List of Recoil sample sources by album
In audio production, sampling refers to the use of a portion (or sample) from a sound within another recording. During Alan Wilder's tenure with the group, Depeche Mode were among the most prolific acts to make use of sampling technology within a traditional pop music format. Following his departure from Depeche Mode in 1995, Wilder would continue to employ sampling as a means to enhance the atmosphere of his music through the Recoil project, including passages of contemporary music, film soundtracks, sample library audio, and samples from his past work with Depeche Mode. The analysis of these sample sources and how they are manipulated is a popular topic of discussion amongst fans of both groups.
Glossary Terms used in this article |
Information
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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. | |||
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The sample is independently confirmed to have been used in the specified song. | |||
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The sample is likely to have been used in the specified song but has not yet been confirmed. | |||
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The sample is not yet confirmed to have been used in the specified song. | |||
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The sample is confirmed to not have been used in the specified song. | |||
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It is unclear if the sample was used in the specified song. |
This page aims to document all verifiable sound sources for many of the musical parts utilised by Alan Wilder for the Recoil music project in the production of its studio albums, official remixes, live performances, and other works.
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 across the world. This article serves to provide 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 the production of the music described on this page, audio samples that lack official confirmation are not guaranteed to be accurate.
This article differentiates samples by their origin: Self-made samples, which describes any material originally recorded by Depeche Mode or Alan Wilder for the Recoil music project, and Sourced samples, which describe samples which were not originally recorded by either group. In addition to confirmed samples, this article also covers samples that are commonly misreported as having been used but have been directly refuted by a member or associate of Depeche Mode or Recoil.
As ever, if you notice an error, wish to contribute or request the removal of information contained within this article, please feel free to contact us.
1 + 2 (1986)
"1" & "2" - Recoil 1986
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
N/A | Depeche Mode – "Any Second Now" (Altered) - 1981 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "If You Want" - 1984 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "The Sun & The Rainfall" - 1982 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Oberkorn (It's A Small Town)" - 1982 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "The Great Outdoors" - 1983 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Shouldn't Have Done That" - 1982 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Tora! Tora! Tora!" - 1981 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Shake The Disease" (Edit the Shake) - 1985 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Pipeline" - 1983 |
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N/A | Depeche Mode – "Blasphemous Rumours" - 1984 |
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N/A | Kraftwerk – "Radioaktivität" - 1975 |
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N/A | Kraftwerk – "Uran" - 1975 |
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N/A | Kraftwerk – "Radioland" - 1975 |
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N/A | Duet Emmo – "Or So It Seems" - 1983 |
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N/A | Duet Emmo – "Heart of Hearts" - 1983 |
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N/A | The Hitmen – "Shade in, fade out" - 1981 |
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N/A | Hard Corps - "Je Suis Passée" - 1985 |
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Hydrology (1988)
"Grain"
"Grain" - Recoil 1988 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Bell-like outro "ping" | 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 played sporadically throughout the orchestral outro of "Grain". Notably, this sound is also used in "Strangelove", "Never Let Me Down Again", "Behind The Wheel", and "Route 66".
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"Stone"
"Stone" - Recoil 1988
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
French vocal sample | French train announcer, unidentified source |
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Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil website that "Stone" employs a vocal sample of a French train station announcer, but is unsure of its origin.[1] The announcer says: "Attention! Attention! Quai n°5, départ imminent du Nord-Express à destination de Moscou [...]"
