a wine glass sample and other elements to form the four note riff audible during the choruses of "Strangelove". The full sample consists of a plucked sitar playing a G♯ with a slight pitch bend. The sample is looped with a tight loop lasting approximately four milliseconds starting just after the initial transient of the sample, producing a unique "buzzy" tone with the transient of a natural sitar pluck. The resulting sample is then played back with filtering and subtle vibrato.

Notably, this sample is also used in "Pleasure, Little Treasure", "Behind The Wheel" and "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses and World Violation tours.

Click to display/hide audio example

"Sacred"
Depeche Mode
1987

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Reversed choir Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - III. Cour d'amours - Amor volat undique - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Southend Boys' Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus - 1 February, 1976
Confirmed
"Sacred" utilises an edited choral sample derived from a 1976 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Southend Boys' Choir/Brighton Festival Chorus performance of the Amor volat undique movement of Cours d'amours, the third section of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. The performance, conducted by Antal Doráti on 1 February 1976, featured soprano vocals by Norma Burrowes, tenor vocals by Louis Devos, and baritone vocals by John Shirley-Quirk.

The sample contains the Latin lyric "Iuvenes, iuvencule - coniunguntur merito" ("Young men and women are rightly coupled"). The sample is played one key below its original key. The "Iuvenes, iuvencule - coniunguntur" lyric is reversed while the "merito" lyric remains playing forwards. The sample is then looped and layered with a loop derived from a vocal by Martin Gore to create the mysterious textured pad utilised throughout the intro and middle eight sections.

Notably, similar sampled elements also derived from Carmina Burana are used throughout "Little 15" and "Never Let Me Down Again".

Click to display/hide audio example

Chorus counter melody Synclavier II Timbre Directory Diskette #1 - 2164 Heavy Keyboard
Confirmed
The Music For The Masses tour arrangement of "Sacred" employs a sampled synthesized sound derived from an edit of the "Heavy Keyboard" timbre of Synclavier II timbre directory diskette #1 for use as a counter melody during the song's chorus sections.

Click to display/hide audio example

Shaker Emulator II factory library disk #42: Ethnic Percussion #1 - "EthnicPerc 1", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
A shaker sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #42 "Ethnic Percussion #1" is utilised throughout the verse sections of "Sacred".

"Little 15" - Depeche Mode
1987

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Brass stab Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - I. Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi - O Fortuna, velut Luna - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Southend Boys' Choir, Brighton Festival Chorus - 1 February, 1976
Confirmed
"Little 15" utilises an edited brass sample derived from a 1976 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Southend Boys' Choir/Brighton Festival Chorus performance of the O Fortuna, velut Luna movement of Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi, the first section of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. The performance, conducted by Antal Doráti on 1 February 1976, featured soprano vocals by Norma Burrowes, tenor vocals by Louis Devos, and baritone vocals by John Shirley-Quirk.

Notably, similar samples also derived from Carmina Burana are used throughout "Sacred" and "Never Let Me Down Again".

"Behind The Wheel"
Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Bassline The bassline of "Behind The Wheel" is comprised of a series of sampled and synthesised parts which combine to form the driving bass rhythm audible throughout the song. These sounds include a sample of a hand striking the end of a hoover tube, a pitched-down sample of a guitar pluck, and a Minimoog bass for additional low end presence.[11] The sampled elements are utilised throughout the song, whereas the Minimoog section begins at the end of the second verse. Notably, the hoover tube sample is re-used as a bass layer in the Recoil instrumental "The Sermon".
Car door shutting snare In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Driving Sound FX", features two presets comprised of various car-related sounds. The second of two presets, titled "DRIVING 12#", features the sound of a car door shutting, which is layered with other more traditional snare sounds throughout "Behind The Wheel". This sound is most clearly heard in the intro of the Devotional tour arrangement of "Behind The Wheel".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the raw sample from the Emulator II disk is played back and compared to the equivalent sound in a selection from the center channel audio of the 2006 5.1 reissue of "Behind The Wheel", as well as the opening bars of the live arrangement of "Behind The Wheel" as it was performed on the Devotional tour.
Wine glass arpeggio In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Wineglass (106)", features an untitled preset ("NULL PRESET"), which contains a bell-like sample, presumably the sound of a wine glass being tapped. This sample is used to produce the textured arpeggio that occurs throughout "Behind The Wheel", most clearly heard during the instrumental break immediately after the first verse. Notably, this sound is also used in "Never Let Me Down Again", "Strangelove", "Route 66", and the Recoil instrumental "Grain".
"Submarine" verse stabs In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Guns & Submarine (109)", features an untitled preset ("NULL PRESET"), which contains a series of relevant samples, the third of which is a submarine sonar navigation system sound. This sample is processed with reverb and played with a long decay to produce the "ghostly" monophonic melody performed during the verse sections of "Behind The Wheel".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the raw sample from the Emulator II disk is played back once, then played back once with a long release, once with generic software reverb in stereo, once with generic software reverb in mono, and is subsequently compared to the equivalent sound as can be heard in the front stereo channel audio of "Behind The Wheel" from the 2006 5.1 reissue of Music For The Masses.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Sitar pluck Emulator II factory library disk #61: Sitar - Preset #3: "Sitar 2", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
A plucked sitar sample derived from the "Sitar 2" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #61 "Sitar" is layered with a similar plucked sound to form the counter melody audible throughout "Behind The Wheel". The full sample consists of a plucked sitar playing a G♯ with a slight pitch bend. The sample is looped with a tight loop lasting approximately four milliseconds starting just after the initial transient of the sample, producing a unique "buzzy" tone with the transient of a natural sitar pluck. The resulting sample is then played back with filtering and subtle vibrato.

Notably, this sample is also used in "Strangelove" and "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses and World Violation tours.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the relevant raw sample from the factory Emulator II disk #61 "Sitar" is played back in full, then played back with the in-built loop enabled, and is finally played back at a higher pitch and compared to the front stereo channel audio of "Behind The Wheel" derived from the 2006 5.1 reissue of Music For The Masses.
Snare/tambourine Talk Talk - "I Don't Believe In You" - 1986
Confirmed
A snare and tambourine hit derived from Talk Talk's "I Don't Believe In You" is used throughout "Behind The Wheel".

Click to display/hide audio example

Verse marimba melody Emulator II factory library disk #34: Vibraphones & Marimbas - Preset #7: "Marimbas"
Confirmed
A marimba sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #34 "Vibraphones & Marimbas" is utilised during the verse sections of "Behind The Wheel" as it was performed on the 1987-1988 Music For The Masses tour.

"I Want You Now"
Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Feminine "ahh" vocal samples / Sample of multiple laughing girls "I Want You Now" employs a series of breathy female vocals (accompanied by a similar vocal provided by Martin Gore) as a substitute for traditional bass drums or snares. These sounds include two distinct "ahh" vocalizations used throughout the verse and chorus sections as well as a sample of two women laughing heard at the end of each verse. The women who provided the vocals were described by Wilder in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "[...] I think it was a couple of girls who were hanging around the studio - thought we'd make use of them ;-)"[11] Album producer Dave Bascombe recalls: "It was Fashion Week when we were in Paris which — terrible, you know [laughs] — so models turned up at the studio and we got them to do the samples, just to get it a bit more hi-fi!"[8]

Notably, the feminine "ahh" vocalization heard during the verses would be repurposed to similar effect in "Clean" starting from the second verse.

"Breathing" accordion loop The "breathing" effect heard throughout "I Want You Now" is produced by an accordion being inflated and deflated without depressing a key.[11]
Middle eight falsetto vocal melody In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late 1980s. One floppy disk, labeled "Falsetto Voice (19)", features a preset titled "Falsetto Vox" containing a sample of a vocalist singing a high falsetto note that is used to play a monophonic melody during the middle eight of "I Want You Now".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a raw sample from the Emax II sound bank containing the parts performed by Alan Wilder for the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" is compared to the equivalent unedited source part in Bascombe's Emulator II disk "Falsetto Voice (19)".
Tambourine loop A tambourine loop is utilised in the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" starting from the middle eight section onwards. Notably, this loop is also used throughout Recoil's "Last Call for Liquid Courage".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Reverberated chorus section vocal The Stick Shifts - "Automobile" - 1980 (?)
Confirmed
An edited sample derived from the opening moments of "Automobile" by The Stick Shifts is utilised during the chorus sections of "I Want You Now".

Click to display/hide audio example

Feminine orgasm vocal samples (x2) Unidentified pornographic film
Unknown
The pornographic film sampled by Depeche Mode for use in the production of "I Want You Now" is likely to have released on VHS or Betamax cassette and would have been in circulation by July 1987.
Accordion Emulator II factory library disk #23: Accordian & Banjo - Preset #1: "Accordian 1"
Confirmed
The middle eight and outro sections of "I Want You Now" feature accordion chords played using the "Accordian 1" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #23 "Accordian & Banjo".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, Emulator II factory disk #23 "Accordian & Banjo" is used to perform a series of chords. The chords are first compared to the middle eight section of "I Want You Now" as heard in the front stereo channel of the 2006 Music For The Masses 5.1 reissue (played out of phase to further expose the accordion part). Lastly, two bass notes are performed on the Emulator II disk, which are then similarly compared to the second verse section.
Drum loop Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell (AMG) - Partition #2: Mellow Antique - "AMG Warm Poetry 3" - March 1993
Confirmed
The Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" features an edit of a "roomy" drum loop derived from the "AMG Warm Poetry 3" loop of Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell. The loop features a funky snare rhythm with intricate ghost notes and a hypnotic triple bass drum pattern.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, sample "AMG Warm Poetry 3" from Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell is compared to a selection of soundboard audio of a March 1994 performance of "I Want You Now".
Re-pitched snare drum Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell (AMG) - Partition #1: Hard Funk - "AMG Snowball 3"
Confirmed
The Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" features a manipulated series of two snare and hi-hat samples taken from the "AMG Snowball 3" loop of Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell. The snare is sampled from the second snare hit audible in the "AMG Snowball 3" loop, and features both the snare and two following hi-hat hits. The resulting sample is duplicated twice, with each copy sequenced to play in alternating fashion on beat three of each bar starting from bar five of the arrangement. Each copy of the snare is then individually timestretched via resampling to produce a trip hop-esque snare sequence with alternating pitches.

