Playing with Knives explained

Playing with Knives
Cover:Playing_With_Knives.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bizarre Inc
Album:Energique
A-Side:"Playing with Knives" (Quadrant Mix)
B-Side:Plutonic
Released:1991
1999 (remixes)
Recorded:1991
(Out of the Blue Studios, Manchester)
Genre:
Length:6:46 (Quadrant Mix)
3:22 (radio edit / video version)
3:19 (1999 version radio edit)
Label:Vinyl Solution
Producer:Bizarre Inc
Chronology:Bizarre Inc
Prev Title:Bizarre Theme
Prev Title2:X-Static
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:I'm Gonna Get You
Next Year:1992

"Playing with Knives" is a song by British electronic dance music group Bizarre Inc. It was their second single released through Vinyl Solution (their fourth single overall), as well as their second single to be written and produced as a trio. It is also the first single from their debut full-length album, Energique (1992). The song originally reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1991.[3] It was re-released later the same year and peaked at number four in the UK charts. In 1999, the song was released for a third time, charting at a peak of number 30.

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from AllMusic found that the song "has a wonderful squelching lead hook, leading into the mid-song shift to vocals and piano effortlessly."[4] Larry Flick from Billboard noted that it "spills industrial/acid keyboard noises on top of a fast-paced house groove". He added, "Nice contrast comes via occasional disco strings and diva wailing. Totally wild."[5] James Hamilton from Music Week complimented the track as a "frantic exciting rave".[6] Mandi James from NME felt that it showed "their scope, imagination and innate skill for pure pop songs".[7] Another editor, James Brown, wrote, "Token Techno track for people who prefer twisting and rolling at the hips to lying between the sheets listening to Peel. And a fine sound it is too."[8] Richie Blackmore from Record Mirror viewed it as a "furious piano-techno workout" that "is certainly at the cutting edge of current trends".[9] Marc Andrews from Smash Hits commented, "Throbbing "basslines" laced with meaningless phrases and there you have it. But just try sitting still when it's played at your next tea dance."[10]

Impact and legacy

NME ranked "Playing with Knives" number 14 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1991.[11]

Clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked the song number 24 in its "100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time" list in 1996.[12]

Same year, English DJ Tall Paul chose the song as one of his Top 10 tracks, saying, "I don't know why this hasn't been reissued yet. I've seen so many bootlegs. It's just waiting to be brought out again."[13]

Alexis Petridis, writing for The Guardian in 2020, ranked the Quadrant Mix of "Playing with Knives" at number 13 in his list of his 25 best early '90s breakbeat hardcore tracks.[14]

Sampling and covers versions

Track listings

A1. "Playing with Knives" (Quadrant Mix)

B1. "Playing with Dub"

B2. "Strings"

A1. "Playing with Knives" (The Climax)

B1. "Playing with Knives" (Love 91)

B2. "Playing with Knives" (Quadrant Radio Mix)

A. "Playing with Knives" (Quadrant Mix)

B. "Plutonic"

1. "Playing with Knives" (Radio Edit)

2. "Playing with Knives" (Tall Paul Mix)

3. "Playing with Knives" (Dillon and Dickins Mix)

4. "Playing with Knives" (Tarrentella Mix)

5. "Playing with Knives" (Al Scott Mix)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)4
UK Dance (Music Week)[15] 1

Year-end charts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Spirit of Ecstasy - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic. AllMusic. 26 August 2017.
  2. Book: Stanley, Bob . Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Bassline Changed My Life: Dance Music. 13 September 2013. Faber & Faber. 978-0-571-28198-5. 674.
  3. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100. UK Singles Chart. en. 17 March 1991. 11 November 2016.
  4. Web site: Ned . Raggett . Bizarre Inc. – Energique . . 8 November 2020 .
  5. Larry . Flick . Dance Trax: Giving 'Peace' A Spin; Irma Sets Up Shop In N.Y. . . 1 June 1991 . 31 . 11 October 2020 . Larry Flick.
  6. Dance . James . Hamilton . . 16 February 1991 . 8 . 3 October 2020 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  7. Mandi. James. Albums. NME. 31 October 1992. 34. 13 March 2023.
  8. James. Brown. Singles. NME. 23 March 1991. 16. 16 April 2023.
  9. Richie. Blackmore. Dj Directory. Record Mirror. 6 April 1991. 30. 11 December 2022.
  10. Marc . Andrews . Review: Singles . . 13 November 1991 . 51 . 20 October 2020 .
  11. Singles of the Year. NME. 21 December 1991. 2 May 2023.
  12. The 100 Greatest Dance Singles of All Time . . 1996 . 10 October 2020 .
  13. Jock On His Box. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 6 July 1996. 5. 5 September 2021.
  14. Alexis. Petridis. The greatest hardcore rave tracks – ranked!. 27 August 2020. The Guardian. Alexis Petridis.
  15. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 16 March 1991 . 20 . 27 September 2020.
  16. Web site: Most Broadcast of 1999: Club Chart Top 50 of 1999. Music Week. 22 January 2000. 32. 24 April 2022.