Wrangler Sparked: Modular Remix Project

"Wrangler Sparked: Modular Remix Project

(Modular remixes by Daniel Miller, Chris Carter, Alessandro Cortini & more. Including David Burraston Mus IIC remix on the Hinton Muisc Lab!). Release date: 24/6/2016

Limted 750 copies double vinyl LP + CD"

"Wrangler’s new remix album features 11 modular synthesizer re-workings of tracks from their 2014 debut album, LA Spark.

Featuring remixes by the likes of Mute founder & The Normal’s Daniel Miller, Chris Carter from Chris & Cosey, Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails) and Scanner, all the artists were sent the same original proposal by Wrangler at the start of the project: ‘Wrangler would like to ask you to submit an experimental piece of music for inclusion on an album entitled Modular Remix. The idea is very simple. We provide some basic stems from a track selected by you from our debut album LA Spark and you add whatever sounds you like - the only rule being that you use just one analog modular synthesiser system of your choice. We've approached you because we admire your passion and commitment to electronic music, and we hope you will be interested in taking part.’

The result is an album which flows across four sides of vinyl, from the locked down electro-dancefloor rhythm of Daniel Miller’s ‘Theme From Wrangler’, through the darker, brutalist shapes of Chris Carter’s eight minute ‘Lava Land’ opus and into schizo-synth pop (Dean Honer – I Monster, Eccentronic Research Council), abstract ambient beauty (Alessandro Cortini), dark dub (Solvent) and finally the brooding 14 minute masterpiece of Wrangler’s own remix, ‘Theme Meme’.

01 - Abul Mogard - Mus IIC

02 - Daniel Miller - Theme From Wrangler
03 - Steve Moore - Harder

04 - Scanner - LA Spark

05 - Chris Carter - Lava Land

06 - Dean Honer - Space Ace

07 - Alessandro Cortini - Modern World
08 - Benge - Peace & Love

09 - Solvent - Harder

10 - David Burraston - Mus IIC

11 – Wrangler - Theme Meme"

One track from the release on Vimeo:


Wrangler / Theme From Wrangler [Daniel Miller mix] from disco_r.dance on Vimeo.

Theme From Wrangler [Daniel Miller mix]

taken from the "Sparked, Modular Remix Project"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Superbooth Berlin Live Streams

SUPERBOOTH21 DAY1 - First Part video upload by Superbooth Berlin

"Because of internet problems of the event location, the livestream 1 had to be cancelled on 15. Sept. We have now replaced the incomplete livestream with the full length recording! ENJOY!

TABLE OF CONTENT
0:00:00 Welcome Andreas SCHNEIDER/Jörg SUNDERKÖTTER
0:03:26 VGK (=Virtuelles Gesprächskonzert) AFA - ADITIJA
0:21:59 Short Film about and interview with GAMMON (Modular Synth. Ensemble)
0:31:41 Report: Superbooth21/Outdoors
0:32:21 VGK* NOISE ENGINEERING
0:55:03 Daniel MILLER (MUTE) interviews Yann TIERSEN
1:04:40 Report Obergeschoss
1:06:43 GK* (=Gesprächskonzert) Haken AUDIO
1:32:14 Report Westflügel
Miller-Zillmer-Foundation presents:
1:34:18 Miller-Zillmer-Foundation Talk with Diane Zillmer, Daniel Miller, Nicolas, Bougaieff, A. Schneider starting with a performance by Gammon/MODULAR SYNTH. ENSEMBLE
2:39:44 3 min of Yann TIERSEN LIVE @ SUPERBOOTH 21"

SUPERBOOTH21 DAY2 - livestream start 4 pm


TABLE OF CONTENT
0:00:00 Welcome Andreas SCHNEIDER/Jörg SUNDERKÖTTER
0:08:04 METASONIX (VGK)
0:27:30 U-HE (GK)
0:39:08 QUANALOGUE (VGK)
1:15:27 Daniel MILLER (MUTE) interviews Hackedepiciotto
1:25:29 Interview with Marteen Vos
1:36:18 Reinhold Heil Waldorf (VGK)
1:58:33 Modor (GK)
2:30:56 Talk with Jean-Michel Jarre
3:01:24 Ploytec DoBroMan (GK)

