Ice Machine

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Ice Machine
Single-Dreaming.jpg
Song Ice Machine
By Depeche Mode
Songwriter Vince Clarke
Produced by Depeche Mode
Daniel Miller
Recorded at Blackwing Studios (London)
Length (mm:ss) 3:54 (fade-out version)
4:06 (cold end version)
Tempo 135 BPM
Time signature 4
4
Key A Minor
Engineered by Eric Radcliffe
John Fryer
Photography Brian Griffin
Originally released 20 February 1981
Live performances as Depeche Mode 134 times *
Total live performances 134 times *

"Ice Machine" is a song recorded by Depeche Mode during the production of the 1981 album Speak & Spell. It was released as a B-side on the 'Dreaming Of Me' single on 20 February 1981.

Summer 1980 demo tape

Andrew Fletcher plays bass guitar on this demo. Dave Gahan sings "The ice machine, the ice machine" at the end of the song. He also does this at 1980-10-30 Bridge House, London, England, UK, but not at the next concert with an available recording at 1980-11-14 Technical College, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, England, UK, nor at any other concert in the future.

Lyrics


Ice Machine

Running through my head secretly

The shouts of the boys in the factory

I ring you on the telephone silently

Like blood, like the wine in the darkroom scene


The darkroom scene

Darkroom scene


A letter

Once composed

Seven years long and as tall as a tree

Reading

On the wall

Emissions, efficiency


Efficiency

Efficiency


Resurrect

As a feeling

On my window

Of a past reunion


Resurrect

As a feeling

On my window

Of a past reunion

Vision

Of a picture

Like the city

And the air we breathe


The air we breathe

Air we breathe


She stood beside me once again

I knew her face

We met before in the street

Recalling all the children dancing at our feet


The dancing feet, dancing feet


Songwriter: Vince Clarke
Publishing Information: ©1981 Musical Moments Ltd./Sony Music Publishing Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Live performances

Main article: Available recordings of "Ice Machine"
Main article: List of dates where "Ice Machine" was played

Live versions

This section provides examples of live versions of Ice Machine from each tour that it was played. The recordings from 1981-09-29 Paris, 1982-02-21 Glasgow and 1984-11-02 London are generally regarded as the best sounding versions out of these examples.

1980 Tour

1981 Tour

1982 See You Tour

1984-1985 Some Great Reward Tour


1981-1985: Ice MachineShoutAny Second NowNow, This Is FunOberkorn (It's A Small Town)The Great OutdoorsWork HardFoolsIn Your Memory(Set Me Free) Remotivate MeFlexibleFly On The Windscreen
1986-1989: But Not TonightBreathing In FumesBlack DayChristmas IslandAgent OrangePimpfPleasure, Little TreasureRoute 66StjärnaSonata No. 14 in CDangerous
1990-1998: MemphistoSibelingKaleidHappiest Girl (Jack Mix)Sea Of Sin (Tonal Mix)My JoyDeath's DoorPainkillerSlowblowSurrenderHeadstar
2001-2009: Easy TigerDirtZenstationFreeNewbornBetter DaysOh Well
2013-2017: All That's Mine
2000-2008: New York NightsDon't Look Back
2003-2008: Stand UpMaybeCloserTomorrowLove Will Leave
2003-2015: Life Is StrangeLeft Hand Luke And The Beggar BoysDe NadaGifting