A separate sample featuring two hi-hat hits and a double bass drum fill derived from the same loop is timestretched in a similar fashion and sequenced to play slightly off-time on the half beat of the fourth beat of every odd bar starting from bar five, resulting in a pitched-down hi-hat sequence.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, two sections of audio from sample "AMG Snowball 3" of Neil Conti's Funky Drums From Hell are chopped into sections of audio and subsequently resampled to manipulate the length and pitch of each section, which are then compared to a selection of soundboard audio of a March 1994 performance of "I Want You Now".
Orchestral strings Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #07: TheStrings - SAMPLE "127 F#1", SAMPLE "127 F#3", SAMPLE "127 F#4", SAMPLE "127 C5" and Bank B, voice #77: ArcoAttack - SAMPLE "F#5"
Confirmed
The Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" employs a series of orchestral string samples derived from the "TheStrings" and "ArcoAttack" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. Notably, varying combinations of these samples are also utilised for use in the Devotional arrangement of "Everything Counts" as well as the unplayed Devotional arrangement for "Leave In Silence".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, six samples from the Emax II sound bank containing the orchestral string parts performed by Alan Wilder for the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" are compared to the equivalent source samples from the Korg 01/W bank A and bank B programs "TheStrings" and "ArcoAttack". In this audio example, each note is held for one bar. In order, the samples heard are:
  • Bar one: "TheStrings 127 F#1"
  • Bar two: "TheStrings 127 F#1"
  • Bar three: "TheStrings 127 F#3"
  • Bar four: "TheStrings 127 F#4"
  • Bar five: "TheStrings 127 C5"
  • Bar six: "ArcoAttack 127 F#5"
Sampled scratch N.W.A. - "Fuck tha Police" - 1988
Confirmed
The scratch effect heard in the opening moments of "Fuck tha Police" by N.W.A. is sampled and played sporadically throughout the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now".

Notably, this sample is also used to similar effect in the hip hop-esque arrangement of "Fly On The Windscreen" as it was performed on the 1993 Devotional tour.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the scratch heard in the opening bars of "Fuck tha Police" are compared to a selection of soundboard audio from a March 1994 performance of "I Want You Now".
Sampled scratch N.W.A - "8 Ball (Remix)" - 1988
Confirmed
The Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" utilises a sampled scratch derived from the outro of N.W.A's "8 Ball (Remix)".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the scratch heard in the closing bars of "8 Ball (Remix)" are compared to a selection of soundboard audio from a March 1994 performance of "I Want You Now".

"To Have And To Hold" - Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Russian radio news broadcast A sample of a radio news broadcast featuring a male voice speaking in Russian can be heard during the intro and outro of the album version of "To Have And To Hold". The vocal is played several notes below its original key and is layered with numerous delayed cuts to produce a dense, alarming texture. Fitting with the dark atmosphere of the song, the broadcaster states: "В докладах рассматривается эволюция ядерных арсеналов и социально-психологические проблемы гонки вооружений," which translates to "The report examines the evolution of nuclear arsenals and socio-psychological problems of the arms race".

Notably, this sample would later be sampled by composer Mark Morgan for use in the ambient song "The Vault of the Future" in the 1997 post-apocalyptic adventure video game Fallout, 1998's Fallout 2 and 2010's acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas.

Metallic snare layer A metallic drum-like sample layered with the snare throughout "To Have And To Hold" is a sampled sound of a pneumatic coach door shutting recorded by Dave Bascombe. Notably, this sample is also used as a percussive part during the post-chorus sections of "Nothing".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Kalimba Emulator II factory library disk #17: Kalimba & Shaku-Hachi - SAMPLE 2
Confirmed
A kalimba sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #17 "Kalimba & Shaku-Hachi" performing an ascending arpeggio is quietly layered with one or more sounds to form the tense four note phrase repeating throughout "To Have and to Hold".

"Nothing" - Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Post-chorus metallic percussive triplet In a 4 July 2019 interview with Super Deluxe Edition, Dave Bascombe recalls the unique production of an alternative hi-hat sound used in "Nothing":

We dug out a few of their old samples and I brought a lot of mine as well, which were more in the vein of just regular snare drums and kicks, although I did use, there’s one interesting sound which is used as a [hi-hat] on, I think "Nothing", or maybe a few things, which is a pneumatic coach door shutting. Anyway, we did swap a few things around like that. I had an Emulator II [sampler/keyboard], we’d swap discs and so on.[8]

Solo vocal-like pad with short loop A solo vocal-like pad with a short loop (derived from a non-looped sample that is layered another vocal-like sound to intensify the final four bars of each verse section in "I Want You Now") is used to play a melody during the chorus sections of 'Nothing'.

Other notable appearances of this sample include the lead melody as heard in live performances of "Never Let Me Down Again" and as a vocal stab layered with another vocal-like sound during the final four bars of each verse section in "I Want You Now".

Bass piano In May 2020, fan "DMK" kindly provided DM Live Wiki with documentation for a series of Emulator II floppy disks that accompanied a collection of restored studio equipment used by Music For The Masses co-producer Dave Bascombe during the production of music albums for artists other than Depeche Mode in the mid to late eighties. One floppy disk, labeled "Depeche Bass Piano", features two similar untitled presets ("NULL PRESET"), which contain a sample of a one-shot two octave piano hit playing an E and a similar sample playing an A. The former sample is layered with another piano part for use throughout "Nothing".

Notably, this sound is also used during the middle eight of "Strangelove".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"When The Levee Breaks" drum samples Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971
Confirmed
Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website that "Never Let Me Down Again" employs drum elements derived from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks", which are repurposed for "Nothing".
Snare drum New Order - "Love Vigilantes" - 1985
Confirmed
The second of four snare drum hits audible in the opening moments of "Love Vigilantes" by New Order is utilised throughout "Nothing". Similarly, this snare sound is used throughout "Stripped", "Breathing In Fumes", "Christmas Island", and "Never Let Me Down Again".
High octave choir melody Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - Preset #1: "Voices 1", SAMPLE 8
Confirmed
"Nothing" utilises a choir sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices". The sample is layered with a similar choir sample to form a textured high octave choir-like instrument used to add tension to the lead melody starting from the first post-chorus section onwards.
Slap bass guitar Emulator II factory library disk #30: Funk Rock Bass - Preset #2: "Slap Bass 1"
Confirmed
A slap bass guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #30 "Funk Rock Bass" is utilised throughout "Nothing".

"Pimpf"
Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Exploding firework An exploding firework sound originally recorded for use with "Stripped" is layered in with a large choir stab in the outro of "Pimpf". The sample is played in time with the choir several notes below its original key. Notably, this sample is also occasionally played on the final note during live performances of "Never Let Me Down Again".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Tubular bells Emulator II factory library disk #67: Tubular Bells - Preset #1: "Tubular Bell"
Confirmed
The tubular bells utilised in the final moments of "Pimpf" are derived from Emulator II factory disk $67 "Tubular Bells".

Click to display/hide audio example

Sitar pluck Emulator II factory library disk #61: Sitar - Preset #3: "Sitar 2", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
A plucked sitar sample derived from the "Sitar 2" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #61 "Sitar" is layered with other sounds to form the four note "Strangelove" riff played throughout "Interlude No. 1 - Mission Impossible", the instrumental interlude that follows "Pimpf". The full sample consists of a plucked sitar playing a G♯ with a slight pitch bend. The sample is looped with a tight loop lasting approximately four milliseconds starting just after the initial transient of the sample, producing a unique "buzzy" tone with the transient of a natural sitar pluck. The resulting sample is then played back with filtering and subtle vibrato. Notably, this sample is also used in "Behind The Wheel" and "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses and World Violation tours.

"To Have And To Hold" (Spanish Taster) - Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Guitar-like pluck A guitar-like pluck sample is layered with a harpsichord, played back with a medium decay, and processed with reverb to produce the lead melody heard throughout the Spanish Taster mix.

Other uses of this sample include the lead melody of "Never Let Me Down Again" and a two-note fill heard during the verse sections of "Strangelove".

"Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Glitter Mix) - Depeche Mode
1987
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
"The grabbing hands grab all they can - Everything counts in large amounts" chorus vocal The vocal section of "Everything Counts" (Reprise) is re-purposed to form the "ghostly" vocal outro of the "Pleasure, Little Treasure" (Glitter Mix). The part is pitch shifted up by two keys, timestretched to match the approximate 132 BPM tempo of "Pleasure, Little Treasure", reversed, and subsequently sliced to allow for more precise control over each section of audio. The part is then processed using a gate effect programmed to allow the audio signal to pass through for the first two steps of the first and third beats per bar. The resulting "stuttering" vocal rhythm is then processed with reverb and delay.
Organ sample A distinct organ sample is used to play a two note phrase during the chorus sections of all versions of "Pleasure, Little Treasure". Notably, this sample is also used during the choruses of "World In My Eyes" and the outro of "Behind The Wheel" as it was performed on the World Violation, Devotional and Exotic tours.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Brass Emulator II factory library disk #60: Velocity Sax - Preset #1: "Sax Beast", SAMPLE 15
Confirmed
The portamento brass section utilised throughout the live arrangement of "Pleasure, Little Treasure" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses tour is comprised of two samples, one of which is derived from the "Sax Beast" preset of the Emulator II factory library disk "Velocity Sax".
Sitar pluck Emulator II factory library disk #61: Sitar - Preset #3: "Sitar 2", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
A plucked sitar sample derived from the "Sitar 2" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #61 "Sitar" is layered with other sounds to form the five note riff used throughout "Pleasure, Little Treasure". The full sample consists of a plucked sitar playing a G♯ with a slight pitch bend. The sample is looped with a tight loop lasting approximately four milliseconds starting just after the initial transient of the sample, producing a unique "buzzy" tone with the transient of a natural sitar pluck. The resulting sample is then played back with filtering and subtle vibrato. Notably, this sample is also used in "Behind The Wheel" and "Master And Servant" as it was performed on the Music For The Masses and World Violation tours.

"Route 66" (Beatmasters Mix) - Depeche Mode
1987

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"They come from everywhere to take the challenge", "If they can name it they can claim it", "It's big money, high hopes, near misses, and love and kisses", "So, join host Tom Kennedy, tonight at 7:30, and 'Name That Tune!'" vocal samples Unspecified television advertisement for Name That Tune (game show)
Confirmed

"Strangelove" (The Fresh Ground Mix) - Depeche Mode
1987

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"Super DJ!" vocal sample Cameo - "Word Up" - 1986
Official
A vocal sample of Cameo's Larry Blackmon shouting "super DJ!" originally recorded for use in Cameo's 1986 single "Word Up!" is repeated throughout this obscure promotional remix. Officially confirmed on depechemode.com[12].

