Album Review: Edits by Recoil (1997)
If you’re into electronic music that feels like it’s whispering secrets directly into your brain, Edits by Recoil is worth a spin. Released in 1997 under Mute Records, this UK gem dives deep into experimental vibes with dashes of downtempo, spoken word, illbient, and trip-hop. It’s not the kind of album you throw on at a house party unless your friends are super into moody soundscapes and cryptic lyrics. But hey, if they are, you’ll look like a genius for introducing them to this.
Let’s talk tracks—specifically “Drifting” and “Stalker.” These two have stuck with me for reasons I can’t fully explain.
“Drifting” kicks things off with this hypnotic groove that feels like floating down a river at twilight. The beats are slow but deliberate, kinda like when you’re zoning out during a long drive and suddenly notice how beautiful the sky looks. Alan Wilder (yeah, the guy behind all the writing) layers these eerie vocal snippets over the track, giving it an almost cinematic vibe. You don’t just listen to “Drifting”—you experience it.
Then there’s “Stalker,” which hits different. This one creeps up on you, pun totally intended. There’s something unsettling about the way the bassline rumbles beneath distorted voices. It’s dark, brooding, and honestly? Kinda sexy in a weird way. Like, imagine walking through an abandoned city late at night while wearing headphones. That’s “Stalker.”
Props go to Steve Lyon for pulling double duty as both producer and engineer—he really nails the balance between chaos and clarity here. And shoutout to Ian Cooper for mastering; dude made sure everything sounded crisp without losing its raw edge.
What makes Edits stand out isn’t just its genre-blurring style—it’s how personal it feels. Listening to it, you get the sense that Wilder wasn’t trying to impress anyone. He was just making what came naturally, letting his ideas breathe without forcing anything.
Here’s the random thought I’ll leave you with: If Edits were a person, it’d probably be that quiet friend who says little but always seems to know exactly what’s going on. You might not understand them right away, but once you do, they stick with you forever. Give it a shot—you might end up loving it more than you expected.
