Evolver is the third album by English electronic dance group the Grid, released on 19 September 1994 by Deconstruction Records. "Swamp Thing" is the best-known song from the album, becoming a dance club favourite and chart-hit in the UK, Europe and Australia. "Texas Cowboys" and "Rollercoaster" were also released as singles. Evolver reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart.
Paul Mathur from Melody Maker said, "Evolver is packed with potential incidental music for sporting highlights, but manages to cram in a heap of hitherto techno-unfriendly sounds just to further irritate those who believe in the sanctity of the dancefloor metronome." Alan Jones from Music Week noted, "The enormity of The Grid's 'Swamp Thing' (one of the year's 10 biggest sellers) and their cult status is such that this album will undoubtedly sell well, at least initially, but a little more adventurousness with their hybrid house/techno/trance style wouldn't have gone amiss."
Johnny Dee from NME wrote, "Like magicians conjuring white rabbits, doves and ham sandwiches from top hats into the foreign land of the theatre, The Grid's Evolver gameplan centres around their fantastic techno handbag and the ensuing merry cavalcade of a thousand comical wedding reception dances." Mark Frith from Smash Hits named it Best New Album, adding, "Best is a stunning track called 'Texas Cowboys' which is a frenetic hi-energy romp with Orb-type samples. Silver dreadlocks are going to be very big this autumn."
Note
Adapted from the album's liner notes.
Additional musicians
Technical