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"The Sermon"
"The Sermon" Recoil 1988 |
Self-made samples | ||||
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Sample | Notes | Audio | |||
Polish vocal sample | A vocal sample from a Polish radio broadcast reporting on Pope John Paul II's 9 June 1987 sermon in Warsaw can be heard in the introduction of "The Sermon". Wilder commented on the origin of this sample in a 2008 interview for komarnicki.pl: "I put the microphone on the shortwave radio, I tried to catch some climatic samples and that was the first thing that happened. I had no idea what they were saying! I liked the sound but it wasn't meant to be an integral part of the track, just atmosphere."[2] The two audio samples state:
English Google translation:
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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 throughout "The Sermon" starting from approximately the five minute thirty-second mark. Notably, these bass guitar parts are also used during the chorus sections of the album version and throughout the single version of "Strangelove". |
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Sample sources | |||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | Audio | |
Tribal chanting | Charles Duvelle, Jean-Pierre Martin, Jacques M'bilo - Musique centrafricaine - "Chant Dakpa pour l'Abbatage d'un arbre" - 1962 |
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A section of audio derived from "Chant Dakpa pour l'Abbatage d'un arbre" as recorded by Charles Duvelle, Jean-Pierre Martin, and Jacques M'bilo for the 1962 Ocora release Musique centrafricaine is utilised throughout the outro of "The Sermon". | Click to display/hide audio example | |
Woodwind instrumentation | Charles Duvelle, Jean-Pierre Martin, Jacques M'bilo - Musique centrafricaine - "Musique de chasse Babinga" - 1962 |
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A section of audio derived from "Musique de chasse Babinga" as recorded by Charles Duvelle, Jean-Pierre Martin, and Jacques M'bilo for the 1962 Ocora release Musique centrafricaine is utilised throughout the outro of "The Sermon". | ||
Snare accent | Michael Siegel - The Sounds Of The Office - "Postage Meter And Enveloppe Sealer" - 1964 |
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A mechanical sound derived from "Postage Meter And Enveloppe Sealer" as featured on the 1964 Folksways Records field recording album The Sounds Of The Office. | ||
"Buzzy" synth drone | Emulator II factory library disk #37: Electric Guitar - Preset #3: "LoopedGuitar", SAMPLE 5, SAMPLE 9 |
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Two muted harmonic guitar pluck samples derived from the Emulator II factory library disk #37 "Electric Guitar" are individually looped with a tight loop point and layered together to form the "buzzy" monophonic synth drone audible throughout "The Sermon". |
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Bloodline (1992)
- Main article: List of Recoil sample sources by album/Bloodline
Unsound Methods (1997)
- Main article: List of Recoil sample sources by album/Unsound Methods
Liquid (2000)
- Main article: List of Recoil sample sources by album/Liquid
SubHuman (2007)
"Allelujah"
"Allelujah" - Recoil 2007 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Double-tracked "splang" guitar chords | The double-tracked guitar chords originally recorded for use during the chorus sections of "In Your Room" are re-purposed for use throughout "Allelujah". 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."[4]
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Synth arpeggio and pad | Tangerine Dream - "Rubycon, Part One" - 1975 |
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"Allelujah" employs a manipulated sample of a synth arpeggio derived from Tangerine Dream's "Rubycon, Part One". | |
Drum loop | Elbow - "Fugitive Motel" - 2003 |
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"5000 Years"
5000 Years - Recoil 2007
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Arabic singing with orchestral instrumentation | Eric Martinez, Pascal Morel - Earth: Travels & Documentaries - "Mirage" - 1995 |
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A reversed section of audio featuring Arabic vocal stylings and orchestral instrumentation derived from "Mirage", a piece of production music featured on the 1995 Universal Production Music CD Earth: Travels & Documentaries, is utilised in the outro of "5000 Years (A Romanian Elegy For Strings)". | |
Military marching, chanting | Jac Holzman - Authentic Sound Effects Volume 7 - "Precision Drill Team Sounds Off" - 1964 |
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A sample of military marching and chanting utilised mid-way through "5000 Years" is derived from "Precision Drill Team Sounds Off", a military field recording by Jac Holzman originally featured on the 1964 sound effect LP Authentic Sound Effects Volume 7. | |
Military marching, chanting | Jac Holzman - Authentic Sound Effects Volume 7 - "Manual Of Arms" - 1964 |
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A sample of standard military manual of arms parade drill utilised in the outro of "5000 Years" is derived from "Manual Of Arms", a military field recording by Jac Holzman originally featured on the 1964 sound effect LP Authentic Sound Effects Volume 7.
