Recoil, Nicole Blackman - Liquid

Recoil is what Alan Wilder has been doing with himself since leaving Depeche Mode in 1996. Recoil are not a proper band, as such: the name is a flag of convenience under which Wilder arrays a floating roster of collaborators. He is abetted this time by performance poets Nicole Blackman and Samantha Coerbell, shrieking diva Diamanda Galas, and one Rosa Torras, a Recoil fan from Barcelona who responded to Wilder's Internet appeal for recordings of people speaking in their native language. Between them, this unlikely collective have made a record that, while scarily cheerless, is not without a certain gloomy appeal. --Andrew Mueller Amazon.com

it gets better with time!

I bought this album back in 2000 and basically loved the tracks that Diamanda appears in such as Strange hours. The rest I was cool with. I will say that this album is like wine because the older it gets the better it sounds. In other words, I believe Alan Wilder made a timeless record here. Over the years, I've been able to appreciate the Nicole Blackman tracks as well as the others. Over time this album became a classic in my book.
I would even go as far as saying that it surpasses his previous efforts!
If you're into the noir kinda of music then check this out! May 17, 2006

gorgeously dark

Having never heard Recoil before, I was played a copy of this and was instantly hooked (so I have no bias or loyalty to Alan Wilder). From the other reviews here it seems that some people just don't like the dark tone of this album ... that's more a comment of individual taste than quality of the music. If, like me, you like music that artfully explores the darker depths then you'll find "Liquid" is a real treat. This is twisted and menacing, while being kinda funky and soothing at the same time ... like a chilled out version of NINs Downward Spiral album. If you want pop-synth there's plenty of that floating around elsewhere, but finding dark music of this quality aint easy. August 15, 2005

bold

another powerful, adventurous and boldly avant garde creation from the genius mind of Alan Wilder. Buyers beware: this stuff is definitely anti-pop and certainly indulgent (all the more reasons to love it). I'm not sure what all the synth-pop enthusiasts were expecting, but this is sound at the bleeding edge of creativity and worth every listen. May 6, 2004

Two steps below the other Recoil albums

I have to admit I was slightly disappointed with this album. After, the amazing 1997's "Unsound Methods" an album that made Depeche Mode's 1997 "Ultra" pale by comparisson. I was hoping for more of the same, but instead I had to settle for this uneven effort.

First off, the tracks could have been tighter. The vocalists here can't compare with the past guest appearances. The woman on "Strange Hours" sounds like a cross between Macy Gray and Tina Turner. Yikes, not my idea of ear candy! The lyrics are pretty much uninspiring angst driven and only rarely deliver any sting to the listner. Also, the past Recoil albums just seem lyrically classier examples of high ART than this one. Definitely an album I listen more for the music than the message. I cringe everytime I hear "Supreme".

I never thought I would live to see the day where lines like "baby's momma", "ass cheek", "there goes a BUTT", and "paid for by W.I.C., so who's getting dicked?" show up on a Recoil album!

Alan plays more live drums on this album, which is nice, but I rather hear infectous trip-hop beats anyday over this. Sometimes the album gets kinda funky (the familiar wet bass lines we all have loved since the Mode days), but alot of times it just sounds like a modern rock album without the band. There are no instrumenatals on this album which is also sad.

"Liquid" is still worth buying for tracks 2-6 and 9. The stand out tracks are Jezabelle, Breath Control, and Last Call for Liquid Courage. If your new fan buy this album first just so you have even better albums to look forward too! October 19, 2003

It grows on you.

I gave a review of "Liquid" quite some time ago and I said that it wasn't as good as "Bloodline". Well, the times have changed! Not to say that one is better than the other, but "Liquid" is definitely much more intricate musically than the debut. Songs like "Breath Control" and "Want", featuring the fantastic bass playing of Curve's Dean Garcia, will mesmorize you. I even think "Strange Hours" is a great track, considering I'm not the biggest fan of Diamanda Galas. All in all, if you're a fan of the earlier Recoil recordings, then you shant be disappointed with "Liquid" April 2, 2001

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