The majority of the material on the album was written by Devoto in collaboration with guitarist and founding member John McGeoch. "Motorcade" was co-written with the group's keyboardist, the classically trained composer Bob Dickinson, who played with the group in mid-1977 before being dismissed without warning at a meeting convened by Devoto in November of that year. Dickinson has cited the influence of Satie on elements of the keyboard part in this song.
The majority of the album's music was created by Devoto and guitarist John McGeoch, with Bob Dickinson contributing to "Motorcade." Dickinson joined the band in mid-1977 but was dismissed without explanation in November 1977. He has cited Satie as an inspiration for the keyboard part on this song.