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"The Killing Ground"
"The Killing Ground" - Recoil 2007
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Clarinet melody | Juan Tizol, Joe Lippman, Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra - "Caravan" - 1937 |
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A descending clarinet harmony derived from Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra's 1937 recording of "Caravan" is utilised in the intro of "The Killing Ground". | |
Harmonica and drum elements | Talk Talk - "The Rainbow" - 1988 |
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"99 To Life"
- Recoil 2007
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
N/A | Digital Intervention - "La Louve" - 2003 |
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B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
5000 Years (A Romanian Elegy For Strings)
5000 Years (A Romanian Elegy For Strings) - Recoil 2010
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Arabic singing with orchestral instrumentation | Eric Martinez, Pascal Morel - Earth: Travels & Documentaries - "Mirage" - 1995 |
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A reversed section of audio featuring Arabic vocal stylings and orchestral instrumentation derived from "Mirage", a piece of production music featured on the 1995 Universal Production Music CD Earth: Travels & Documentaries, is utilised in the outro of "5000 Years (A Romanian Elegy For Strings)".
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Other works
Ebbhead (1991)
Between the conclusion of the World Violation Tour and the recording of Songs Of Faith And Devotion, Alan Wilder would enter London's KONK Studios to record Recoil's Bloodline between January and March 1991. A month later, he would return to the studio to produce Depeche Mode support act Nitzer Ebb's Ebbhead record in collaboration with producer Flood and mix engineer Steve Lyon. As was characteristic of his work in Depeche Mode and Recoil, Wilder would employ samples from a wide variety of sources in the production of Ebbhead.
Nitzer Ebb's Bon Harris on Wilder's musical prowess in 1991: "Alan has a very musical ear. He's classically trained, so he knows what he's doing when it comes to melody, but has no tolerance for pop - that's quite a good combination."[5]
"Lakeside Drive"
"Lakeside Drive" - Nitzer Ebb 1991 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Cymbal crash with descending pitch | "Lakeside Drive" utilises a cymbal crash originally used throughout "Never Let Me Down Again". | |||
Synth bass | A synth bass part originally recorded for use with "Sweetest Perfection" is used throughout "Lakeside Drive".
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"I Give To You"
- Nitzer Ebb 1991 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Harpsichord-like instrument | "I Give To You" utilises a textured harpsichord-like stab originally recorded for use in "Enjoy The Silence". | |||
Synth bass | "I Give To You" employs a sampled synth bass part throughout its verse sections. Notably, this sound would later be used in the Exotic tour arrangement of "I Want You Now" starting from the third verse.
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Drum loop | Fancy - "Feel Good" - 1974 |
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The classic "Feel Good" drum break is used throughout "I Give To You". This loop is also notably used in the chorus sections of "Walking In My Shoes", "My Joy", and its "Slow Slide" remix. | |
John Bonham drum one-shots | Beastie Boys - "Rhymin' And Stealin" - 1986 |
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Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project site that "Never Let Me Down Again" employs some drum elements originally from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks" which were sampled second-hand from a rap record (Beastie Boys - "Rhymin And Stealin"). These samples were later re-purposed for use in a variety of Depeche Mode songs. The snare is used throughout "I Give To You". | |
Classic John Bonham drum one-shots | Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971 |
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Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on the official Recoil project site that "Never Let Me Down Again" employs some drum elements originally from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks" which were sampled second-hand from a rap record (Beastie Boys - "Rhymin And Stealin"). These samples were later re-purposed for use in Depeche Mode's "Halo", "Get Right With Me", and later Nitzer Ebb's "I Give To You". | |
Orchestral hit, pads | Barry Adamson - "The Man with the Golden Arm" - 1989 |
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A sampled orchestral hit and pad derived from the latter half of Barry Adamson's 1989 cover of "The Man with the Golden Arm" is utilised following the second chorus section of "I Give To You".