Violator (1990)

"World In My Eyes"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Snare Alan Wilder recalls the production of the snare drum sound of "World In My Eyes" in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project site: "[I can't] remember exactly. I think we made it from scratch or it could be a combination of analogue and a sample."[13] Notably, a reversed version of this snare is used as a fill during the transition between the interlude and outro of the live arrangement of "Enjoy The Silence" as it was performed on the World Violation tour.
Minimoog/ARP 2600 bass The origin of the bass is a combination of a series of unique synthesized parts. According to Wilder, the bass parts are likely to have originated from the Minimoog and Flood's ARP 2600.[13]
Vocal "ahh" samples A series of quietly-mixed solo vocal "ahh" samples likely derived from vocal sustains sung by Martin Gore play an oscillating melody during the outro of "World In My Eyes". Other songs to feature these vocal elements include "Enjoy The Silence", "Policy Of Truth" (as a layer mixed in with the lead melody), "Memphisto", as well as the sustained choir chords heard during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Pitch-bending verse section fill Fleetwood Mac - "Black Magic Woman" - 1982
Confirmed
This sample is used for two distinct sounds audible throughout "World In My Eyes":
  • One version of the sample is played in reverse with an oscillating pitch bend and is layered with a separate sample (derived from Emulator II factory library disk #37: Electric Guitar) to produce the exciting "whirl" effect that occurs during the verse sections.
  • A second version of the sample appears on the first beat following the end of each chorus section. This sample is used to dramatic effect during the outro to the Devotional tour version of "World In My Eyes".[14]
Pitch bending verse section fill Emulator II factory library disk #37: Electric Guitar - SAMPLE 4
Confirmed
An electric guitar sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #37 "Electric Guitar" is played in reverse with an oscillating pitch bend and layered with a separate sample (derived from Fleetwood Mac's "Black Magic Woman") to produce the exciting "whirl" effect that occurs during the verse sections.
Punchy drum fill Bryan Ferry - "Don't Stop The Dance" - 1985
Confirmed
A drum element derived from the album version of Bryan Ferry's "Don't Stop The Dance" is utilised throughout "World In My Eyes" as a drum fill.

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Emulator II factory library disk #05: Marcato Strings
Confirmed
The verse, chorus and outro sections of "World In My Eyes" feature orchestral string chords played using the "Marcato Strg" preset of Emulator II factory library disk #05 "Marcato Strings". Notably, this famous Emulator II factory preset was also used in a variety of songs in the previous decade, including "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." by A-Ha, and "Book of Brilliant Things" by Simple Minds.

Click to display/hide audio example

"Orchestral" hit/synthesizer stab Thomas Dolby - "She Blinded Me with Science" - 1982
Confirmed
A synth hit derived from the final moments of Thomas Dolby's 1982 single "She Blinded Me with Science" is utilised as an orchestral hit during the final bar of each chorus section of "World In My Eyes"

Click to display/hide audio example

"Clicking" verse percussion rhythm Kraftwerk - "The Man-Machine" ("Die Mensch-Maschine") - 1978
Confirmed
"World In My Eyes" utilises a timestretched "clicking" percussion rhythm throughout its verse, chorus, and outro sections that is derived from the opening moments of Kraftwerk's "The Man-Machine".

Click to display/hide audio example

"Squelchy" snare accent Kraftwerk - "Home Computer" ("Heimcomputer") - 1981
Confirmed
"World In My Eyes" employs a timestretched synthesizer "squelch" sound derived from the right stereo channel of the latter half of Kraftwerk's "Home Computer". The sound is timestretched via resampling to play at a faster rate, and is sequenced to play off-time on the third step of the first beat of bars sixteen, thirty-seven, and sixty-eight of "World In My Eyes" so that it occurs just before the main snare. The sound then occurs off-time on the third step of the first beat on the first bar every four bars throughout the outro of "World In My Eyes", starting from bar ninety-five.[15]

Click to display/hide audio example

Chorus rock organ Emax I factory library disk #ZD703: Rock Organ - SAMPLE 4
Confirmed
An edited sample of an organ derived from Emax I factory library disk #ZD703 "Rock Organ" is utilized throughout the chorus sections of "World In My Eyes".

Click to display/hide audio example

"Sweetest Perfection" - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Bell tree sample Fleetwood Mac - "Black Magic Woman" - 1982
Confirmed
This sample is looped and manipulated to produce a ghostly pad with oscillating pitch and creative panning effects during the verses.

"Personal Jesus"
Depeche Mode
1989
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Foot stomp drum elements Wilder recalls in separate Q&A and Editorial features on Shunt, the official Recoil project site: "The main stomps... [were] a recording of 2 or 3 people jumping up and down on flight cases."[13][16]
Slide guitar fill Album producer Flood recalled the unique slide guitar sound recorded on the second day of production on "Personal Jesus" in his 2011 Mute Short Circuit presentation:

I'd said, well, I always thought that on the original demo [for Personal Jesus], [the slide guitar part] sounded like voices. Somebody going "Rahh!" And they all looked at me as though I was mad. I said [...] if we just combine the two sounds, it would be unique, it won't be just a slide guitar [...] And [Dave Gahan] finally turned around and goes "What, like this? Rahhh!" I went "Yes, exactly like that!" So Dave went, alright then, sample this then: "Rahhh!" I went "Yep, that's perfect!" They were all looking at me as though I was mad! But, that is half of the sound that you hear when you hear the finished article.

Breathing rhythm Album producer Flood describes the origin of the "Personal Jesus" breathing rhythm recorded on the third day of the song's production in his 2011 Mute Short Circuit presentation:

The next day, we [started] to do the famous breath. And the breath came about because we wanted to do, we were trying harmonica actually, to do the bass part and that type of sound. And the sound just wasn't right, but what we did like was the sound of someone going "Haah", and so we got a load of "Haah" from [Martin Gore], and I think [Alan Wilder] as well, and then chucked them all together. And that makes up the "ooh-ooh-ooh-ahh-ahh-ahh", it's all from trying to get the harmonica for a bass sound.

Tom drum fills An ambient drum sample originally recorded for use with 1983's "Pipeline" is utilised in combination with a tom drum sound (itself originally recorded for use with 1987's "I Want You Now") to form a series of two unique drum fills preceding each verse section.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
"Metallic" hi-hat Emulator II factory library disk #71: DAS Synth
Confirmed
A lo-fi synthesizer sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #71 "DAS Synth" is played several keys above its root key to produce a metallic ticking sound that is used in place of a hi-hat starting from the second chorus section of "Personal Jesus".

Click to display/hide audio example

Bass guitar Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds - Volume 1 - Machine Set - "Stein Bass A1", "Stein Bass D2"
Confirmed
A series of bass guitar samples derived from the Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds "Machine Set" voice are utilised throughout "Personal Jesus".

Click to display/hide audio example

Clap-like percussion Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds - Volume 2 - Tough Tones - "NOISE BURST"
Confirmed
A treated copy of a clap-like percussive sound derived from the Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds "Tough Tones" voice is utilised throughout "Personal Jesus" starting from the second chorus section.

Click to display/hide audio example

"I'm not crazy anymore!" vocal sample A Cry In The Wilderness (film) - 1974
Likely

"Halo"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Minimoog/ARP 2600 bass The origin of the bass is a combination of likely two or more unique synthesized parts, including a 'dark' velocity-sensitive synth bass layered with an additional bass part. According to Wilder, these bass parts are likely to have originated from the Minimoog and producer Flood's ARP 2600.[13]
Vocal "ahhs" The choir stabs heard during the first chorus are comprised of a series of solo vocal "ahh" samples. Other songs to feature these vocal elements include "Enjoy The Silence","World In My Eyes", "Policy Of Truth" (as a layer mixed in with the lead melody), "Memphisto", and the sustained choir chords heard during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Orchestral strings Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor - 4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam) - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - March 1970
Confirmed
"Halo" employs two orchestral phrase sampled from the fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 Adagietto (Sehr langsam), conducted by Georg Solti and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Medinah Temple in March 1970.

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Barry Adamson - The Swinging Detective - 6 March 1989
Confirmed
An orchestral string staccato derived from Barry Adamson's 1989 instrumental "The Swinging Detective" is utilised throughout "Halo". Notably, Depeche Mode and frequent Recoil collaborator Paul Kendall performed mixing, engineering, and general production assistance for Adamson's 1989 debut concept album Moss Side Story. A sample from another song featured on the same album, "The Man with the Golden Arm", would be utilised on the 1991 Nitzer Ebb album Ebbhead as produced by Alan Wilder.

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop Tone Lōc - "Don't Get Close" - 1989
Confirmed
The main drum loop used throughout "Halo" is derived from the intro drum solo of "Don't Get Close" by American rapper Tone Lōc from his 1989 debut album Lōc-ed After Dark (itself derived from the intro drum solo of "Rock Candy" by Montrose for their 1973 debut album of the same name).

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the drum break as heard in "Rock Candy" by Montrose is compared to its use case in Tone Lōc's "Don't Get Close", and is then compared to relevant sections of audio in "Halo".
Drum loop Montrose - "Rock Candy" - 1973
Confirmed
The main drum loop used throughout "Halo" is derived from the intro drum solo of "Don't Get Close" by American rapper Tone Lōc from his 1989 debut album Lōc-ed After Dark (itself derived from the intro drum solo of "Rock Candy" by Montrose for their 1973 debut album of the same name).

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the drum break as heard in "Rock Candy" by Montrose is compared to its use case in Tone Lōc's "Don't Get Close", and is then compared to relevant sections of audio in "Halo".
Snare drum Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives me Crazy" - 26 December 1988
Confirmed
An edited snare drum audible during the chorus sections of "Halo" is derived from the opening moments of the Fine Young Cannibals 1988 single "She Drives Me Crazy". Prior to any editing applied post-sampling, the original snare's characteristic "pop" effect was achieved by recording the snare separately, then placing a speaker on top of the snare drum and a microphone below it, with the original recording played through the speaker and re-recorded.[17] Notably, this sound is also used throughout Wilder's 1989 "Eurotech Version" remix of Toni Halliday's "Time Turns Around".

