Recoil – Hydrology (1988)

Good evening folks! After choosing “Hydrology” as my another album for Positive Reviews, I wasn't aware how much I still don’t know about the artist I like to listening. Recoil is a project which started with Alan Wilder demo. After I heard his name I was like: isn't it that guy from Depeche Mode? I dived quickly to Wikipedia to find out more about it and I was right! This name rang a bell just quite right but I was in shock. How could I pass on his work until this point? After getting myself back to normal I started to explore his album. And what did I discover? A lot of unexpecting moments that stayed deep into my head. But to not get ahead of myself let me take you slowly but firmly through these 3 songs that filled for more than 37 minutes (yep, This is not a joke). “Grain” is the first song and also the shortest one (barely 7 minutes and 44 seconds;) on this album. It starts with a grand piano sound that plays a perfect loop for some first couple of minutes, then other sounds start to emerge to create almost a movie-type theme. After a while more dramatic encounter starts, with oboe like synthesizers sounds. More emotions and unexpected moments start to fill the speakers. Already far deep into song and I didn’t feel bored for even a second. It has this transcendence vibe that kept me going. I was curious if this will be the case with the rest of the songs (hence there are like twice as on as “Grain”). Second song “Stone” quickly showed me that this album will be something more than just piano and a lot of dramaturgy. Next song brings more to the table than previous one. After 3 minutes first surprise comes: sound changes completely. From delicate nature sound into full electronica blast. You can hear some fills that can be associate with some of Depeche Mode work, but songs from “Hydrology” are more out of the mainstream highway. They test not only the creativity of Alan Wilder but also they test the listeners. Whole album is a chance for everyone to drop the stereotypes they find in radio friendly songs and jump into completely different wagon. 3 minutes later another surprise emerges. Even more sound comes, giving the idea that if any Sci-Fi/Utopian style movie would happens that time, “Stone” should be included in it. More and more changes coming in second half of the song, but at the end you have a mix of sound you are familiar with (from the start of the track). It was a perfect idea to give this element of being whole for that tune. So far I was hooked and focused. I wanted to get into the last one to see what more is waiting for me. In “The Sermon” I found even more of unexpected elements and by far it is my favourite song on this album. Nice similar tempo intro helps to get swiftly into main part of the track. I wasn’t surprise again when completely different scenery approached after a couple of minutes, but I welcomed it with arms (and ears!) wide open. Tantric and hypnotizing loop kept me long and when drums and quicker tempo found their way into the track I was even more happier. With a big surprise I realized I'm slowly getting into the end of the album! Alan found a way to create perfect loops that don’t drag along but fill the time of the songs perfectly. But “Hydrology” wasn’t done! Last unexpected moment happened when tribal incantation started to take a place of the electronic music. It sounded like a magic done by Native Americans. With their voices I finished my trip with this amazing album.

Conclusion: “Hydrology” is a must for everyone who wants to experience something unusual, outstanding and never came across of Recoil songs. Soon I’m going for holiday and I know exactly what will fill my ears on not so long flights! Alan Wilder is a mastermind, a visioner who gave a glimpse of his magical possibilities on this album. I am mesmerized by it and I definitely will come back to it in the future!