Credit to Ricardo López for this discovery. | |
Various one-shot orchestral strings | Unknown, presumably an orchestral performance recorded and commercially released prior to 1991 |
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"I Give To You" utilises a variety of one-shot orchestral string parts, including a solo violin string staccato with a root key of C5; a brief solo viola recording playing a descending A4 > A♭4 > G4 phrase; and a brief violin trill with a root key of G♯6. | |
Exotic percussion loop | Unknown |
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"I Give To You" utilises an "exotic" percussive loop comprised of a percussive instrument with a high pitch timbre, best heard around the three minute mark of the "Elemental" remix. This loop appears to also be used throughout "In Your Room", and is most clearly heard in the "Apex" remix starting from 1:45.
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"Sugar Sweet"
"Sugar Sweet" - Nitzer Ebb 1991 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Reverberated piano stab | "Sugar Sweet" employs a one-shot sample of a piano stab processed with heavy reverb. Notably, this sound would later be used throughout "Get Right With Me".
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"DJVD"
"DJVD" - Nitzer Ebb 1991
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
"Wailing" synth siren | N.W.A - "Dopeman (Remix)" - 1988 |
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"DJVD" employs a manipulated sample of a "wailing" synth siren sound derived from the intro of the 1988 N.W.A song "Dopeman (Remix)".
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"Time"
"Time" - Nitzer Ebb 1991
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Variphon pad | Talk Talk - "The Rainbow" - 1988 |
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"Time" employs a Variophon pad with a unique distorted texture derived from Talk Talk's "The Rainbow" (approximately 0:55). Notably, this sample is also used during the first verse and outro of "In Your Room", as well as the third verse section of "Mercy In You".
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"Ascend"
"Ascend" - Nitzer Ebb 1991 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Metallic clap | A resonant, metallic clap sample is utilised throughout "Ascend". Notably, this sample would later see use in the Devotional tour arrangement of "Enjoy The Silence". | |||
"Watery" piano stab | "Ascend" utilises a textured, "watery"-sounding piano stab originally recorded for use with "Waiting For The Night".
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Guitar hook | Television - "Marquee Moon" - 1 April 1977 |
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"Ascend" utilises a sampled guitar hook derived from American rock band Television's 1977 song "Marquee Moon", recorded for the debut album of the same name.
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"Godhead"
"Godhead" - Nitzer Ebb 1991
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Drum/synth loop | Kraftwerk - "Home Computer (The Mix Version)" - 1991 |
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"Trigger Happy"
"Trigger Happy" - Nitzer Ebb 1991
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
"When The Levee Breaks" snare drum | Beastie Boys - "Rhymin' And Stealin" - 1986 |
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Wilder confirmed in a Q&A on Shunt, the official Recoil project site that "Never Let Me Down Again" employs some drum elements originally from Led Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks" which were sampled second-hand from a rap record (Beastie Boys - "Rhymin And Stealin"). These samples were later re-purposed for use in a variety of Depeche Mode songs. The snare is used throughout "Trigger Happy". | |
"When The Levee Breaks" snare drum | Led Zeppelin - "When The Levee Breaks" - 1971 |
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Unidentified song - Nitzer Ebb 1991
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
N/A | Prince - "Kiss" - 1990 |
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In 1991, a fan contest was held where the winner would have the chance to spend a day in the studio with the members of Nitzer Ebb and Wilder during the recording of Ebbhead. During their time in the studio, the contest winner was played back a variety of samples by the group to see if they were able to identify their origin. One sample played to the contest winner was from Prince's 1990 single "Kiss", which the fan had difficulty identifying. This sample may or may not have made it onto the completed album.