SUPERBOOTH21 DAY3 - livestream start 4 pm

TABLE OF CONTENT
0:00:00 Welcome Andreas SCHNEIDER/Jörg SUNDERKÖTTER
0:12:07 Ken McBeth (VGK)
0:35:43 Bitwig (GK)
0:57:58 Acid Rain (VGK)
1:17:32 Daniel MILLER (MUTE) interviews JakoJako & Annalise Van Even
1:30:32 Interview Bernd Kistenmacher
1:41:35 L-1 (VGK)
2:10:16 LPZW & Tubbutec (GK)
2:31:05 Talk with Gareth Jones u.a.
3:20:50 Nonlinear Labs (GK)

SUPERBOOTH21 DAY4 - livestream start 4 pm


TABLE OF CONTENT
0:00:00 Welcome Andreas SCHNEIDER/Jörg SUNDERKÖTTER
0:06:15 Tom Oberheim (VGK)
0:30:25 VERBOS (GK)
0:51:06 Meng Qi (VGK)
1:11:38 Daniel MILLER (MUTE) interviews POLE
1:20:22 Interview with Carolina EYCK
1:30:38 endorphines (VGK)
2:04:54 Polend (GK)
2:26:06 Talk with Atom TM/Uwe Schmidt
3:17:51 Erica Synths (GK)
3:34:30 pyrolator -the trip

DANIEL MILLER (Slices Feature)

Published on Oct 7, 2014

"EB.TV #31 - 07.10.2014

Daniel Miller has earned his place among the most influential figures in the music business from the last three or four decades. Throughout his career, Miller has often showed great vision and an excellent taste in music; he founded the legendary Mute Label, discovered and produced Depeche Mode, signed classic acts like Throbbing Gristle, Fad Gadget, Erasure, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds as well as contemporary greats such as Moby, Goldfrapp, The Knife.

For this Slices feature on Electronic Beats TV we had the honor of joining him in his Berlin home.

Find more SLICES videos here:
http://www.electronicbeats.tv
http://www.electronicbeats.net

Link:
http://mute.com"

More posts featuring Daniel Miller

Dirty Electronics Mute Synth - One of 3 Heavily Modded for Auction

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"Dirty Electronics Mute Synth
Custom (Warm) Leatherette Mod by A.S.M.O.

The Mute Synth is a hand held touch controlled synthesizer originally commissioned by Mute Records for the Mute Short Circuit weekend at the Roundhouse, London in May 2011. http://mute.com/mute/the-mute-synth

This is one of 3 heavily modified versions built by myself with additional features and controls, the first was built as a commission for Mute Records founder Daniel Miller hence the Leatherette. Daniel asked me to build him one after seeing an earlier modified version I built here.

THIS IS THE LAST ONE I AM SELLING

The Mute Synth features 2 oscillators, feedback and a pulser / sequencer controlled by touch panels and tilt switches, in this modified version all the touch panels are wired to control knobs and switches for stable tuning and accurate control and housed in a wooden case, the front and rear panels are covered in black leatherette.
Added to each of the oscillators and feedback is an LFO (3 in total) for modulation with rate, wave shape and depth controls.

Also added is a voltage controlled (CV input via a 1/4 jack socket on the rear panel) low / band pass filter with resonance and cut off knobs, filter self oscillates at full resonance.

The Mute Synth itself is powered by a coin cell and additional circuitry powered from 9v PP3 battery, compartment in rear panel.

This one is identical to the one built for Daniel Miller except for the weathering patina on the Mute synth and different style knobs.
Pictures of Daniel's mod and control diagram can be viewed on my Blog, Facebook page or on Flickr"

Video previously posted here.

Dirty Electronics Mute Synth Custom (Warm) Leatherette Mod by A.S.M.O.

