"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.[5] 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.
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."[6]Larry Flick from Billboard magazine 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."[1]James Hamilton from Music Week complimented the track as a "frantic exciting rave".[3] Mandi James from NME felt it showed "their scope, imagination and innate skill for pure pop songs".[7] Another NME 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 described it as a "furious piano-techno workout" that "is certainly at the cutting edge of current trends".[4] 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."[9]
Impact and legacy
NME ranked "Playing with Knives" number 14 in their list of "Singles of the Year" in December 1991.[10]
Clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked the song number 24 in its "100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time" list in 1996.[11]
Same year, English DJ Tall Paul named it 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."[12]
Classic Pop ranked it number 39 in their list of the 40 top dance tracks from the 90's in February 2022.[14]
Sampling and covers versions
"Playing with Knives" uses vocal samples from the 1990 house track "Shelter Me" by Circuit. Later in 1991, Circuit released a remix of "Shelter Me" known as the Retaliation Mix, which itself samples the acid bassline from "Playing with Knives".
The American/British act Blue Pearl used the song as their basis for their 1991 single "(Can You) Feel the Passion," which went on to be a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number one on Billboard'sDance Club Songs chart in 1992. The group mentions "Playing with Knives" in the chorus.
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