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Spirit of Talk Talk (2012)
"Dum Dum Girl feat. Shara Worden"
"Dum Dum Girl feat. Shara Worden" - Recoil 2012
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Reversed orchestral ambience | A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours: Music from the Motion Picture - "Acid Darbari" - 2 November 2010 |
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A reversed section of audio derived from "Acid Darbari" by A.R. Rahman as featured on the 2010 127 Hours film soundtrack is utilised in the intro of the 2012 Recoil cover of "Dum Dum Girl". | |
Percussion elements | Depeche Mode - "Nothing's Impossible" - 2005 |
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"Inheritance"
"Inheritance" - Recoil 2012
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Percussion elements | Depeche Mode - "Nothing's Impossible" - 2005 |
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Miscellaneous works
"Time Turns Around" (Eurotech Version) - Toni Halliday 1989 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Bass synth | Alan Wilder's (Eurotech Version) remix of Toni Halliday's "Time Turns Around" utilises a four-note bass synth sequence derived from a longer seven note sequence originally recorded for use throughout Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again".
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Snare drum | Fine Young Cannibals - "She Drives Me Crazy" - 26 December 1988 |
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A manipulated snare drum audible likely derived from the opening moments of the Fine Young Cannibals 1988 single "She Drives Me Crazy" is utilised throughout the "Eurotech" remix of "Time Turns Around". 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.[6] Notably, this sound would later be used throughout Depeche Mode's "Halo". | |
Piano/bass guitar stab | Emulator III OMI Universe of Sounds Volume 1 - Funk Bass |
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A bass guitar stab heard throughout the "Eurotech" remix of "Time Turns Around" is likely derived from the Emulator III Universe Of Sounds Volume 1 voice "Funk Bass". Notably, this sound would later see use throughout Depeche Mode's "Policy Of Truth".
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"Come Alive" - Nitzer Ebb 1990
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Rhythmic synth | Bassomatic - "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass" - 1990 |
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A filtered rhythm element derived from a synthesizer heard in the intro of the 1990 Bassomatic song "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass" for the album of the same name is time-stretched and re-pitched for use in "Come Alive" starting from the four minute ten second mark.[7]
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"In Chains (Alan Wilder Remix)" - Depeche Mode 2011 |
Self-made samples | |||
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Sample | Notes | |||
Bass element | A textured bass element originally recorded for Depeche Mode's "Black Celebration" is confirmed by Wilder as having been re-purposed for his remix of "In Chains".
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Ambient pads | Depeche Mode - "I Want It All" - 2005 |
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A synthesized pad phrase originally recorded for Depeche Mode's "I Want It All" is confirmed by Wilder as having been re-purposed for his remix of "In Chains". | |
Orchestral strings | Depeche Mode - "I Am You" - 2001 |
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An orchestral string passage originally recorded for Depeche Mode's "I Am You" is confirmed by Wilder as having been re-purposed for his remix of "In Chains". | |
Orchestral strings | Massive Attack - "Paradise Circus" - 2010 |
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A series of orchestral string phrases derived from "Paradise Circus" by Massive Attack is likely utilised in the outro of the Alan Wilder remix of "In Chains". | |
Drum loop | UNKLE - "Keys to the Kingdom" - 2007 |
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"I Am Undone (Alan Wilder Remix)" - Nitzer Ebb 2011
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Sample sources | ||||
Sample | Source | Status | Notes | |
Percussion elements | Scott Walker - "Manhattan" - 1995 |
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References
- ↑ Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : Recoil : 1 + 2 / HYDROLOGY
- ↑ Sources: Interview with Alan Wilder for Wyborcza Poland, 2010-04-19 + Interview with Alan Wilder for devotees.pl, 2008-02-21
- ↑ Transcribed by Aleksandra Lech for DMLiveWiki on 2019-07-30
- ↑ Source: Shunt Q&A: ARCHIVES : DEPECHE MODE : SONGS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION
- ↑ Source: American Radio History : Archive: 1991-07-05
- ↑ Daley, Dan (1 March 2001). "Classic Tracks: Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy"".
- ↑ Credit to 'Fatherless Child' for this discovery.