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

- video at the auction & previously posted here. via the seller in the listing: "The Mute Synth is a hand held touch controlled synthesizer originally commissioned by Mute Records for the Mute Short Circuit weekend at the Roundhouse, London in May 2011. http://mute.com/mute/the-mute-synth

This is one of 3 heavily modified versions built by myself with additional features and controls, the first was built as a commission for Mute Records founder Daniel Miller (hence the Leatherette), this one which I am selling and the 3rd which I am keeping for myself. Daniel asked me to build him one after seeing an earlier modified version I built here.

The Mute Synth features 2 oscillators, feedback and a pulser / sequencer controlled by touch panels and tilt switches, in this modified version all the touch panels are wired to control knobs and switches for stable tuning and accurate control and housed in a wooden case, the front and rear panels are covered in black leatherette. Added to each of the oscillators and feedback is an LFO (3 in total) for modulation with rate, wave shape and depth controls.

Also added is a voltage controlled (CV input via a 1/4 jack socket on the rear panel) low / band pass filter with resonance and cut off knobs, filter self oscillates at full resonance.

The Mute Synth itself is powered by a coin cell and additional circuitry powered from 9v PP3 battery, compartment in rear panel.

This one is identical to the one built for Daniel Miller except for the different style knobs and weathering patina on the Mute synth. Pictures of Daniel's mod and control diagram can be viewed on my Facebook page or on Flickr"

DX5 playing "Warm Leatherette" (The Normal)

YouTube Uploaded by DX5 on Aug 9, 2011

"Covering an experimental track from late 70's originally by The Normal (Daniel Miller) that also was the first "Mute Records" release.
Recorded at the very first take (without rehearsing)

If you didn't know the song, it can sound very repetitive, but once you listen to it several times you will enjoy it. Be sure to check Daniel's original one too.

Gear:
Upper: Emu EMAX II HD (with Kurzweil and Roland JP8000 samples)
Mid: Roland JP8000
Backtrack recorded in Pro Tools featuring JP8000 and Simmons SDS 8 sounds)

Composed by The Normal (Daniel Miller)
Performed here by DX5 (Jose Maria Bara)"

SUPERBOOTH 2022 - Daniel Miller and Gareth Jones - Interview

video upload by sonicstate

"Two legends of British electronic music and pop together for a short improvised set at Superbooth on the Beach Stage - which had a banging sound system.

Daniel Miller - head of Mute Records with old friend Gareth Jones - engineer and production on so many great tracks and albums were setting up for their new musical project Sunroof.

We spoke about their approach to the the music they are making together and the gear they are using.

Still working on that first release Sunroof will be available on Mute, well, when they finish it,

https://mute.com/mute/sunroof-daniel-..."

Daniel Miller Mute Records Modules 'Stumm' and 'Makrow' with FSS // Superbooth 2019

Published on May 18, 2019 DivKidVideo

"It was delighted to hear that Future Sound Systems ( FSS ) would be collaborating and working with Daniel Miller of Mute Records. Their two new Eurorack modules Stumm and Makrow presented at Superbooth provide performance friendly ways to mute, group, shift and morph pretty much anything in a modular system. That's always excited, fresh and welcome and I'm really looking forward to trying these out in my own system."

"I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition" 2013 Official Trailer

"I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition" 2013 official trailer from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

"I Dream of Wires" (IDOW) is an upcoming, independent documentary film about the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer - exploring the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. Written and directed by Robert Fantinatto, with Jason Amm (Ghostly International recording artist Solvent) serving as producer and co-writer, IDOW is set to receive it's festival premiere, May 2013.

Preceding IDOW's official theatrical release, we will be releasing this special, extended cut: "I Dream Of Wires (Hardcore Edition)" (IDOW-HE) will be released independently on BluRay / 2xDVD, and shipped to all IndieGoGo and pre-order customers, June 2013. IDOW-HE is for the hardcore modular synthesizer and electronic music fanatics, and will run approximately 4 hours long (!).

