# Inky Bloaters

Inky Bloaters is the third solo album by Danielle Dax, an English experimental musician and former member of the Lemon Kittens. It was originally recorded between 1985 & 1987, and released in 1987 on the Awesome Records label. This was the last album by Dax released on the Awesome label before signing with Sire. The album was re-released in 1993 on the Biter of Thorpe label (BOT131-04CD) and distributed through World Serpent Distribution.
Dax wrote all the lyrics for the album and shared music writing and arrangement with David Knight. Dax provided vocals, guitars, keyboards, flute, sitar, kalimba, percussion and drone guitar. David Knight played guitars, tapes, keyboards, percussion and drone guitar. Ian Sturgess played additional bass, harmonica, jaw harp and percussion. Steve Reeves played guitar and composed music for When I Was Young. Martyn Watts played drums. The cover artwork is by Dax.

## Track listing

All lyrics are written by Danielle Dax; all music is composed by Danielle Dax and David Knight
All tracks except "Born to Be Bad" appear on the 1988 US compilation Dark Adapted Eye. Tracks 5–6, 8 and 10-11 appear on the 1995 UK compilation Comatose-Non-Reaction. A different recording of "Fizzing Human-Bomb" was released on The Janice Long Session EP.

## Reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Michael Jourdan of AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars. He noted the album sounded "bigger" and "more commercial" than her previous albums, with traces of "guitar-driven dance-pop" of the 1980s decade. He compared "Flashback" with the work of Blondie and noted "Big Hollow Man" had "[taken] a page from Prince". However, Jourdan felt that the "more conventional arrangements" resulted in an album that had become more dated than her previous work. The songs "Flashback", "Inky Bloaters", "Big Hollow Man", "Brimstone in a Barren Land" and "Where the Flies Are" were highlighted as standouts from the album.

## Singles
### Yummer–Yummer Man (21 October 1985)

U.K. 7" – Awesome Records AOR 3
* "Yummer–Yummer Man" – 3:25
* "Bad Miss 'M'" – 2:47
U.K. 12" – Awesome Records AOR 3T
* "Fizzing Human Bomb" – 3:45
* "Yummer–Yummer Man" – 3:25
* "Bad Miss 'M'" – 2:47

### Where the Flies Are (August 1986)

U.K. 7" – Awesome Records AOR 6
* "Where the Flies Are" (Edit) – 2:57
* "When I Was Young" – 3:55
U.K. 12" – Awesome Records AOR 6T
* "Where the Flies Are" – 3:20
* "Up in Arms" – 3:01
* "When I Was Young" – 3:55

### Big Hollow Man (July 1987)

U.K. 7" – Awesome Records AOR 10
* "Big Hollow Man" (Remix) – 5:02
* "Muzzles" – 3:22
U.K. 12" – Awesome Records AOR 10T
* "Big Hollow Man" (Remix) – 5:02
* "Muzzles" – 3:22
* "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" – 1:55

## Promotional Singles
### Inky Bloaters (April 1987)

Japan 7" Promo – VAP PR–110
* "Inky Bloaters" – 3:32
* "Yummer–Yummer Man" – 3:25

## Charts

Inky Bloaters
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
| UK Indie Chart | 9 |
"Yummer Yummer Man"
| Chart (1985) | Peak position |
| UK Indie Chart | 7 |
"Where the Flies Are"
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
| UK Indie Chart | 14 |
"Big Hollow Man"
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
| UK Indie Chart | 4 |

## Release History

| Country | Date | Format | Label | Catalog |
| Japan | 1 April 1987 | LP | VAP | 35182-25 |
| Japan | 1 April 1987 | CD | VAP | 85011-32 |
| United Kingdom | 26 May 1987 | LP | Awesome Records | AOR 13 |
| United Kingdom | 26 May 1987 | CD | Awesome Records | AOR 13CD |
| Germany | 1987 | LP | Rough Trade | RTD 49 |
| Scandinavia | 1987 | LP | Mega Records | MRLP 3088 |
| United Kingdom | 1993 | CD | Biter of Thorpe | bot 131-04 CD |