Recoil (band)
Encyclopedia
Recoil is a musical project created by former Depeche Mode
member Alan Wilder
. Essentially a solo venture, Recoil began whilst Wilder was still in Depeche Mode as an outlet for his experimental, less pop-oriented compositions. Once he announced his departure from the group in 1995, Recoil was transformed from a small side-project into Wilder's primary musical enterprise.
) heard some of Alan Wilder's demo recordings, which he had made on a 4-track cassette machine. These recordings were substantially different from anything Depeche Mode had released — whilst they were still created using synthesizer
s and sampling
, they featured little of Depeche Mode's catchy pop songwriting, instead opting for an experimental, John Cage
-esque style. Due to the primitive and decidedly uncommercial nature of these pieces, Wilder and the record label decided to release the album inconspicuously, naming it 1+2
. It eventually came out in mid-1986, not long after the release of Depeche Mode's well-received Black Celebration
.
In January 1988, during the middle of Depeche Mode's hugely successful "Tour for the Masses", Mute released the second Recoil album — Hydrology
. This followed in a similar vein to the previous Recoil record, consisting of entirely instrumental, synthesized landscapes. Unfortunately, due to Wilder's busy touring schedule, he was unable to effectively promote the record.
Recoil's first single was from his third album Bloodline, a cover of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band
's "Faith Healer", with Douglas McCarthy
from Nitzer Ebb
on vocals. McCarthy would later reappear for two songs on the next album, Unsound Methods
, including the single "Stalker". 1997's Unsound Methods was the first release after Wilder's decision to leave Depeche Mode. The fifth album, Liquid was released in 2000.
page that the new album would be entitled subHuman and had been provisionally set for release on July 9, 2007. Included as guest vocalists this time were Carla Trevaskis and Joe Richardson. The latter also delivered the vocals for a track titled "Prey" which was the only single taken from "subHuman". A sample from the song was also put on Recoil's MySpace page. "Prey" was released on June 27, 2009 via iTunes
and related download portals.
In addition, 2007 saw the re-release of Bloodline (originally released in 1991) and Hydrology
Plus 1+2
(originally released in 1988). iTunes also prepared a special Recoil pack (similar to the Depeche Mode iTunes pack) holding all Recoil releases. It was the first time that all Recoil material was available via iTunes. The packet didn't hold exclusives but did come in a DRM free high download quality version.
A special download-only remix of subHuman track "Killing Ground" by The Slips
was released on on The Slips' MySpace page. Rumours surfaced that Alan Wilder was to start work on a new album pretty soon.
Late 2007, IGN, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., selected Recoil's subHuman album as 'Best Electronic Album' for the year 2007.
In February 2008, Alan Wilder announced, due to popular demand, a limited edition CD release of the double sided Recoil single "Prey"/"Allelujah" out on 25 February 2008. The CD is being issued, with the support of Mute, through the Russian label Gala Records in conjunction with depeche-mode.ru and is exclusively available on-line only via their website.
Also in February, the ex-Depeche Mode member released an open letter on the Side-Line Magazine website, titled "Music For The Masses - I think not". In the article Wilder handles his vision on today's shifting music market and the position of the artist in this. In the small essay Wilder touches the volume war
, the effect of excessive compression, the download spiral, alternative ways to release music, the birth of the fan powered release of the limited enhanced single 'Prey'/'Allelujah' in Russia, Mute Records, Depeche Mode, and much more.
December saw a brand new free bonus mix of "Prey" (taken from the "subHuman" album) released as a Xmas download on December 8. The mix was approved by Alan Wilder and re-mixed by David Husser.
"Selected Events" took Alan through Europe and North America, spanning from March through May 2010. These shows represented the first live performances ever undertaken by Alan with the Recoil project.
The next part of the tour kicked off with dates across North America, South America and ended in Europe between October & December 2010.
On 17 February 2010, Alan reunited briefly with former band Depeche Mode live on-stage at the Royal Albert Hall
for one song, accompanying Martin Gore
for a rendition of the Depeche Mode standard, "Somebody". This was the first time in nearly 16 years that Alan performed with Depeche Mode, and roughly 15 years since he left the band. The band was playing a charity show, benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust. According to Alan, "Dave contacted me a few weeks back and asked if I'd be willing to join them on-stage. He assured me that everyone in the band was into the idea. I was very happy to accept, especially as it was all in a good cause and we were long overdue some kind of reunion of this sort. It was great to see everyone again and catch up a bit, and it was also the first time I have actually 'seen' Depeche Mode perform!"
"Selected Events" continued in 2011, featuring shows in three Baltic countries and appearances at festivals until the end of October.
Also in 2011, Alan organized with Omega an auction selling a lot of DM collectable items on September 3rd in Manchester. A DVD called "Collected +" was released as promotion for this event.
A "Strange Hours" live DVD will be released in 2012, from one of the Selected Events from Recoil's tour.
- The CD release 1+2 and Hydrology were released as one.
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
member Alan Wilder
Alan Wilder
Alan Charles Wilder is a British musician, formerly of Depeche Mode. His current musical project is called Recoil, started as a side project to Depeche Mode. When he left the latter in 1995, it became Wilder's primary project...