IDOW-HE is a strictly limited-edition item, available to order exclusively through idreamofwires.org from 2/11 - 5/31, 2013. It's bound to sell out in pre-orders, so don't sleep...
IDOW-HE BluRay / 2xDVD is available to pre-order now:
http://idreamofwires.org/order

"Themogene (I Dream Of Wires theme)", from the forthcoming IDOW original soundtrack album by Solvent, is available to listen/download in its entirety via Ghostly International on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/solvent-themogene

Additional music/sounds featured in this trailer: Container, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Richard Devine, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Gert Jalass (Moon Modular), Richard Lainhart, Solvent, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Keith Fullerton Whitman.

"Who said that?" (in order of appearance): Brad Garton, Dean Batute, Maggie Payne, Bernie Krause, William Maginnis, Terry Pender, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Benge (John Foxx and the Maths), Vince Clarke (Erasure), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), David Kronemeyer, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Carl Craig, James Holden, Richard Devine, Luke Abbott, Tony Rolando (Make Noise), Flood, Trent Reznor (NiN/How To Destroy Angels), Dieter Doepfer, Dominic Butler (Factory Floor), Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology/MOTM), David Kronemeyer, Eric Barbour (Metasonix), George Mattson, William Mathewson (WMD), Tony Rolando, Eric Barbour, Daniel Miller, Drew Neumann, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Andreas Schneider (SchneidersBuero), Eric Barbour, Scott Jaeger (The Harvestman), Andreas Schneider, Dieter Doepfer, Chris Carter (X-TG/Chris & Cosey), Charlie Clouser, Danjel Van Tijn (Intellijel), John Tejada, Drumcell, Legowelt, Alessandro Cortini (SONOIO/ex-NiN), John Foxx, Deadmau5, James Husted (Synthwerks), Paul Barker (Malekko/ex-Ministry), Container, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), Robert A.A. Lowe, Trent Reznor, Gur Milstein (TipTop Audio), Gary Numan.

http://idreamofwires.org
http://vimeo.com/idreamofwires 
http://facebook.com/idreamofwiresdocumentary

Mute Synth Custom Modified by A.S.M.O. for Daniel Miller

YouTube Uploaded by eddie23a on Mar 7, 2012

"Dirty Electronics Mute Synth custom modified by A.S.M.O. for Daniel Miller (The Normal / Mute Records). Touch panels hardwired to pots and switches, 3 LFOs, one for each oscillator and feedback. Low / band pass resonant filter with external voltage control input, self oscillates at full resonance. Panel is covered in (warm) leatherette, nice!

http://asmo23.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AntiSocialMusikOrder
https://twitter.com/asmo23
http://www.dirtyelectronics.org/
https://www.facebook.com/dirtyelectronics
http://mute.com/mute/the-mute-synth"

pics on flickr

Daniel Miller (Mute Records) Modular Synth Masterclass at LEAF 2013

Published on Jan 30, 2014 Point Blank Music School ·558 videos

"Mute Records founder and electronic music legend Daniel Miller talks modular synths and demos his own system at LEAF 2013. Subscribe :: http://ow.ly/siFlj

4:25 What was your first synth?
6:24 Current resurgence of modular synths
11:00 Modular synth demonstration

Featured track: The Normal 'T.V.O.D' (Mute Records)
Buy on iTunes: http://ow.ly/t6kwT

More info on LEAF :: http://ow.ly/t1Y9O

Point Blank is based in London, the home of electronic music, and has been voted 'Best Music Production and DJ School' by DJ Mag. You can learn Ableton Live or Logic Pro via our online courses or in our state-of-the-art studios in Hoxton. More information here :: http://www.pointblankonline.net/courses/"

via I Dream of Wires on Facebook

Last call! "I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition"

"I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition" 2013 official trailer from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

** Ordering closes on April 30 **

"I Dream Of Wires" is an upcoming, independent documentary about the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer - exploring the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine.

"Hardcore Edition": This Limited Edition, 4-hour Extended Cut is available to pre-order exclusively from http://idreamofwires.org until April 30. This pre-order is your only opportunity to see "I Dream Of Wires" in all of it's 4-hour Hardcore glory! BluRay/2xDVD copies will ship to all pre-order customers in June, and then it's gone.

