Talk about preaching to the choir.... Few bands have been more "blogged upon" than the Knife in the past year or so. Of course, their new album, Silent Shout [Mute Records], wasn't officially released in the U.S. till late July '06, but songs from that record, as well as countless remixes, have been buzzing the blogosphere for just about forever now.
I don't really know where this Swedish duo came from (well... Stockholm, apparently). But they've been together seven years now, and it wasn't till sometime in '05 that I first heard of them. (They're brother and sister, actually, so I guess they've been "together" for more than seven years - which sort of automatically makes them more interesting than, say, Roxette. But perhaps still LESS interesting than, say, ABBA.) (Marital dynamics, and all that.)
The first time through Silent Shout, I was especially impressed by just four of its songs - "Marble House," "Forest Families," and the two offered - for a limited time - below. With repeated listens, however, one comes to realize that this is an of-a-piece album; the mood it evokes is as important as the tunes themselves. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I heard something this cool, spooky, and spectral. It's night-driving music. In winter. While contemplating suicide. Or lost love. Or some such.
Go to the Knife's MySpace page [here] to check out some U.S. live performances they have planned for November.
From the LP Silent Shout, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Silent Shout"
[MP3] "Neverland"
From the LP Deep Cuts, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "Listen Now"
From the soundtrack to Hannah Med H, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "The Bridge"
BONUS TRACK >>>
[MP3] Stina Nordenstam/"Parliament Square" [The Knife Remix]
yes, I am part of the choir, too. "let me tell you something you already know" "no, really"
ReplyDeleteSilent Shout was gifted to me earlier this year. Prior to that, I had never heard The Knife. A couple of songs stuck in my head, but I didn't give it full album time, and only caught a piece here and there on shuffle. Then, a couple of months ago, I'm in a rut and either want to break out or wallow a bit deeper first. Choosing the latter, I resort my library by artist instead of date last added, and look for something interesting. For the first time I see Silent Shout as an album and say to myself, Why Not?
My God, what a consuming album. Yes, the voice effects are a bit klisch (is that a word or did i make it up?), but it still works - as an album.
I have this cd in my car now, and I can get lost in it the way I could get lost in a [insert your favorite 'lose myself from the world' album].
(what? did you think I'd start a flame war by naming names?)
great post...i totally concur...a couple of months ago, i lost a whole saturday on repeated listens...transporting, moody and layered - what a great cd! one of my faves this year!!
ReplyDeleteHi people
ReplyDeleteI do not know what to give for Christmas of the to friends, advise something ....
Enjoyed a lot! » » »
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