HH's Dope Electronic Album Of The Week; The Knife's Silent Shout

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Thread started 04/28/08 12:18pm

HamsterHuey

HH's Dope Electronic Album Of The Week; The Knife's Silent Shout

Olof and Karin Dreijer released their first album in 2001 and have since been developing an own style in electronic music. Most people know José González cover of their song Heartbeats, which was featured in a worldwide ad-campaign.

Still rather avant-garde after three regular albums and a soundtrack, their third regular, Silent Shout hit the shelves in 2006. I remember hearing We Share Our Mothers' Health and my instant reaction to it, just the same as I once had with the beat and guitar on When Doves Cry, Annie Lennox's voice on Who's That Girl and the haunting voice of Elizabeth Frasier on Massive Attack's Teardrop. Sometimes you just need ONE listen and so it was with We Share Out Mothers' Health; that wavering synth turning into the stuttering melody, then put firmly into place by a grounding beat; it all added up to an instant love.

I went out that same afternoon and got the album. I downloaded it onto my iPod and together with Ellen Allien & Apparat's Orchestra Of Bubbles, it has never left it.

The album plays as a whole; the songs fit, a nice feat in the ever expanding MySpace universe, where it all seems about singles and sales. It took me on a journey I would like to recommend to everyone, but I know it will not be everyone's taste. No biggie.

Whenever asked to put The Knife in a box I always say; "The Eurythmics in 83 X's Björk X's the Twin Peaks soundtrack and then you're not even half way there". Thing is; Olof and Karin Dreijer carved out a nice little niche that no one else fills quite as good.

I love they way they switch from hard techno beats to forlorn music to paint the picture they like. They are play techno-folk. Their voices distorded, their words take on different forms and help you with an inner lift-off.

The way I hooked to the album made me get the older stuff too, and sure, Silent Shout is their most pronounced album, like Dirty Mind was not quite the thing you expect after his self-titled second album, but not less good.

Then, hooked as I was, I went to their 2007 Amsterdam live concert, draggin with me some friends, that were left as bewildered as I was... the show was an extension of how they reach out with their image; distant, yet full-on. They performed behind a see-through veil, on which you could see them, with their glow-in-the-dark mask and electronic drum sticks. On the screen; projected images, connecting with the pounding, driving beats or their haunting quiet songs.

Short performance, but not less impressing. Maybe even more impressing, as time seemed to have stretched during the 65 minutes they performed. I was speechless then; people who know me a little know this is rare; I often like to disect a performance immediately, but this time I had to gather some strength...

So. If you like what you've read, if you like what you see; go explore. I whole heartedly recommend this album. It was my favourite album of 2006, no, the best SINCE 2006, nothing has bested it yet. I can't wait to hear new material by these people...

mushy

magnificentsyn thesizer	Wonderful Album! they definitely own their style. they've also done a good job at keeping the mystery. i can't wait until their next one drops.
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magnificentsyn thesizer	btw, Ellen Allien & Apparat's Orchestra Of Bubbles is pretty dope too. and you might find a couple of gems on Apparat's album Walls and if you can get your hands on Telefon Tel Aviv's mixes of Apparat's stuff you might find that's also brilliant.
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