"I'll buy it when it comes out" you say? Sorry - the 4-hour, limited Hardcore Edition will not be available to order after April 30, period, so it's now or never... We will not be releasing the Hardcore Edition digitally, ever. So order your BluRay/DVD copy now, via http://idreamofwires.org.


Blu-Ray / 2-DVD is available to order NOW - ships in June. Strictly limited edition 4-hour cut, available to order until April 30, exclusively via http://idreamofwires.org ... and then it's gone.

ARE YOU HARDCORE? Placing your order before April 30 is your only option to own the extended "Hardcore Edition" cut.

--

"I Dream of Wires" (IDOW) is an upcoming, independent documentary film about the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer - exploring the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. IDOW is written and directed by Robert Fantinatto, with Jason Amm (Ghostly International recording artist Solvent) serving as producer and co-writer.

Preceding IDOW's official theatrical release, we will be releasing this special, extended cut: "I Dream Of Wires (Hardcore Edition)" (IDOW-HE) will be released independently on BluRay / 2xDVD, and shipped to all IndieGoGo and pre-order customers, June 2013. IDOW-HE is for the hardcore modular synthesizer and electronic music fanatics, and will run approximately 4 hours long (!).

IDOW-HE is a strictly limited-edition item, available to order exclusively through idreamofwires.org from 2/11 - 4/30, 2013. It's bound to sell out in pre-orders, so don't sleep...
IDOW-HE BluRay / 2xDVD is available to pre-order now:
http://idreamofwires.org/order

"Themogene (I Dream Of Wires theme)", from the forthcoming IDOW original soundtrack album by Solvent, is available to listen/download in its entirety via Ghostly International on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/solvent-themogene

Additional music/sounds featured in this trailer: Container, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Richard Devine, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Gert Jalass (Moon Modular), Richard Lainhart, Solvent, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Keith Fullerton Whitman.

"Who said that?" (in order of appearance): Brad Garton, Dean Batute, Maggie Payne, Bernie Krause, William Maginnis, Terry Pender, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Benge (John Foxx and the Maths), Vince Clarke (Erasure), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), David Kronemeyer, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Carl Craig, James Holden, Richard Devine, Luke Abbott, Tony Rolando (Make Noise), Flood, Trent Reznor (NiN/How To Destroy Angels), Dieter Doepfer, Dominic Butler (Factory Floor), Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology/MOTM), David Kronemeyer, Eric Barbour (Metasonix), George Mattson, William Mathewson (WMD), Tony Rolando, Eric Barbour, Daniel Miller, Drew Neumann, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Andreas Schneider (SchneidersBuero), Eric Barbour, Scott Jaeger (The Harvestman), Andreas Schneider, Dieter Doepfer, Chris Carter (X-TG/Chris & Cosey), Charlie Clouser, Danjel Van Tijn (Intellijel), John Tejada, Drumcell, Legowelt, Alessandro Cortini (SONOIO/ex-NiN), John Foxx, Deadmau5, James Husted (Synthwerks), Paul Barker (Malekko/ex-Ministry), Container, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), Robert A.A. Lowe, Trent Reznor, Gur Milstein (TipTop Audio), Gary Numan.

http://idreamofwires.org
http://vimeo.com/idreamofwires
http://facebook.com/idreamofwiresdocumentary

Moogfest 2019 - Lets Talk To Daniel Miller

Published on May 2, 2019 sonicstate

"We caught up with Mute boss and general legend of the UK electronic music scene, Daniel Miller, to talk Mute Visual History, modular synths and Mute. Our favourite line: 'Anything for Sonicstate'"

Superbooth 2019 -Future Sound System Daniel Miller Collab On Modules

Published on May 16, 2019 sonicstate

"As well as some interesting new products from Future Sound Systems the Cyclical Engine Oscillator, the Recombination Engine (a triple stack of 3340 oscillators) there were also two new modules made in collaboration with Daniel Miller (Mute Records). STUMM and Macro modules."

Daniel Miller - live modular set @SUPERBOOTH19

Published on Jun 13, 2019 Superbooth Official

"Daniel Miller with one of his very rare modular live-sets.