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Edward Elgar - Unidentified composition
Confirmed
Wilder confirmed in a 27 July 2011 interview with electricityclub.co.uk that "Halo" employs orchestral string elements sampled from an as yet unidentified piece of music composed by celebrated English composer Edward Elgar:

For the end choruses, there are some string samples which I think were derived from Elgar. One of my techniques is to find sections of classical strings and transpose / stretch these, then add my own samples, in order to formulate new and unusual arrangements. This was a case in point. The [Depeche Mode] track "Clean" utilised classical strings in a similar way.[18]

The classical recording sampled would have been recorded and released during or prior to 1989.

Rhythmic breath sample Unidentified pornographic film
Unknown
The rhythmic vocal rhythm audible in the opening moments of "Halo" is confirmed by Violator engineer Roberto Baldi as having been sampled from a pornographic film. The film is likely to have released on VHS or Betamax cassette and would have been in circulation by May 1989.

"Waiting For The Night"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
ARP 2600 bass sequence Wilder describes the production of this bass part in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website:

Flood and I had been listening to Tangerine Dream and decided to try and create a similar atmosphere for this track. The main sequence was put together using his [ARP 2600] and the sequencer that accompanies the synth. Due to its many velocity and filtering possibilities, this unit has a unique quality which is difficult to replicate using a modern-day sequencer triggered by MIDI. Once it has been set-up, in order for the sequence to be transposed to follow the chord structure of the song, I needed to play in each chord change from an external keyboard. A similar principal was applied to achieve the bubbling bass part which, together with the main sequence, forms the backbone of the track. The charm of the ARP sequencer stems from the slight tuning and timing variations that occur each time the part is played. This gives a sense of fluidity and continual change which seems to suit the song. [19]

Bass sequence Musician and remixer Ehron VonAllen confirmed in a YouTube analysis of his remix collaboration with Alan Wilder that Wilder employed a bass sequence originally recorded for use with "Waiting For The Night" in "Electro Blues For Bukka White".[20]

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Throat singing Dmitry Damba-Darzhaa - "Край Артыы сайыр / Artyy Sayir Area" - 1969 or earlier
Confirmed
A looped chant-like sample used starting from the bridge section of "Waiting For The Night" is derived from a Tuvan throat singing recording performed by Dmitry Damba-Darzhaa, originally released on Melodii Tuvi - Throat Songs And Folk Tunes From Tuva, a 1969 collection of Tuvan music issued in the Soviet Union. Though the recording's performance date is not currently known to the Depeche Mode Live Wiki, the recording was included in a 2016 compilation album АНТОЛОГИЯ НАРОДНОЙ МУЗЫКИ: ТУВИНСКАЯ МУЗЫКА / Anthology Of Folk Music: Tuvan Music, which features recordings of Tuvan music performances recorded between 1958 and 1984.

Click to display/hide audio example

Vocal pad Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices - SAMPLE 8
Confirmed
A vocal pad heard throughout "Waiting For The Night" utilises a vocal sample derived from Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices"

Click to display/hide audio example

Bell-like verse chimes Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds - Guitar Chimes - "CHIME A4"
Confirmed
The bell-like arpeggio audible during the verse sections of "Waiting For The Night" as it was performed on the World Violation and Exotic tours is comprised of a series of edited samples derived from the "Guitar Chimes" voice featured in Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, a sample from the Emax II sound bank containing the musical parts performed by Alan Wilder for live use with "Waiting For The Night" is compared to the equivalent sample in the "Guitar Chimes" voice featured in Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds. The two parts are then played together, producing audible phasing artifacts when superimposed.

"Enjoy The Silence"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Synth bassline The synthesized bassline audible throughout "Enjoy The Silence" is produced on the Roland System 700 modular analog synthesizer.
Choir stabs The textured choral stabs heard on the first beat of every measure throughout "Enjoy The Silence" are comprised of a series of sampled choir sounds each playing individual notes of a chord. Among these sounds are two sourced samples derived from the Bulgarian State Female Vocal Choir's 1975 "Sableyalo mi Agontze (The Bleating Lamb)", the first of which is played on the first beat per measure throughout the song, the second of which is played on the first beat of every fourth chorus measure (in time with the lyric "In my arms"); a choir sound previously used for live performances of "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" on the Music For The Masses tour; and a series of custom vocal "ahh" samples likely produced by sampling vocal sustains sung by Martin Gore, which are notably also used to play the choir melody heard in the song's outro.
Outro choir melody The vocal "ahhs" heard during the outro of "Enjoy The Silence" are comprised of a series of solo vocal "ahh" samples likely produced by sampling vocal sustains sung by Martin Gore. Other songs to feature these vocal elements include "Memphisto", "World In My Eyes", "Policy Of Truth" (as a layer mixed in with the lead melody), "Halo", "Sibeling" (layered quietly as a melodic element), and the sustained choir chords heard during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours. For live performances of "Enjoy The Silence", these choir elements were employed from its live debut through 2009, when it was replaced with new choir parts for use on the Tour Of The Universe and later tours (with one exception in 2013, when it returned for a live performance as part of a television promotion).
Melodic "water droplet" sequence A melancholic bell or "water droplet-like" sequence audible during the intro and middle eight sections of "Enjoy The Silence" is partly comprised of a sample derived from the opening moments of "Blasphemous Rumours". Notably, this sample would later be utilised for a melodic melody heard during the verse sections of "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Choir pad A choir pad comprised of an organ or accordion-like sound layered with a sustained vocal originally sung by Gore for use during the middle eight section of "Waiting For The Night" is played during the chorus sections of "Enjoy The Silence" as it has been performed on all live arrangements since its live debut (as well as the intro of its World Violation tour arrangement). Notably, this sound is also utilised for the main choir pad heard throughout all versions of "Sea Of Sin", as well as a chorus pad layered with several of the vocal "ahh" sounds most obviously heard in the outro of "Enjoy The Silence" for use during the chorus sections of "Halo" as it has been performed on all live arrangements since its live debut (with one exception in the 2013-2014 Delta Machine tour).

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Choir stabs Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir - "Sableyalo mi Agontze (The Bleating Lamb)" - 1975
Confirmed
A series of choir pads which partly comprise the choir stabs audible throughout "Enjoy The Silence" are derived from the Bulgarian State Female Vocal Choir's 1975 "Sableyalo mi Agontze (The Bleating Lamb)" as performed by Bulgarian traditional singer Kalinka Valcheva. The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir is notable for its membership, who are chosen from country villages for the beauty and fullness of their voices.

Click to display/hide audio example

Punchy harpsichord bass Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds: Volume 2 - Harpsichord - "B1 HARPSIC"
Confirmed
The harpsichord-like instrument used to accent the bassline of "Enjoy The Silence" starting from the middle eight section is partly derived from the Emulator III Universe of Sounds: Volume 2 voice "Harpsichord". The harpsichord sample is layered with a detuned copy of itself to produce a chorusing effect. A sampled bass synth part heard prominently in the opening moments of "Clean" is then layered with the harpsichord part on most notes used throughout the song. Notably, this sound is also used throughout Nitzer Ebb's "I Give To You".

Click to display/hide audio example

Brass melody Emax I factory library disk #ZD705: French Horn - Preset #1: "French Horns", SAMPLE 6
Confirmed
The middle eight and outro sections of "Enjoy The Silence" feature a french horn melody derived from the "French Horns" preset of Emax I factory library disk #ZD705 "French Horn".

Click to display/hide audio example

Chorus choir pad Emulator II factory library disk #12: Voices and Emulator II factory library disk #05: Marcato Strings
Likely
A choir pad featured in the chorus sections of "Enjoy The Silence" is likely comprised of samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #12 "Voices" and Emulator II factory library disk #05 "Marcato Strings". The pad is prominently featured in the opening moments of the "Hands And Feet" remix of "Enjoy The Silence".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the two Emulator II voices are first played separately. They are then layered together, then played with an upper mid-frequency EQ boost to approximately match the equivalent sound in the "Hands And Feet" remix of "Enjoy The Silence", which prominently features the choir pad with added phasing effects/processing.

"Policy Of Truth"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Main guitar rhythm The guitar rhythm prominently used during the first two verses is produced by a single note played from a guitar, which is processed and looped to provide a built-in vibrato effect. The sample is then allocated across the keyboard for playback. Though not officially confirmed, a second sample is likely used to produce the faux guitar lick-esque stab with an ascending pitch bend heard on every other bar. Wilder recalled in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "It's a single note sampled from a guitar and then looped and played from a keyboard. The loop is what gives it the vibrato effect."[13]
Hi-hat loops "Policy Of Truth" employs sampled hi-hat rhythms sequenced in an alternating pattern to form dynamic loops. Wilder explains the benefits of using loops over one-shot samples in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website:

[...] No two snare beats sound the same when played by a drummer - I like that. That's why I prefer to use lots of drum loops with all the feel (and flaws) of the original performance. Most of the drum sounds on Violator were sampled (apart from obvious electro sounds) but the rhythms were still programmed. Some hi-hat patterns ("[Policy Of Truth]" for example) were played and sampled as loops and in the case of "Halo" and "Clean" it's all loops. Again, I prefer the looped parts because of the performance element.[13]

Lead melody layer The lead melody of "Policy Of Truth" is comprised of a series of layered sounds, one of which is a repurposed "ahh" vocal sample most clearly heard during the outro of "Enjoy The Silence". Other songs to feature these vocal elements include "Memphisto", "World In My Eyes", "Halo", and the sustained choir chords heard during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Main riff Unknown Asian instrument sample library CD
Official
In a 2016 podcast with author and former pastor Rob Bell, Martin Gore was asked about the origin of this sound:

Rob Bell: The riff, there's like three or four parts that are like sort of stacked in very tightly in the mix. I assume there's some really subjective aesthetic thing going on where you're just like, "It should sound like striking the edge of a glass bottle..." [...]

Martin Gore: I think it's more organic than that. I think part of the sounds that you're talking about are samples that we... even during Violator we were doing quite a bit of sampling, so it probably came from some weird Asian instrument sample CD or a classical Asian music CD, with a [pitch] bend in it.[21]

The sample library or classical release in question that was sampled for the main riff components would have been in circulation by 1989. The riff is comprised of two looped samples, one with a natural built-in pitch bend and a short loop, and one without a pitch bend with an equally short loop.