. Essentially a solo venture, Recoil began whilst Wilder was still in Depeche Mode as an outlet for his experimental, less pop-oriented compositions. Once he announced his departure from the group in 1995, Recoil was transformed from a small side-project into Wilder's primary musical enterprise.
1980s and 1990s
Recoil began in 1986, when Daniel Miller (record producer and founder of Mute RecordsMute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
) heard some of Alan Wilder's demo recordings, which he had made on a 4-track cassette machine. These recordings were substantially different from anything Depeche Mode had released — whilst they were still created using synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s and sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, they featured little of Depeche Mode's catchy pop songwriting, instead opting for an experimental, John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
-esque style. Due to the primitive and decidedly uncommercial nature of these pieces, Wilder and the record label decided to release the album inconspicuously, naming it 1+2
1+2
1 + 2, Alan Wilder's first solo release away from Depeche Mode, is a Recoil studio EP, released in August 1986. The CD and cassette version were released two years later with Recoil's second release, Hydrology....
. It eventually came out in mid-1986, not long after the release of Depeche Mode's well-received Black Celebration
Black Celebration
Black Celebration is the fifth studio album by Depeche Mode. Released by Mute Records on 17 March 1986, it further cemented the darkening sound that was initially hinted towards on their album Construction Time Again and Some Great Reward. Black Celebration was cited as one of the most influential...
.
In January 1988, during the middle of Depeche Mode's hugely successful "Tour for the Masses", Mute released the second Recoil album — Hydrology
Hydrology (album)
Hydrology is a Recoil studio album, released January 25, 1988.Hydrology was Alan Wilder's second Recoil release. The CD and cassette version included the first release, 1+2....
. This followed in a similar vein to the previous Recoil record, consisting of entirely instrumental, synthesized landscapes. Unfortunately, due to Wilder's busy touring schedule, he was unable to effectively promote the record.
Recoil's first single was from his third album Bloodline, a cover of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Alex Harvey (musician)
Alex Harvey was a Scottish rock musician. With The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, he built a reputation as an exciting live performer during the 1970s glam rock era.-Biography:...
's "Faith Healer", with Douglas McCarthy
Douglas McCarthy
Douglas John McCarthy is the vocalist of Chelmsford, Essex-based EBM band Nitzer Ebb.Apart from writing and performing with Nitzer Ebb, McCarthy has also appeared on recordings by Recoil and has released material in collaboration with DJ Terence Fixmer as Fixmer/McCarthy...
from Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
on vocals. McCarthy would later reappear for two songs on the next album, Unsound Methods
Unsound Methods
Unsound Methods is the third Recoil studio album, released in 1997. It was recorded at Alan Wilder's home studio, The Thin Line, in Sussex, during sessions that lasted from September 1996 to March 1997. The album was produced by Alan Wilder, with assistance and coordination by Hepzibah Sessa, and...
, including the single "Stalker". 1997's Unsound Methods was the first release after Wilder's decision to leave Depeche Mode. The fifth album, Liquid was released in 2000.
2000s on ... 2007 & 2008
Although there had been no releases for some time, in 2005 Alan Wilder confirmed that he would start work on a new album. On October 20, 2006, Alan appeared on a web greeting confirming a Summer 2007 target date for the next Recoil album. On April 22, 2007, Wilder released a statement on his MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page that the new album would be entitled subHuman and had been provisionally set for release on July 9, 2007. Included as guest vocalists this time were Carla Trevaskis and Joe Richardson. The latter also delivered the vocals for a track titled "Prey" which was the only single taken from "subHuman". A sample from the song was also put on Recoil's MySpace page. "Prey" was released on June 27, 2009 via iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and related download portals.
In addition, 2007 saw the re-release of Bloodline (originally released in 1991) and Hydrology
Hydrology (album)
Hydrology is a Recoil studio album, released January 25, 1988.Hydrology was Alan Wilder's second Recoil release. The CD and cassette version included the first release, 1+2....
Plus 1+2
1+2
1 + 2, Alan Wilder's first solo release away from Depeche Mode, is a Recoil studio EP, released in August 1986. The CD and cassette version were released two years later with Recoil's second release, Hydrology....
(originally released in 1988). iTunes also prepared a special Recoil pack (similar to the Depeche Mode iTunes pack) holding all Recoil releases. It was the first time that all Recoil material was available via iTunes. The packet didn't hold exclusives but did come in a DRM free high download quality version.
A special download-only remix of subHuman track "Killing Ground" by The Slips
Recoil (band)
Recoil is a musical project created by former Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder. Essentially a solo venture, Recoil began whilst Wilder was still in Depeche Mode as an outlet for his experimental, less pop-oriented compositions...
was released on on The Slips' MySpace page. Rumours surfaced that Alan Wilder was to start work on a new album pretty soon.
Late 2007, IGN, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., selected Recoil's subHuman album as 'Best Electronic Album' for the year 2007.
In February 2008, Alan Wilder announced, due to popular demand, a limited edition CD release of the double sided Recoil single "Prey"/"Allelujah" out on 25 February 2008. The CD is being issued, with the support of Mute, through the Russian label Gala Records in conjunction with depeche-mode.ru and is exclusively available on-line only via their website.
