EXCITER signals a new era of creativity for DAVE GAHAN, ANDREW FLETCHER and
                                               GORE. The sounds (electronic and acoustic) are strikingly varied, the songs are
                                               emotionally rich, and GAHAN's vocals are even more resonant than before.

                                               EXCITER marks the pioneering band's first album of new material since 1997's Ultra (four
                                               million sold worldwide), which continued their tradition of creating memorable hit singles
                                               ("Barrel of a Gun," "It's No Good") while maintaining the band's musical integrity and
                                               vision. EXCITER follows 1998's The Singles 86>98 greatest hits album and world concert
                                               trek (The Singles Tour) when the band played 64 shows in 18 countries for 650,000 fans.
                                               Every gig on the five-month trek was sold out, including three at New York's Madison
                                               Square Garden, two at The Forum in Los Angeles and another pair at the Anaheim
                                               Pond. Overseas highlights included two nights at Bercy in Paris, a pair of concerts in
                                               Berlin and two more at Wembley in London.

                                               "After our last tour," says GAHAN, "I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I really
                                               enjoyed doing the older songs, and I simply embraced them. I felt like, ‘if this is going to
                                               be the end,' then it was OK. So recording the new album has been quite a surprise really,
                                               to be honest."

                                               GAHAN expresses admiration for producer Mark Bell, with whom they decided to work (for
                                               the first time) based on albums he's produced for Bjork (1997's Homogenic and 2000's
                                               Selmasongs). "Mark is very musical, and extremely intuitive about working with vocals and
                                               what can be done with them. He encouraged me to push further." FLETCHER underlines
                                               GAHAN's sentiments: "With Bjork, Mark used her voice almost as an instrument. He works
                                               very hard and just seems to have a sense of what is right, both musically and vocally. He's
                                               been very important to the making of this record." Says GORE: "Mark doesn't do anything
                                               straight-forwardly. He would never do anything that is cliched. Which I think is great. He
                                               thinks so differently."

                                               A sense of adventure is at the heart of EXCITER, which was recorded in Santa Barbara,
                                               New York City and London. "Dream On"--set as the first single, due out in April--contrasts
                                               skittering beats with acoustic guitars. "The Sweetest Condition" mixes a deep groove with
                                               a snaky rhythm and mysterious, psychedelic sounds. The tension-building "When The
                                               Body Speaks" matches sparely plucked guitars with startlingly intimate vocals by GAHAN
                                               who sings, "What the flesh requires keeps the heart imprisoned." Elsewhere, "Breathe,"
                                               with MARTIN's lead vocal, has a torchy feel. And album closer "Goodnight Lovers" is a
                                               different kind of lullaby with bracing lines like "When you're born a lover you're born to
                                               suffer."

                                               GAHAN says the tracks on the new album "could have been songs from various different
                                               years of DEPECHE MODE. It's almost like a greatest hits of songs that haven't been
                                               released yet. I'm not saying they're all going to be very big hits or anything like that. I just
                                               feel it is very strong in that way."

                                               On EXCITER, the refreshed GAHAN admits, "I'm a lot more confident vocally. I really
                                               wanted to bring something beautiful to these songs. When you're singing a song, it's like
                                               you can just disappear into it. It's the only way I can describe it really. And I did that. It's
                                               really a luxurious place to be. I wanted to do that with every song. On Ultra I was not able
                                               to do that because I wasn't physically able to bring all of myself to it. Now I feel like I'm
                                               firing on all cylinders."

                                               FLETCHER, citing the band members' rekindled bond, says EXCITER "feels like a new
                                               beginning of sorts. Because of problems in the band during the last two studio albums,
                                               the creativity was cut off to a certain extent. Now relations between us are better than they
                                               have been for a long time and that has carried over to the album. There is a real feeling
                                               of the group working and enjoying each other's company. When you hear the new songs, I
                                               think they come across as sounding quite fresh. The new album reminds me of one of our
                                               albums, Black Celebration, in that it has lots and lots of good songs that sound
                                               completely different from each other but actually work together on one album."

                                               The new, emotionally powerful songs visit a familiar theme. Says GORE: "My songs are
                                               about relationships because those are the things that are closest to me. That's the thing
                                               that moves me most, the thing I can write about most passionately. All I ever intend to do
                                               is move people, to somehow tap into their emotions."

                                               GAHAN has, once again, tapped into the feeling behind GORE's lyrics. "Dave has a voice
                                               that is really distinctive," says GORE. "It has a great tone to it, and he has a real
                                               aggression which I don't have, and that is really important for a rock star. That is really
                                               what Dave brings to our songs. Every voice is a different instrument, and he has a great
                                               sort of depth." Says GAHAN: "For me, there are many dimensions to Martin's songs
                                               lyrically. I like the graphicness of them and the emotional terrain they cover: love lost,
                                               compulsion, control, denial, addiction, lust-all those things that everyone experiences.
                                               Martin seems to be able to interpret those things in a way that is believable. And then I
                                               make it mine vocally, drawing from my own experiences and emotions."

                                               DEPECHE MODE keep in touch with fans all over the world through the Internet via the
                                               band's official website www.depechemode.com. Users can visit the "News" section for
                                               progress reports and photos of the band in the studio. In "Archives," fans can read lyrics,
                                               listen to past radio interviews and watch videos and concert footage. Fans can also sign
                                               up for the "Announcment List," enabling them to receive breaking DEPECHE MODE news
                                               via e-mail and take part in monthly contests for special prizes. In addition, there's a
                                               "Communications" zone where fans can chat, use the message board or find links to
                                               DEPECHE MODE fan sites. In fact, FLETCHER says "I run into so many people who say
                                               they met and married through a Depeche Mode web site."

                                               What accounts for the lasting appeal of DEPECHE MODE? They've sold over 50 million
                                               albums since 1981 and still have the kind of underground vibe that most superstar acts
                                               would kill for. Says FLETCHER: "We've always stuck to the punk and indie ideals we grew
                                               up with. We've been allowed to actually go forward and learn. We're very lucky to have
                                               this huge fan base which enables us to actually release records that are a bit off the wall."
                                               According to GORE: "I can't really explain why we've been so popular for so long. Maybe
                                               it's because we've never fit into any one trend." Says GAHAN: "I enjoy the challenge-and
                                               I still want it to be a challenge. Otherwise, why bother?"