Piano/bass guitar stab Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds Volume 1 - Funk Bass - "Funk Bass E1", "Funk Bass G1", "Funk Bass A1", "Funk Bass C2", "Funk Bass D2", "Funk Bass F2"
Confirmed
A dark piano/bass guitar stab heard throughout the chorus sections of "Policy Of Truth" is partly comprised of a series of bass guitar samples derived from the Emulator III Universe Of Sounds Volume 1 voice "Funk Bass". The samples are layered and played back with slight detuning to produce a chorusing effect. The Emulator III instrument's original keymapping is as follows:
  • Sample: Funk Bass E1 - Assignment: C2-F♯2
  • Sample: Funk Bass G1 - Assignment: C2-B2
  • Sample: Funk Bass A1 - Assignment: G2-B2
  • Sample: Funk Bass C2 - Assignment: C3-E3
  • Sample: Funk Bass D2 - Assignment: C3-D♯3
  • Sample: Funk Bass F2 - Assignment: D#3-F♯3
  • Sample: Funk Bass D2 - Assignment: E3-F♯3

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the raw samples are played. The samples are then layered and finally detuned.
Looped guitar rhythm Toni Halliday - "Time Turns Around" - 1989
Confirmed
A looped guitar rhythm used during the verses of Toni Halliday's "Time Turns Around" is re-purposed for use during the chorus sections of "Policy Of Truth".[22] The parts were likely derived from the stems utilised by Wilder in the production of the "Eurotech Version" remix he produced for the March 1989 Time Turns Around - Very Special Version promotional release.

Click to display/hide audio example

Guitar solo Toni Halliday - "Time Turns Around" - 1989
Confirmed
Various cuts of the guitar solo from Toni Halliday's "Time Turns Around" are sampled and subsequently looped to form the sustained guitar pads heard during the outro of "Policy Of Truth". The parts were likely derived from the stems utilised by Wilder in the production of the "Eurotech Version" remix he produced for the March 1989 Time Turns Around - Very Special Version promotional release.
Snare drum fill Tone Lōc - "Funky Cold Medina" - March 1989
Confirmed
A snare fill derived from "Funky Cold Medina", the second single from American rapper Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark, is used following the first chorus and leading up to the outro of the "Policy Of Truth (7" Version)" remix. Notably, this snare fill is also used in the "Beat Box Mix", "Capitol Mix", and "Pavlov's Dub" remixes of "Policy Of Truth", as well as the live arrangement of "Policy Of Truth" as it was performed on the World Violation tour.
Chorus pad Emulator II factory library disk #38: Pipe Organ - Preset #1: "Pipe Organ"
Confirmed
Emulator II factory library disk #38 "Pipe Organ" is used to play a series of ascending pipe organ pads during the chorus sections of "Policy Of Truth".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, chords played using the Emulator II factory disk #38 "Pipe Organ" are compared to the equivalent audio heard during the second chorus of "Policy Of Truth" derived from the center channel of the 2006 Violator 5.1 reissue.
Chorus pad Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds - Bowed Psaltery - "PSALTERY B3" and Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds - Rebel Victory - "GIANT 5"
Confirmed
The pads performed during the chorus sections of the Devotional tour arrangement of "Policy Of Truth" utilise a series of samples derived from the "Bowed Psaltery" and "Rebel Victory" voices featured in Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds.

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, two samples derived from Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds voices "Bowed Psaltery" and "Rebel Victory" are layered and played back via a sampling keyboard. The result is then compared to a selection of live audio from the first chorus section of "Policy Of Truth" as heard in the Devotional video release (played out of phase to more clearly expose the relevant sound).

"Blue Dress"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Guitar-like pluck A guitar-like pluck sample is layered with a separate sound to form the dramatic chorus melody. Notably, this sample is also used as a layer of the lead melody of "Never Let Me Down Again", a melodic fill throughout "Strangelove", and as a layer for the harpsichord-like lead melody of the "Spanish Taster" mix of "To Have And To Hold".
Warm pad A warm synth-like pad sample is utilised throughout "Blue Dress". Notably, this sample is also performed during the third verse section of "World In My Eyes" as it was performed on the Devotional tour. It is also used as a layer of the six note melody performed sporadically throughout the instrumental outro of "Personal Jesus" in all live concert performances since its live debut.
Verse arpeggio A steel drum-like sample most prominently heard during the verses of "Stripped" is repurposed for use as a melodic arpeggio during the second verse section of "Blue Dress".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Ambient wind-like pad Eraserhead (film) - 1977
Confirmed
One or more samples derived from the 1977 David Lynch film Eraserhead are looped to form an ambient pad heard during "Interlude No. 3" (audible around the 1:16:00 mark in the Criterion Collection release of the film). The audio is edited to first play in reverse, then forwards.

Click to display/hide audio example

"Clean"
Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Female "ah" vocal sample "Clean" employs a female "ah" vocal part originally recorded for use throughout 1987's "I Want You Now". The part is performed in time with the snare starting from the second verse. Wilder recalled the performers responsible for this vocal part in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "...I think it was a couple of girls who were hanging around the studio - thought we'd make use of them ;-)"[11]

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Bass guitar Pink Floyd - "One Of These Days" - 1971
Disproven
Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project site that "Clean" does not employ a sample from Pink Floyd: "I recognise the similarity but It's not a Floyd sample. It was programmed using a combination of analogue synth and sampled bass [guitar]."[23]
Looped orchestral strings Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor - 4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam) - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - March 1970
Confirmed
"Clean" employs a looped orchestral phrase sampled from the fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 Adagietto (Sehr langsam), conducted by Georg Solti and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Medinah Temple in March 1970. It is looped on a sustained phrase to produce a dramatic orchestral pad. This sample is also used in "Memphisto", "Halo", and "My Joy".

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral string elements Unidentified classical music recording
Confirmed
"Clean" utilises two looped sections of orchestral strings during its outro, one of which is derived from a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5. The other loop is presumably derived from an as yet unidentified piece of classical music written by British composer Edward Elgar. Notably, both sampled string loops as heard in the outro of "Clean" are re-purposed for use throughout the verse and chorus sections of "Halo".

"Memphisto" - Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Vocal "ahh" samples Unlooped versions of the samples comprising the solo vocal "ahh" melody heard in the outro of "Enjoy The Silence" are re-used to dramatic effect as a vocal element in "Memphisto". Other notable uses of these vocal elements include the choir stabs audible during the first chorus of "Halo", a quietly-mixed melody in the outro of "World In My Eyes", and the sustained choir chords heard during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours.
Bass stabs A sampled synth bass stab most prominently heard throughout "Clean" is employed as a bass layer throughout "Memphisto". Notably, this part is used to similar effect throughout "Enjoy The Silence".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Looped orchestral strings Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor - 4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam) - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - March 1970
Confirmed
"Memphisto" employs an orchestral phrase sampled from the fourth movement of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 Adagietto (Sehr langsam), conducted by Georg Solti and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Medinah Temple in March 1970. Other songs to feature this sample include "Clean", "Halo", and "My Joy".
Looped orchestral strings Unidentified classical music recording
Confirmed
Both sampled string loops best heard in the outro of "Clean" are also used throughout "Memphisto", notably during the second chorus section onward. One of the two is derived from a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5.

"Kaleid"
Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Tremolo guitar Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "What Ruthy Said" - 1973
Confirmed
A rhythmic tremolo guitar element heard in the opening moments of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's "What Ruthy Said" is sampled and used throughout "Kaleid".

Click to display/hide audio example

Distorted wah guitar fill Borghesia - "Message" - 1989
Confirmed
A "slurry" guitar sound processed with wah and distortion heard during the opening moments of Borghesia's "Message" is sampled, pitched down 100 cents, time-stretched, processed with a chorus or flanger effect to widen the stereo image and EQ'd for use as a fill throughout "Kaleid".[24]

Click to display/hide audio example

Synth string pad Borghesia - "Young Prisoners" - 1989
Likely
A synth string pad sound likely derived from the opening moments of Borghesia's "Young Prisoners" may be utilised throughout "Kaleid" and its various remixes.

"Sea Of Sin (Tonal Mix)" - Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Choir pad All versions of "Sea Of Sin" utilise a "ghostly" choir pad during its verse and chorus sections. The pad is comprised of an organ or accordion-like sound layered with a sustained vocal originally sung by Martin Gore for use during the middle eight section of "Waiting For The Night". Notably, this sound is also played live during the chorus sections of "Enjoy The Silence" as it has been performed on all live arrangements since its live debut (as well as the intro of its World Violation tour arrangement). This sound is also layered with several of the vocal "ahh" sounds most famously used during the outro of "Enjoy The Silence" for use during the chorus sections of "Halo" as it has been performed on all live arrangements since its live debut (with one exception in the 2013-2014 Delta Machine tour).

"Sea Of Sin" (Sensoria Mix) - Depeche Mode
1990
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Choir pad All versions of "Sea Of Sin" utilise a "ghostly" choir pad during its verse and chorus sections. The pad is comprised of an organ or accordion-like sound layered with a sustained vocal originally sung by Martin Gore for use during the middle eight section of "Waiting For The Night".

"Happiest Girl" (Pulsating Orbital Mix) - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Engine idling/orchestral hit sample The Tornadoes - "Telstar" - 1962
Official
Credit to Daniel Barassi for this discovery.[25]

"Policy Of Truth (Beat Box Mix)" - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Snare drum fill Tone Lōc - "Funky Cold Medina" - March 1989
Confirmed
A snare fill derived from "Funky Cold Medina", the second single from American rapper Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark, is utilised throughout the "(7" Version)", "Beat Box Mix", "Capitol Mix", and "Pavlov's Dub" remixes of "Policy Of Truth", as well as the live arrangement of "Policy Of Truth" as it was performed on the World Violation tour.

"Policy Of Truth (Capitol Mix)" - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Snare drum fill Tone Lōc - "Funky Cold Medina" - March 1989
Confirmed
A snare fill derived from "Funky Cold Medina", the second single from American rapper Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark, is utilised throughout the "(7" Version)", "Beat Box Mix", "Capitol Mix", and "Pavlov's Dub" remixes of "Policy Of Truth", as well as the live arrangement of "Policy Of Truth" as it was performed on the World Violation tour.