Also in February, the ex-Depeche Mode member released an open letter on the Side-Line Magazine website, titled "Music For The Masses - I think not". In the article Wilder handles his vision on today's shifting music market and the position of the artist in this. In the small essay Wilder touches the volume war
Loudness war
The loudness war or loudness race is a pejorative term for the apparent competition to digitally master and release recordings with increasing loudness.The phenomenon was first reported with respect to mastering practices for 7" singles...
, the effect of excessive compression, the download spiral, alternative ways to release music, the birth of the fan powered release of the limited enhanced single 'Prey'/'Allelujah' in Russia, Mute Records, Depeche Mode, and much more.
December saw a brand new free bonus mix of "Prey" (taken from the "subHuman" album) released as a Xmas download on December 8. The mix was approved by Alan Wilder and re-mixed by David Husser.
2010 - 2012
In January 2010, Alan announced a new album ("Selected") and tour ("Selected Events 2010") on his official Recoil website. With tracks selected by Alan himself, "Selected" represents a collection of Recoil tracks culled from prior albums. As well, a special bonus disc will include exclusive remixes and alternative versions."Selected Events" took Alan through Europe and North America, spanning from March through May 2010. These shows represented the first live performances ever undertaken by Alan with the Recoil project.
The next part of the tour kicked off with dates across North America, South America and ended in Europe between October & December 2010.
On 17 February 2010, Alan reunited briefly with former band Depeche Mode live on-stage at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
for one song, accompanying Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
for a rendition of the Depeche Mode standard, "Somebody". This was the first time in nearly 16 years that Alan performed with Depeche Mode, and roughly 15 years since he left the band. The band was playing a charity show, benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust. According to Alan, "Dave contacted me a few weeks back and asked if I'd be willing to join them on-stage. He assured me that everyone in the band was into the idea. I was very happy to accept, especially as it was all in a good cause and we were long overdue some kind of reunion of this sort. It was great to see everyone again and catch up a bit, and it was also the first time I have actually 'seen' Depeche Mode perform!"
"Selected Events" continued in 2011, featuring shows in three Baltic countries and appearances at festivals until the end of October.
Also in 2011, Alan organized with Omega an auction selling a lot of DM collectable items on September 3rd in Manchester. A DVD called "Collected +" was released as promotion for this event.
A "Strange Hours" live DVD will be released in 2012, from one of the Selected Events from Recoil's tour.
Albums
- 1+21+21 + 2, Alan Wilder's first solo release away from Depeche Mode, is a Recoil studio EP, released in August 1986. The CD and cassette version were released two years later with Recoil's second release, Hydrology....
(August 18, 1986 / Stumm 31) - HydrologyHydrology (album)Hydrology is a Recoil studio album, released January 25, 1988.Hydrology was Alan Wilder's second Recoil release. The CD and cassette version included the first release, 1+2....
(January 25, 1988 / Stumm 51) - Bloodline (April 13, 1992 / Stumm 94)
- Unsound MethodsUnsound MethodsUnsound Methods is the third Recoil studio album, released in 1997. It was recorded at Alan Wilder's home studio, The Thin Line, in Sussex, during sessions that lasted from September 1996 to March 1997. The album was produced by Alan Wilder, with assistance and coordination by Hepzibah Sessa, and...
(October 27, 1997 / Stumm 159) - Liquid (March 6, 2000 / Stumm 173)
- iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Recoil package (June 2007) - subHuman (July 9, 2007 / Stumm 279)
- SelectedSelected (album)Selected is the first compilation album released by the British musical project Recoil, released on April 19, 2010. The album features an eclectic mixture of vocalists including: Diamanda Galás, Joe Richardson, Douglas McCarthy, Samantha Coerbell, Siobhan Lynch, Toni Halliday, Nicole Blackman,...
(April 19, 2010)
- The CD release 1+2 and Hydrology were released as one.
Singles
- "Faith Healer" (March 9, 1992 / Mute 110) UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#60 - "Drifting" (October 13, 1997 / Mute 209)
- "Stalker"/"Missing Piece" (March 9, 1998 / Mute 214)
- "Strange Hours" (April 3, 2000 / Mute 232)
- "JezebelJezebelJezebel may refer to:* Jezebel, wife of King Ahab*Jezebel, in the Book of Revelation 2:20 a prophetess in the church of Thyatira* Jezebel , starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda* Jezebel , a blog aimed at women...
" (August 21, 2000 / Mute 233) - "Prey" (June 25, 2007 / iMute 372)
- "Prey"/"Allelujah" (enhanced CD) (March 2008 / CDMute372)
External links
- Shunt - The Official Recoil website
- The Official Recoil Forum
- The Official Recoil MySpace Page
- Black Box - german Recoil website
- german Recoil MySpace Page
- RECOIL19.NET - A Visual RECOIL Discography
- Recoiline - french Recoil website
- Recoil.tv
- Russian website dedicated to RECOIL
- Alan Wilder interview Side-Line Magazine June 2007
- Alan Wilder interview Shout! Online Magazine June 2007