"The Recluse" is the fourth single from Plan B's second album The Defamation of Strickland Banks

The Defamation of Strickland Banks

The Defamation of Strickland Banks is the second studio album from British rapper Plan B which was released on 12 April 2010. The album is a departure from the sound heard on Plan B's debut album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words, with the rapper's sophomore effort providing a showcase for much...

. The single was released on 4 October 2010. "The Recluse" has been labeled as "one of his best singles to date" by critics, "neatly marrying poignancy and aggression into a 4-minute long track with a surplus of scaling strings and his voice showing more desperation for release than ever before."

Music video

The music video for "The Recluse" was directed by Daniel Wolfe and shows Strickland Banks (played by Plan B) during his time in prison, as well as flashbacks of his life before prison. It was first aired online on YouTube on September 14, 2010. Actress Vicky McClure

Vicky McClure

Vicky McClure is a BAFTA-winning English actress best known for her work in the films of Shane Meadows. She played the title character's sister Ladine in A Room for Romeo Brass , and featured in Meadows's most successful film to date, This Is England...

 plays Strickland Banks' girlfriend. At the start of the video a snippet of "The Ballad of Belmarsh" can be heard.

Tracklisting

• CD Single

1. "The Recluse" – 3:19
2. "The Recluse" (Nero Remix) – 4:36
3. "The Recluse" (Netsky
   Netsky (drum and bass musician)
   Boris Daenen, better known as Netsky , is a Belgian drum and bass producer. The name Netsky is based on the computer virus of the same name.-History:...
   
    Remix) – 4:56

• Digital Download E.P.

1. "The Recluse" - 3:19
2. "The Recluse" (Nero Remix) – 4:36
3. "The Recluse" (Netsky
   Netsky (drum and bass musician)
   Boris Daenen, better known as Netsky , is a Belgian drum and bass producer. The name Netsky is based on the computer virus of the same name.-History:...
   
    Remix) – 4:56
4. "The Recluse" (Chase & Status
   Chase & Status
   Chase & Status are an electronic music production duo from London consisting of Saul Milton and Will Kennard. MC Rage & Andy Gangadeen also make up the live band.-2003-2005:...
   
    Remix) - 3:53
5. "The Recluse" (RAK Version) - 3:23

Personnel

• Plan B – vocals, producer

Production

• Eric Appapoulay
  Eric Appapoulay
  Eric Appapoulay is a British singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, programmer, multi-instrumentalist and guitarist. Appapoulay has been the bass player for musician Neneh Cherry, the musical director for songs by Daniel Bedingfield, drummer/percussionist for both Plan B and Nitin Sawhney, and...
  
   – additional producer
• David McEwan
  David McEwan (producer)
  David McEwan is Australian/British music producer, engineer, composer, and a member of the band The Safires. He is the co-owner of The Sanctuary Recording Studio in London and is best known for his work on the award-winning Plan B album The Defamation of Strickland Banks. He has also had long time...
  
   – engineer
• Mark "Top" Rankin – mixing

Additional musicians

• Tom Wright-Goss – guitar
• Eric Appapoulay – bass
• Richard Cassell – drums

Chart performance

>

Chart (2010)	Peak position
UK R&B (The Official Charts Company UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... )	10