"Policy Of Truth" (Pavlov's Dub) - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Snare drum fill Tone Lōc - "Funky Cold Medina" - March 1989
Confirmed
A snare fill derived from "Funky Cold Medina", the second single from American rapper Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark, is utilised throughout the "(7" Version)", "Beat Box Mix", "Capitol Mix", and "Pavlov's Dub" remixes of "Policy Of Truth", as well as the live arrangement of "Policy Of Truth" as it was performed on the World Violation tour.
"I must not conceal from you tonight...the truth as I see it" Winston Churchill vocal (spoken) MIT Mid-Century Convocation - Winston Churchill speech at Mass. Institute of Technology, Thursday, March 31, 1949
Confirmed

"Policy Of Truth (Trancentral Mix)" - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"I'm not a politician, I'm a businessman" Robert Hoskins vocal (spoken) The Long Good Friday (film) - 1980
Confirmed
Richard Nixon vocal (spoken) The "Checkers speech", Richard M. Nixon speech broadcast, 1952
Confirmed

"World In My Eyes" (Oil Tank Mix) - Depeche Mode
1990

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
N/A Kraftwerk - "Musique Non-Stop" - 1986
Unconfirmed

Until The End Of The World (soundtrack) (1991)

"Death's Door" - Depeche Mode
1991
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Guitar chords with tremolo "Death's Door" re-purposes guitar chords originally recorded for "Blue Dress" for its chorus and middle eight sections.[26] This guitar part is also notably used to dramatic effect in Recoil's "Missing Piece".
Slide guitar A slide guitar part used in the final moments of "Clean" is re-purposed as an atmospheric effect throughout "Death's Door", particularly in the outro section. Notably, this sample is also used to rhythmic effect throughout Recoil's "Missing Piece".

Songs Of Faith And Devotion (1993)

"I Feel You"
Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Distorted noise pad A sample of distorted noise is utilised as a riser during the intro and just before the break sections of "I Feel You". Alan Wilder confirms this particular part originated from a synthesizer in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "[...] The noise actually comes from a synth."[27]

Part of the initial transient of the distorted noise loop present in the album version of "I Feel You" is removed so that the part begins on a brief moment of elevated pitch. This subtle edit would see use in all live performances of the song from the Devotional tour onward.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Drum loop Angelo Badalamenti - Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack) - "The Pink Room" - 11 August 1992
Confirmed
A manipulated drum loop derived from "The Pink Room", an instrumental featured on the film soundtrack for the 1992 David Lynch film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, is utilised throughout the verse and outro sections of "I Feel You".

Wilder describes the sample in an undated response to a fan question in a Q&A on Shunt: "Yes, they are very similar, aren't they? 'The Pink Room' was released before 'I Feel [You]' so Lynch couldn't have borrowed it. The fact that Lynch is interested enough to make music at all is rare for a film director. Perhaps he should concentrate even more on music since 'Lost Highway';-)"[28]

Samples from other Badalamenti works would see further use on Wilder's 1997 Recoil album Unsound Methods.

Click to display/hide audio example

"Walking In My Shoes"
Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Processed piano/harpsichord riff Wilder describes the composition of this sound in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "[...] Flood and I began to construct the various drum loops, the string arrangements, the main riff (which combined a piano and harpsichord through a distorted guitar amp) and all the other bits and pieces [of the song]."[27]
"Water droplet-like" verse pad A soft bell or "water droplet-like" melody audible during the verse sections of "Walking In My Shoes" is partly comprised of a treated sample derived from the opening moments of "Blasphemous Rumours". Notably, this sample was also used during the intro and middle eight sections of "Enjoy The Silence".

Click to display/hide audio example

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Piano Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #01: 16' Piano - SAMPLE "127 C1", SAMPLE "127 C2", SAMPLE "100 C3" and Bank B, voice #01: 8' Piano - SAMPLE "100 C3", SAMPLE "127 F#3", SAMPLE "127 C4"
Confirmed
All live arrangements of "Walking In My Shoes" employ a series of manipulated piano samples derived from the "16' Piano" and "8' Piano" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. Varying combinations of these piano samples are also performed live in the Devotional arrangements for "Fly On The Windscreen", "Mercy In You", and "Something To Do".
Drum loop The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - "Language Of Violence" - 1992
Confirmed
The verse sections of "Walking In My Shoes" employ a drum loop derived from the opening moments of "Language Of Violence" by The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop Fancy - "Feel Good" - 1974
Confirmed
A drum break derived from Fancy's "Feel Good" is used during the chorus, middle eight, and outro sections of 'Walking In My Shoes'.

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Elmer Bernstein - Cape Fear (film soundtrack) - "Rape And Hospital" - 1991
Confirmed
An orchestral string phrase from the opening moments of "Rape And Hospital", an ambient orchestral song conducted by Elmer Bernstein for the 1991 remake of the 1962 psychological thriller film Cape Fear, is layered with other string elements to form evolving string pads during the second and third verse sections of "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Elmer Bernstein - Cape Fear (film soundtrack) - "Frightened Sam" - 1991
Confirmed
A brief orchestral string and woodwind phrase from the introduction of "Frightened Sam", an orchestral song from the 1991 remake of Cape Fear, is layered with other orchestral elements to form a melodic descending string phrase starting from the third verse section of "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Orchestral strings Ennio Morricone - Ennio Morricone - Chamber Music - "Musica Per 11 Violini" - 1988
Confirmed
A brief orchestral phrase sampled from a 1988 performance of Ennio Morricone's "Musica Per 11 Violini" (originally written for the 1968 giallo thriller film A Quiet Place in the Country (Italian: Un tranquillo posto di campagna) is employed as a lush orchestral pad during the latter half of the second verse and second chorus sections of "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the sampled string phrase is first compared to the latter half of the second verse section as it is heard in the ilikemusic.com instrumental version of "Walking In My Shoes" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the sound in the mix), followed by the same section of music as heard in the rear stereo channels of the Songs Of Faith And Devotion 5.1 reissue.
Orchestral strings Dmitri Shostakovich - String Quartet No. 15 in E-flat minor - Op. 144: V. Funeral March: Adagio molto - Gidon Kremer • Daniel Phillips • Kim Kashkashian • Yo-Yo Ma - Shostakovich Quartet No. 15, Op. 144 - Gubaidulina: Rejoice! - 1989
Confirmed
A descending three note orchestral string phrase sampled from a live performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 15 recorded at the Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, 1985[29] is employed as an orchestral string layer played in various ways throughout the second and third verse sections of "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the sampled string phrase is compared to the latter half of the second verse section as it is heard in the ilikemusic.com instrumental version of "Walking In My Shoes" (played out of phase to more clearly expose the sound in the mix).
Tambourine loop HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 8 (0:40) - "Thick Tambourine Loop - 92 BPM" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited tambourine loop derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "Walking In My Shoes".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum elements Original Concept - "Can You Feel It" - 1986
Confirmed
A section of audio featuring a Roland TR-808 drum pattern is utilised for the Devotional tour arrangement of "Walking In My Shoes".

"Condemnation" - Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Improvised flight case bass drum Wilder describes the recording of various elementary elements of "Condemnation" in an editorial on Shunt, the official Recoil website:

With experimentation still prevalent, the elementary sounds for the 3rd single, "Condemnation" were recorded in the basement of the Madrid villa with one person banging a flight case, another clapping and a third scraping the wall with a tambourine.

The vocals - which were to have a 'barbershop choir meets gospel Elvis Presley' flavour - proved that Depeche Mode had not abandoned their desire to find different and exciting ways of producing music. Built up track by track, individual takes were sung by (mainly) Martin and (sometimes) Alan and then manipulated using vari-speed to produce very low and very high pitches. Once added to Dave's lead vocal, the resulting close harmonies provided the barbershop body of the track."[30]

Tambourine The tambourine fill present at the end of each bar repeating throughout the piece is produced by scraping a tambourine against a wall.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Piano Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #01: 8' Piano
Confirmed
A Korg 01/W Pro X transplanted onto a grand piano body is confirmed to have been used for the piano numbers performed on the Devotional tour.[31]

"Mercy In You"
Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Sampled sitar-like wail "Mercy In You" employs a treated sound with a distinct bitcrushing effect as a melodic hook during the second verse section. This sound, which saw similar use throughout "Personal Jesus", is based on a Moog synthesizer sound originally recorded as a bass layer heard throughout "Never Let Me Down Again".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Choir Moses the Lawgiver (Original Soundtrack) - "Moses Theme (Main Titles)" - Ennio Morricone - 1974
Confirmed
A series of choir phrases derived from the title theme of Italian/British television miniseries Moses the Lawgiver as composed by Ennio Morricone are re-pitched and played in a new sequence from how they were originally recorded to form the lush choir textures heard during the chorus sections of "Mercy In You". The choir phrases prominently feature the late Italian singer Gianna Spagnulo.

Click to display/hide audio example

Variphon pad Talk Talk - "The Rainbow" - 1988
Confirmed
"Mercy In You" employs a variophon pad with a unique distorted texture derived from Talk Talk's "The Rainbow".[27] The sample is looped and played with a long release time. Notably, a non-distorted version of this sample is used during the first verse and outro of "In Your Room".[14]
Drum loop Five Stairsteps - "Don't Change Your Love" - 1968
Confirmed
The live version of "Mercy In You" as it was performed on the Devotional tour features a sample of the classic Five Stairsteps' "Don't Change Your Love" drum break.
Drum loop The Headhunters - "God Make Me Funky" - 1975
Confirmed
Multiple sections of the "God Make Me Funky" drum break are sliced and looped to form a funky percussive rhythm heard throughout "Mercy In You".
Conga loop HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 8 - "Conga Loop (Dull)" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited conga loop derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout the Devotional tour arrangement of "Mercy In You".

Click to display/hide audio example

Outro piano Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #01: 16' Piano - SAMPLE "127 C1", SAMPLE "127 C2", SAMPLE "100 C3" and Bank B, voice #01: 8' Piano - SAMPLE "100 C3"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Mercy In You" employs a series of piano samples derived from the "16' Piano" and "8' Piano" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. Varying combinations of these piano samples were also utilised in live performances for the Devotional tour arrangements of "Walking In My Shoes", "Fly On The Windscreen", and "Something To Do".

"Judas" - Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
"If you want my love" choir This vocal performance is comprised of a large number of individual vocal recordings of individuals employed during the recording of "Judas", the final album track to be recorded at Chateau du Pape Studio, with each individual's vocal performance multitracked six times each for a total of ninety individual voices, with additional delay, reverb, and EQ to introduce an intimate southern church-like quality to the vocals. Wilder describes the recording of this particular part in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website: "15 people (tape op's, studio secretaries, the cook etc...) multitracked 6 times making a total of 90 voices + delays and reverbs. Then we eq'ed the sound to make it seem like it was sung in a deep southern church hall in the 1960's, rather than Wembley stadium."[27]
Brass "Judas" and "Higher Love" each employ similar sample-based brass parts during their respective bridge sections.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Orchestral strings Korg 01/W Bank A, voice #07: TheStrings
Likely
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Judas" likely employs orchestral string parts derived from the "TheStrings" voice of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer.

