::: BEST OF '06



The Knife :: Marble House (feat. Jay-Jay Johanson) (2006)

[VIDEO]

One of the best songs on the album, it begins with the synthesised sound of castanets before evolving into techno-ballad in waltz time.‘We wanted to do something between The Sabres Of Paradise’s Wilmot and the movie The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. And the lyrics may be performed by somebody who devotes herself to anything, just to have something to fill up her time.’ :: from The Knife's official site

Where to get the album.

HamsterHuey hipped me to "The Knife" and I absolutely adore their music!

HamsterHuey hipped me to "The Knife" and I still haven't made up my mind.

Thank goodness this thread got @ least one response. I was gonna go " "

This is one of the best records of the year, America, GET WITH IT.

I sampled some of their stuff on iTunes. Not feelin' it. Their music sounds interesting, but it didn't grab me.

AT FIRST BLUSH, they sound like a more new-wavey, less soulful Jazzanova.
[Edited 8/28/06 14:58pm]

To be fair, Silent Shout is not the kind of album you can properly judge with a bunch of 30-second iTunes snippets. That's like getting up to go to the bathroom 6 times during a movie.

You'd never get the same effect.

My suggestion, if you want to *really* preview this album is to get some full tracks or preview it at a listening booth in a record store or a library.

This is not a "singles"/bits-'n'-pieces-type album. And it wasn't designed that way (if you're looking for something less story-driven and catchier, try "Deep Cuts" which is more bright sonically). You have to take in every track to understand what they're conveying here.

This is an unabashedly dark electronic album. And it's a mood album (it may have hit you @ the wrong time). I don't listen to this when I'm gleeful, but if you feel a bit sorrowful or dark, it fits. When all the lites go out and you play this at nite, it's like magic.

BTW, Silent Shout is not geared for a jazz, funk or soul head.

Those are the wrong ways to approach this album!

There's some breakbeat/hiphop-esque stuff with the lead American single "We Share Our Mothers' Health," but the impetus of the record is dark experimental electronica.

Plus, The Knife are very experimental and obscure in the way the tackle albums, so it helps to have an appreciation for electronica, synths and the avant garde when approaching this record. Their live shows are the same way. Like sonic exhibitions.

All fair points, Mara. That's why I said, at first blush I wasn't feeling it.

True. Given, I still think it's awesome you even bothered to check out the album. Lots of folks aren't just *willing* to dabble in experimental electronica like that.

It's a different beast, but when you get into it: W-O-W.

...
[Edited 8/29/06 7:55am]

Mara said:

Heartbeats is a pop classic, so I was surprised at how un-pop the new record is. I do feel like it sacrifices melody without beefing up the textures enough to compensate.