The founder of the legendary label Mute Records played on the second day of SUPERBOOTH19 on the Seaside Stage, attracting many visitors of the trade fair to the outdoor area. He took the audience with him on a journey from gentle ambient worlds to pulsating drone territory. And then it started to rain."

Depeche Mode Drums

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at a specific drum setup used by Depeche Mode and Daniel Miller on their album, Speak and Spell, from 1981.

0:00 Intro
0:51 KR-55 Snare
1:55 Interfacing Setup
3:23 ARP 2600 Daniel Miller Kick
7:32 Roland MC-4
8:14 Test it out
8:43 Alternative Gear / Sample Pack
9:34 Outro Jam

Get the sample pack:
https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/p..."

I Dream of Wires to Add Additional Extended Interview

via I Dream of Wires on Facebook:

"It looks like we'll be producing and releasing one more free I Dream Of Wires: Extended Interview piece in 2014. If you could choose just one person, out of all of the people we interviewed in IDOW, who would you like to see featured in a full Extended Interview? [leave your pick on Facebook here]

If you're not familiar with our Extended Interview series, we've released 9 of them so far. See the list below, and check out our Vimeo channel to watch.

I Dream of Wires - Extended Interview Series:"

9. Chris Carter:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sound of Science - Hydrodome EP Featuring Tom Carpenter of Analogue Solutions & Medic

"Sound of Science is a transatlantic duo comprising Tom Carpenter and Jason Huffman.

Tom is the man behind Analogue Solutions and has been building synthesisers for over 15 years. He has supplied synths to people such as Trent Reznor, Martin Gore, Vince Clarke, Phil Oakey, Daniel Miller, and many more. The designs are directly influenced by his love of electronic music. Jason is an analogue synth wizard, composer and a lover of all things that make noise. He also produces the legendary Rezfilter videos (see YouTube) that highlight these excellent synthesisers. Together they have pooled their years of combined experience of songwriting and sound design to produce real songs using real synthesisers.

They are currently working together on several exciting new songs and projects that will appear in the not-too-distant future.

Learn more:

http://www.soundofscience.org

Sound of Science - Hydrodome EP (feat. John von Ahlen) is now available on iTunes and 200+ other retail outlets worldwide!



Download the Hydrodome EP now! Features remixes by Daniel Myer John von Ahlen Northern Kind & Julian Beeston"

Update:

Sound of Science: Hydrodome music video (full)
Published on May 5, 2013 Tom Carpenter·50 videos

Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode Has Passed Away

Andy Fletcher passed away today at the age of 60. I saw Depeche Mode live for the first time as a teenager back on July 14, 1986, at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheter in Irvine, CA. I grew up with their music and still listen to them to this day. They will always be a staple in my life. I have Andy Fletcher and the rest of Depeche Mode to thank for so much magic in my life on so many levels, from being a kid frolicking about in the 80s, to an adult dealing with the trials a tribulations of the day. Depeche Mode is a big part of that and Andy Fletcher was core to the band. He will be sorely missed by so many of us.

This post features two images of Andy. One from Wikipedia, and one from Discogs. The following bio is from Wikipedia. Don't miss the last sentence.

"Andrew John Leonard Fletcher (8 July 1961 – c. 26 May 2022), sometimes known as Fletch, was an English keyboard player, DJ, and a founding member of the electronic band Depeche Mode. In 2020, Fletcher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Depeche Mode.[1]

In the late 1970s, Fletcher and schoolmate Vince Clarke formed the short-lived band No Romance in China, in which Fletcher played bass guitar. In 1980, Fletcher met Martin Gore at the Van Gogh pub on Paycocke Road in Basildon. With Clarke, the trio, now all on synthesizer, formed another group called Composition of Sound.[2] Clarke served as chief songwriter and also provided lead vocals until singer Dave Gahan was recruited into the band later that year, after which they adopted the name Depeche Mode at Gahan's suggestion.[3] Clarke left the group in late 1981, shortly after the release of their debut album Speak & Spell.[2]