"In Your Room"
Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Double-tracked "splang" guitar chord A series of four unique guitar chords are utilised as stabs at the start of each bar during the chorus sections of "In Your Room". Wilder describes the composition of this sound in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website:

Affectionately known (to me anyway) as 'Splang' rather than 'twoo, twaa and twee', the sound is derived from a guitar. Each chord was sampled individually and then double-tracked with a second but different guitar sound. There is also a string/choir pad (another backwards sound) playing the same chords in the background.[27]

Textured ambient noise pad (looped) A textured loop used sporadically during the intro and first verse of "In Your Room" is a brief sample of ambient noise with audible wind chimes in the background, which produces a "grainy" textured pad when reversed. The sample is reversed and subsequently looped, then transposed down several notes from its original key.
Vocal "ahhs" samples A series of self-made solo vocal "ahh" samples are layered with a selection of samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #33 "Voices" to produce a lush choir used during the second verse of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional and Global Spirit tours. Notably, these vocal parts are also utilised for the outro choir melody of "Enjoy The Silence", a quietly-mixed melody in the outro of "World In My Eyes", choir stabs during the first chorus of "Halo", "Sibeling", "Policy Of Truth", and the solo vocal melody prominently used throughout "Memphisto".

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Drum loop Rusty Bryant - "Fire Eater" - 1971
Confirmed
A drum break derived from Rusty Bryant's "Fire Eater" is heard throughout "In Your Room" starting from the second verse. The loop is sequenced to play in a different way from how it was originally performed:
  1. Bar one: The loop repeats on every beat for three beats, and is then allowed to play uninterrupted for the last two beats
  2. Bar two: The loop repeats on every beat for two beats, and is then allowed to play uninterrupted for the last three beats
  3. Bar three: The loop is allowed to play uninterrupted for the entirety of bar three
  4. Bar four: The loop repeats on every beat for two beats, and is then allowed to play uninterrupted for the last three beats

The resulting sequence is looped to repeat every four bars throughout the verses and chorus sections. As the verse sections of the album version of "In Your Room" include an additional bar following the fourth line to accommodate Martin Gore's ethereal vocal "ahs", the timing of the loop relative to the music changes naturally as the verse progresses, lending a "live" quality to the sequenced loop.

Variphon pad Talk Talk - "The Rainbow" - 1988
Confirmed
'In Your Room' employs a variophon pad derived from the left stereo channel of Talk Talk's "The Rainbow".[27] The resulting pad is looped and played with a slow release during the first verse and outro of "In Your Room". Notably, a distorted version of this sample is used during the final verse of "Mercy In You".[14]

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop Dan Reed Network - "I'm Lonely, Please Stay" - 1989
Confirmed
A loop derived from the intro of "I'm Lonely, Please Stay" by Dan Reed Network is utilised throughout "In Your Room" from the third verse section onwards.

Click to display/hide audio example

Low-octave choir pad Sonic Images Sample Library - Volume 4 - SICD 2028 - Stack Sounds B - Slow Orchestra Pad - "SICD2028-14-04 SLOW ORCHESTRA PAD F#2" - 1990
Confirmed
A low octave choir pad derived from Sonic Images Sample Library - Volume 4 SICD 2028 - Stack Sounds B is utilised during the intro section of "In Your Room".

Click to display/hide audio example

Main choir Emulator II factory library disk #33: Voices - Preset #1: "PompousChoir"
Confirmed
The first and second verse and chorus sections of "In Your Room" as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours feature choir chords derived from Emulator II factory library disk #33 "Voices".

Click to display/hide audio example

Verse two choir Emulator II factory library disk #33: Voices - Preset #1: "PompousChoir" - SAMPLE 7, SAMPLE 8, SAMPLE 9, SAMPLE 10
Confirmed
The stereo choir pads utilised during the second verse section as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours are comprised of a selection of four choir samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #33 "Voices".

Click to display/hide audio example

Middle eight/outro strings Emulator II factory library disk #33: Voices - Preset #1: "PompousChoir" - SAMPLE 7, SAMPLE 9
Confirmed
The stereo string pads utilised during the middle eight and outro sections as it was performed on the Devotional, Exotic, and Global Spirit tours are comprised of a series of choir, orchestral tremolo strings, and other sustained pads that combine to form a wide, lush orchestral sound. The choir aspect of this sound consists of two samples derived from Emulator II factory library disk #33 "Voices".

Click to display/hide audio example

808 bass drum HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 16 - "808 BD - Long" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited 808 bass drum derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout the intro and first verse sections of "In Your Room".

Click to display/hide audio example

"Get Right With Me" - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Sampled scratch N.W.A - "8 Ball (Remix)" - 1988
Confirmed
"Get Right With Me" utilises a sampled scratch derived from the outro of N.W.A's "8 Ball (Remix)". Notably, this scratch is layered with another scratch sample also derived from N.W.A. for use throughout the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now".
Led Zeppelin "When The Levee Breaks" snare and bass drum Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971
Official
Alan Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project website that "Never Let Me Down Again" among other Depeche Mode songs employ drum elements derived from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks".

"Rush"
Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Chorus section guitar stab Peter Gabriel - "Not One of Us" - 1980
Confirmed
A treated, distorted guitar heard during the chorus sections of "Rush" is derived from a guitar lick heard in the opening moments of "Not One of Us" from Peter Gabriel's 1980 album Peter Gabriel (released in the United States as Peter Gabriel III and on streaming services as Peter Gabriel 3: Melt).

Click to display/hide audio example

Chorus section loop Peter Gabriel - "Not One of Us" - 1980
Confirmed
A treated, distorted guitar loop heard during the chorus sections of "Rush" is derived from the opening moments of Peter Gabriel's "Not One of Us".

Click to display/hide audio example

Verse section guitar wail Peter Gabriel - "Not One of Us" - 1980
Confirmed
A treated, distorted guitar wail heard during the first and second verse sections of "Rush" is derived from the opening moments of Peter Gabriel's "Not One of Us".

Click to display/hide audio example

Verse section guitar chug Peter Gabriel - "Not One of Us" - 1980
Confirmed
A treated, heavy-sounding sampled guitar sample heard during the first and second verse sections of "Rush" is derived from a brief guitar chug heard in the opening moments of Peter Gabriel's "Not One of Us".

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the left stereo channel of the sampled audio from "Not One of Us" is sampled, pitched down several keys, and subsequently processed using a software reverb effect. The result is then sampled again and played back from a keyboard.
Middle eight ambient pad/percussive rhythm Suzanne Vega - "Institution Green" - 1990
Confirmed
A section of ambient pad with sparse percussive elements derived from Suzanne Vega's "Institution Green" is used to atmospheric effect throughout the middle eight section of "Rush".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop Renegade Soundwave - "On TV" - 1989
Confirmed
A section of audio derived from the outro of "On TV" by Renegade Soundwave is utilised as a loop throughout "Rush".

Click to display/hide audio example

Led Zeppelin "When The Levee Breaks" snare and bass drum Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971
Confirmed
A sequenced bass and snare drum pattern audible throughout "Rush" utilises snare and bass drum samples derived from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks".

"Higher Love"
Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
808 bass drum HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 16 - "808 BD - Long" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited 808 bass drum derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "Higher Love".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop U2 - "So Cruel" - 1991
Official
Wilder indirectly confirmed in a response to a question regarding the sonic similarity between the drums of Depeche Mode's "Higher Love" and U2's "So Cruel" in a Q&A on Shunt (the official Recoil website_ that a drum loop from U2's "So Cruel" was sampled for use in "Higher Love" by reiterating that album producer Flood assisted in the production of both records. Depeche Mode would later cover this song, see 'So Cruel'): "Didn't Flood work on both LP's?....."[27]
Middle eight brass staccato Korg 01/W Bank B, voice #22: Brass 1 - SAMPLE "127 F#2" and Bank A, voice #02: OrchBrass - SAMPLE "127 F#3"
Confirmed
The Devotional tour arrangement of "Higher Love" utilises a series of edited brass samples derived from the "Brass 1" and "OrchBrass" voices of the Korg 01/W workstation synthesizer. The samples are layered to form a brass instrument performed during the middle eight section.
Tambourine loop HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 8 (0:40) - "Thick Tambourine Loop - 92 BPM" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited tambourine loop derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "Higher Love".

Click to display/hide audio example

"My Joy"
Depeche Mode
1993
Self-made samples
Sample Notes Audio
Distorted bass hit A distorted bass hit with built-in descending pitch originally recorded as part of the bassline of "I Feel You" is re-purposed for use as a hit in "My Joy". The sample occurs on the beat at bar forty-seven (1:48) at the start of the break, and plays one note above its root key.

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Drum loop Beastie Boys - "Pass The Mic" - 1992
Confirmed
A drum loop heard throughout "My Joy" is derived from the brief instrumental break in Beastie Boys' "Pass The Mic". Additionally, a brief snippet of the drum loop is reversed for use as a drum fill during the first verse section.

The drums as they appear on "Pass The Mic" were originally performed by Mike D (Michael Diamond) during the recording of Check Your Head at G-Son Studios, Atwater Village, California. The late MCA (Adam Yauch) stated in 1999:

One memorable thing about recording "Pass The Mic" was the drums. We had heard that [Led Zeppelin drummer] John Bonham had used a really long kick drum on something and thought it would be interesting to put his technique to the test. Taking full advantage of the size of the G-Son live room/basketball court, we wrapped a long piece of cardboard from a refrigerator box around the kick drum and then put a mic at the far end of it. Mike played the beat, and we looped it.[32]

Orchestral pad (reversed) Willie Hutch - "I Choose You" - 1973
Confirmed
A reversed orchestral pad heard in select chorus sections of "My Joy" is derived from Willie Hutch's 1973 song "I Choose You". The song features on the original soundtrack for the 1973 American film The Mack.

