I picked up my vinyl copy of Depeche Mode’s Violator back in 1990 while I was studying in Australia. I remember buying it at Brashs, a popular music store back then, though the exact price escapes me—probably around AU$18. A week later, I discovered imported UK pressings of the album were selling for just AU$9 at Melbourne’s Central Station Records, and I kicked myself for not finding that deal first.
Even after 34 years, I still have the vinyl, though it’s been over two decades since I last played it. With streaming platforms like YouTube Music making the album so accessible, I never felt the urge to take it out again. Besides, the remastered versions now sound much better.
When it comes to favorite tracks, Violator has a few that stand out for me—”Enjoy the Silence,” “Halo,” and “Waiting for the Night.” I first heard “Enjoy the Silence” in 1989 on BBC radio, tuning in through shortwave while I was still in Malaysia. Before the album was released, I managed to get my hands on the 12-inch single of “Enjoy the Silence,” which featured a slower, more stripped-down version sung by Martin Gore. This was how the song was originally meant to sound before Alan Wilder transformed it into the upbeat anthem it became.