Recoil – “Liquid ” – [Mute]

Thurston Hunger   10/1/2005   A Library, CD

Alan Wilder gets wilder still, outside the
pop cage confines of Depeche Mode (he was in
that band from ’82-95) but his Recoil project
is darkly well-assembled, abetted by powerful
women (Diamanda among them!!!) Rather than
synth-pop, Recoil recalls the cinematic flair
of Scott Walker’s “Tilt” but in a cybernetic
realm. That’s high praise…Wilder’s re-wiring
of “Jezebel” by the Golden Gate Jubilee 4tet
is an infernal inspiration. Maybe even a nod
to his fatal femme conspirators. “Supreme” is
a nice piece of hip-spoke-hop sociology.Nicole
Blackman, still on a Hashisheen high, scores
as well. Liquid is thick, like amber, and
bottled like an expensive liquer. Perhaps too
refined for some?