Click to display/hide audio example

Snare drum fill Beastie Boys - "Funky Boss" - 1992
Confirmed
A snare drum fill heard sporadically throughout "My Joy" is derived from the intro of the Beastie Boys' "Funky Boss".
Orchestral strings Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.5 in C sharp minor - 4. Adagietto (Sehr langsam)
Confirmed
"My Joy" employs two looped orchestral phrases sampled from the fourth movement of a performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 Adagietto (Sehr langsam). The two string elements are looped on a sustained phrase to produce dramatic orchestral pads.
Orchestral strings Edward Elgar - Unidentified composition
Confirmed
Wilder confirmed in a 27 July 2011 interview with electricityclub.co.uk that "Halo" (and "My Joy" by extension) employs orchestral string elements sampled from an as yet unidentified piece of music composed by celebrated English composer Edward Elgar:

For the end choruses, there are some string samples which I think were derived from Elgar. One of my techniques is to find sections of classical strings and transpose / stretch these, then add my own samples, in order to formulate new and unusual arrangements. This was a case in point. The DM track "Clean" utilised classical strings in a similar way.[33]

"My Joy" (Slow Slide Mix)
Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Drum loop Beastie Boys - "Pass The Mic" - 1992
Confirmed
A heavy drum loop heard throughout "My Joy" starting from the first chorus section is derived from the brief instrumental break in Beastie Boys' "Pass The Mic". Additionally, a brief snippet of the drum loop is flipped to play in reverse as a reverse drum fill.
Drum loop The Dangerous CD Company - Danger 1 - Track 14 - "2 Echo Loop - 122bpm" - 1991
Confirmed
A drum loop derived from The Dangerous CD Company's 1991 sample CD Danger 1 is utilised throughout "My Joy (Slow Slide Mix)".

In June 2020, elektronauts.com user "Leo-iSL" described participating in the production of Danger 1:

The samples for [Danger 1] were recorded/compiled at a studio in Arnos Grove. The studio was called either Sound Garden or Music Garden Studios (I can't quite remember). A lot of the samples were taken from my own record collection. The guy behind [The Dangerous CD Company] is called Brian Teasdale [...] I first went to his studio around [1991\1992] to record some Hardcore demos. [I] was about 19 years old. When Brian heard the records [I] was sampling from he asked if he could borrow my collection. That's how this sample CD came about. Together with Brian's sister and girlfriend we went to the Frankfurt Musikmesse and launched the CD there.[34]

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop The Dangerous CD Company - Danger 1 - Track 10 - "4 Hip Loop - 121bpm" - 1991
Confirmed
A drum loop derived from The Dangerous CD Company's 1991 sample CD Danger 1 (itself an edit of the famous Fancy "Feel Good" drum break) is utilised throughout "My Joy (Slow Slide Mix)".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop The Dangerous CD Company - Danger 1 - Track 10 - "1 Whine Loop - 105bpm" - 1991
Confirmed
A drum loop derived from The Dangerous CD Company's 1991 sample CD Danger 1 (which is itself an edit of James Brown's famous "Funky Drummer" drum break) is utilised throughout "My Joy (Slow Slide Mix)".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop The Dangerous CD Company - Danger 1 - Track 8 - "3 Soul Rock Loop - 105bpm" - 1991
Confirmed
A drum loop derived from The Dangerous CD Company's 1991 sample CD Danger 1 (originally sampled from Dexter Wansel's famous "Theme From The Planets" drum break) is utilised throughout "My Joy (Slow Slide Mix)".

Click to display/hide audio example

Drum loop Fancy - "Feel Good" - 1974
Confirmed
The famous "Feel Good" drum break is used throughout the "Slow Slide" remix of "My Joy".
Drum loop James Brown - "Funky Drummer" - 1970
Confirmed
Drum loop Dexter Wansel - "Theme From The Planets" - 1976
Confirmed

"Walking In My Shoes" (Ambient Whale Mix)
Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
Whale sound effects HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 64 - "Whale 2", "Whale 5", "Whale 3" - 1991
Confirmed
A series of edited whale vocalization sound effects derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples are utilised throughout "Walking In My Shoes (Ambient Whale Mix)".

Click to display/hide audio example

Main drum loop Innocence - "Natural Thing (Sunset Mix)" - 1990
Confirmed
The main drum loop used throughout "Walking In My Shoes (Ambient Whale Mix)" is derived from the opening moments of the "Sunset Mix" of "Natural Thing" by early 1990s British R&B group Innocence.
808 bass drum HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 16 - "808 BD - Long" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited 808 bass drum derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "Walking In My Shoes (Ambient Whale Mix)".
Tambourine loop HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 8 (0:40) - "Thick Tambourine Loop - 92 BPM" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited tambourine loop derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "Walking In My Shoes (Ambient Whale Mix)".

"Walking In My Shoes" (Grungy Gonads Mix) - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Drum loop Mountain - "Long Red" - 1972
Confirmed
Orchestral string passage Ennio Morricone - "In Chiesa" - Ad Ogni Costo (film) soundtrack - 1967
Official
The string passage in the introduction to this orchestral piece was sampled by the late trip-hop pioneer Jonny Dollar and Portishead member Geoff Barrow.[35] for use in the "Walking In My Shoes (Grungy Gonads Mix)".[14]

"Walking In My Shoes" (Extended Twelve Inch Mix) - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Drum loop The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - "Language Of Violence" - 1992
Confirmed

"Walking In My Shoes" (Random Carpet Mix) - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Orchestral string samples Doctor Zhivago (film) - 1965
Unconfirmed

"Walking In My Shoes (Anandamidic Mix)" - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Drum loop Talking Heads - "Seen And Not Seen" - 1980
Confirmed

"In Your Room" (Jeep Rock Mix) - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Drum loop Skull Snaps - "It's A New Day" - 1973
Confirmed

"I Feel You" (Helmet At The Helm Mix) - Depeche Mode
1993

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
808 bass drum HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples (AMG) - Track 16 - "808 BD - Long" - 1991
Confirmed
An edited 808 bass drum derived from AMG's 1991 sample CD HITCD08 - Pascal Gabriel's Dance Samples is utilised throughout "I Feel You (Helmet At The Helm Mix)".

Ultra (1997)

"It's No Good"
Depeche Mode
1997

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes Audio
"Electricity" sound effect Sony Media Software - Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit (CD/AKAI) - Loops > FX > "Ancient Noise FX 01 78-01" - 1995
Confirmed
An ambient sound effect derived from the "Ancient Noise FX 01 78-01" sample present in Sony Media Software's 1995 Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit is utilised during the middle eight section of "It's No Good" in the moments prior to the repetition of the first verse. The sound effect can be described as an ambient environmental recording of an active electrical circuit or device emitting a buzzing sound while a bubbling effect from nearby laboratory equipment is heard in the background. The sample as heard in the sample library may have originated from a film (likely a horror or monster movie released prior to 1960).

Click to display/hide audio example

Note: In this example, the Methods Of Mayhem: Industrial Toolkit sample is compared to the relevant section of music as heard in the 2006 5.1 version of "It's No Good" as well as the stereo album version.

"Painkiller" - Depeche Mode
1997

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
N/A Vanessa Paradis - "The Future Song" - 1992
Unconfirmed

"It's No Good" (Hardfloor Mix) - Depeche Mode
1997

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
Drum elements Fat Larry's Band - "Down In The Avenue" - 1976
Confirmed
Credit to Christopher Baird for this discovery.[14]

"Useless" (The Kruder & Dorfmeister Session) - Depeche Mode
1997
Self-made samples
Sample Notes
Slide guitar stab A slide guitar stab originally recorded for use in "Policy Of Truth" is utilised throughout the "Kruder & Dorfmeister Session" remix of "Useless".

"Useless" (Cosmic Blues Mix) - Depeche Mode
1997

Sample sources
Sample Source Status Notes
"I want to hear you play some bass" vocal sample National Lampoon's That's Not Funny, That's Sick (Sketch comedy album) - 1977
Likely

References

  1. Source: SHUNT : ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : BLACK CELEBRATION
  2. Credit to 'personal cheese' for this discovery.
  3. Source: Muzines.co.uk : Articles : Modes Of Operation (Electronics & Music Maker, August 1986)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Source: SHUNT : ARCHIVES : EDITORIAL : 1998 Archives : DM Singles 86-98
  5. Source: Modes of Operation - Electronics & Music Maker - August 1986.
  6. Source: Emulator I - The Alan Wilder / Depeche Mode Collection.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Source: Electronics and Music Magazine
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Source: Super Deluxe Edition July 4, 2019 Producer Dave Bascombe on Depeche Mode's 'Music For The Masses'
  9. 9.0 9.1 Source: Depeche Mode - Interview with Music For The Masses Producer Dave Bascombe - Piano & Keyboard Artist - 22 April, 2020
  10. Source: SHUNT : ARCHIVES : EDITORIAL : 1998 Archives : DM Singles 86-98
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : MUSIC FOR THE MASSES
  12. Source: archives.depechemode.com - DM Archives / audio / releases / Strangelove
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : VIOLATOR
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Credit to Christopher Baird for this discovery.
  15. Credit to "Heiko Brune" for this discovery.
  16. Source: SHUNT : ARCHIVES : REPORT : EDITORIAL : VIOLATOR
  17. Daley, Dan (1 March 2001). "Classic Tracks: Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy"".
  18. Source: ALAN WILDER Interview - July 27, 2011
  19. Source: SHUNT : ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : VIOLATOR : PAGE TWO
  20. Source: Recoil - Jezebel (Seductress Mix) by Ehron VonAllen with collaboration details 1080p HD - Ehron VonAllen
  21. Source: 2016-01-25 The RobCast 2016-01-25 Martin Gore interview
  22. Credit to Home user 'Alex' for this discovery.
  23. Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : VIOLATOR
  24. Credit to 'Fatherless Child' for this discovery.
  25. Source: Home user 'BRATMix' forum post
  26. Source: Violator engineer Steve Lyon Facebook post.
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES  : DEPECHE MODE  : SONGS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION
  28. Alan Wilder - "Q&A - ARCHIVES  : PERSONAL  : ENTERTAINMENT - film / television / theatre" - oldsite.recoil.co.uk
  29. Source: Discogs - Shostakovich*, Gubaidulina* ‎– Shostakovich: Quartet No. 15, Op. 144 · Gubaidulina: Rejoice! - Notes: Shostakovich: recorded in live performance at the Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York, 1985. Gubaidulina: recorded at the Methuen Music Hall, Methuen, Massachusetts, 1988
  30. Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : EDITORIAL : DM Singles 86-98
  31. Source: "Depeche Mode" - Musician - October 1993.
  32. Source: Beastiemania Song Spotlight : Pass The Mic
  33. Source: ALAN WILDER Interview - July 27, 2011
  34. elektronauts.com - What was your first studio recording experience - User "Leo-iSL", June 15, 2020
  35. Source: Alan Wilder Facebook comment