So potent is the voice of Karin Dreijer Andersson (most popular now for both her collaborative and solo work) that I am having hard time to find words. I was hearing about this The Knife quite late (2006) by someone who was having the taste very much in question after a flippant (good word no?) remark about The Libertines are being "far superior to Babyshambles". I do not have to say to you my friends, I was not taking with seriousness his (in my opinion) uneducated and very possible to be poor advice. But then I was ending up with a copy of 2006's Silent Shout on a chance while I was making the (I am aware illegal) maneuver of "music-swapping-with-a-friend". To be like frank, the album was blowing my mind - over and over again on the long-haul flight from Los Angeles to London for that christmas. Apparently, this marvellous band was making the two albums before this one that were not having the proper reception in the world. Silent Shout was making for them a success which was then having the previous albums re-released in 2006: The Knife and Deep Cuts. These two albums, whilst not having the same brilliant complexity, nevertheless are serving as an interesting demonstration of the evolution of this group - one of the best things to come from Sweden since the meatballs (first appearing in the print of a Swedish cookbook in 1754). For those of you who have the interest and have not heard, it is perhaps a good idea to listen.
Getting to the point: one of the most exciting releases for me of the 2009 - Karin Dreijer Andersson's solo project Fever Ray debut - the self-titled "Fever Ray". Upon first listen, it is not so different from some of the more ethereal tracks from Silent Shout, but further listening reveals more. The songs from the album are not having the common structure and form of the pop songs, and her words are not really having the clear meaning (at least for me to understand). This is making for the surreal experience, and for this I was listening many times over to the whole album (really until I couldn't listen anymore). Then, as is custom with such things, they are releasing the remix EP of the track "Seven". Featuring such dance music luminaries as Marcel Dettman and Seth Troxler (two of my most favorites), this EP is an absolute must-buy. I was most pleased to hear the somewhat unusual combination of Fever Ray and Seth Troxler; some of his releases this past year have been so dark and minimal, one might expect such an approach to this remix. It is not so here. This track is hypnotic, atmospheric, and kind of an analog disco gem from the future. I invite you listen to it on repeat for a while!
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