Their 1982 follow-up album, A Broken Frame, was recorded as a trio, with Gore taking over primary songwriting duties.[4] Musician and producer Alan Wilder joined the band in late 1982 and the group continued as a quartet until Wilder's departure in 1995. From then on, the core trio of Gahan, Gore, and Fletcher remained active, up to the release of their 2017 album Spirit and ensuing world tour.[5]

Fletcher's role within Depeche Mode was often a topic of speculation. In early incarnations of the band, he played (electric and later synth) bass. As the band evolved after Vince Clarke's departure in 1981, Fletcher's role changed as each of the band members took to the areas that suited them and benefited the band collectively. In a key scene in D.A. Pennebaker's 1989 documentary film about the band, Fletcher clarified these roles: "Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around."


Andy Fletcher and Daniel Miller talking about Depeche Mode early days

video upload by Michele Bisceglia

"This interview was shot in november 2015, but never edited and published.
We were in Verbier, Switzerland, for the 3 days happening Audi-o-Rama.
Depeche Mode founding member and keyboardist Fletch & Mute Records boss Miller remember the day they met and discuss other stories about the early days of the band"

A search on the first video to feature Depeche Mode comes up with the following 1981 performance from Top of the Pops. Andy Fletcher is on the Moog Prodigy.

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough 1981

video upload by memorylane1980s

The following is a live tribue by DX5. If you follow the site you should be familiar with his numerous covers of Depeche Mode. This site is about synths and the people who love synths. This is the first tribute I've seen by a fan of Depeche Mode and I wanted to include it.

Andy (Fletch) Fletcher, has sadly passed away today :( :( Chat and synth tribute to him.

video upload by DX5

Depeche Mode - PHOTOGRAPHIC - Re-created w/ Arturia Arp 2600V

Published on Aug 19, 2014 peahix

"For the latest in my series of Speak & Spell era Depeche Mode re-creations, I decided to do 'Photographic' as an excuse to learn a bit about the ARP 2600 via Arturia's software emulation, the 2600V. The original track was done mostly, if not entirely with an ARP 2600, so I wanted to see how close I could get to the original sounds. The answer? Not very. I'm sure much of this is due to my lack of programming skills on the 2600, which I'm just learning. But I also suspect alot of it has to do with the shortcomings of the 2600V. Either that, or Daniel Miller & EC Radcliffe compressed the hell out of those sounds (or something)! The basic issue is that I couldn't get the 2600V's envelopes to sound anywhere near as snappy and punchy as the sounds on the DM track. I could get the patches in the ballpark, but mine all just sounded too mushy and wimpy. The kick drum in particular gave me trouble- I couldn't figure out how to get anywhere near Mr. Miller's famous 2600 kick. If anyone knows how to get it on the 2600V, please enlighten me!

Anyway, the one thing I am really proud of here is my reverse-engineering of the little randomized sequence heard throughout the track. Since the 2600V also has an emulation of the ARP 3601 sequencer (which was used extensively on the original track), I delved into the old user manual for the 3601 and worked out how this sequence was put together. The still image in my "video" shows the patch for this sequence. I was actually going to transcribe the entire part from the original (which would have been twice the job, since there's two passes of this sequence in stereo), but despite being able to hear it clearly much of the time, it was drowned too much in the mix at other times, so I said screw it. I decided instead it was actually more interesting to work out the 3601 sequencer settings for this part, even though inevitably the random notes that my sequence played are different from the original track. The note series is the same, though, which is the same note series as the little riff that plays under "I take pictures," making the random sequence a variation on that sequence. The gate switches are set such that half of them don't re-trigger the envelope, so you get note changes in the decay tails. I transcribed enough of the original part to verify that every other note in the sequence is switched differently. Plus, I got the actual 2600V patch reasonably close for this sound. The squelchy little hi-hat type sound runs on the same sequence just with a different patch.

OK, that's all I feel like typing about this one. Kinda lukewarm on it, given that in theory I should have been able to get alot closer with the 2600 sounds. But oh well. Let me know if you'd like my patches- maybe you can improve upon them!"

More by peahix