Artist Profile: Union Of Knives
File this under Could Not Possibly Be More Right Up My Alley. Seriously, remember how I said my music taste was becoming more and more defined by two genres: Brit Pop and slickly produced electronic tracks? Well it’s a fusion of those two styles that is exactly what Union of Knives bring to the table, and that’s exactly why their one of my favorite new bands of 2006. Angular guitar riffs drenched in undulating synths and pulsing drum beats create a unique dark electro-pop sound that’s a welcomed refreshment in the UK’s crowded (and played-out) dance punk scene. All in all, this adds up to what it might sound like if Sigur Ros and Radiohead got high as shit together and invited the Faint over for drinks and a synthesizer jam session, and then liked the results so much that they went ahead and released an album together.
The closest thing we may ever get to that album is Union of Knive’s debut, Violence & Birdsong, which compiles all of the group’s previously-released tracks (from their 2005 self-titled debut EP and 2006’s “I Decline” single), shows them a little reproduction love and unleashes them on the masses. Album opener “Opposite Direction” draws you in with a twenty-second intro that’s straight out of a dark and twisted carnival soundtrack (you know, like what you hear on all those Dark & Twisted Carnival Music compilations you have lying around), before a tidal wave of moody synths crush down on the listener and stay the course the rest of the way out. “Taste For Harmony” is the album’s lead single, and while you won’t find a catchier chorus on the album, it’s previously-released “Evil Has Never” that is the real burner of the bunch. With a dancefloor-ready BPM rate, that addictive “evil has never loved you” refrain, and catchy boy-girl verses courtesy of Jenny Reeves (who also appears on “Opposite Direction”), it seems like the track most immediately ready to roar out the gates and get the indie kids moving. Taking a similar approach to “Opposite Direction” (gentle lead-in to crushing beat), it’s the album’s standout track and reason enough on its own to start expecting big things from this Glasgow trio. Violence & Birdsong is one of my favorite debuts of ‘06 so far, so you’d be wise to get on it and feel the hotness below.
MP3s:
“Opposite Direction” - Union Of Knives
“Evil Has Never” - Union Of Knives ((highly recommended))
“Taste For Harmony” - Union Of Knives
August 30th, 2006 at 6:47 am
had a listen but am not really feeling it so far..
maybe requires a few more listens though
reminds me a lot of another british band from a few years ago who were huge in the states for a year on the back of a car ad they soundtracked…
can’t think of their name, they were kinda like underworld but without the bite or the killer beats
August 30th, 2006 at 7:58 am
Dirty Vegas?
They’re a fair bit different.
I’ve been looking for Union of Knives stuff for a while now!
They’re very good.
August 30th, 2006 at 8:31 am
I try not to do this unless I know people will like the band, like with Epic Man, but if you want ‘Electronic-dancey-ness-ness’ have a look at Klaxons.
http://www.myspace.com/klaxons
They’re a rave band.
They’re the ‘new in thing’ round here, and are absolutely mental live.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Jamie, don’t worry, keep the suggestions coming. However, I actually am aware of Klaxons (I’m obsessed with most of Kitsune Records’ releases), and I’ve been playing “Atlantis To Interzone” at parties since July now. Love that song, but I haven’t totally warmed up to the rest of their material yet, though I completely believe you that they’d bring any live venue to the ground.
As for Baz, I forgot to mention that it took me a couple listens to totally love it as well, but yeah, I think you might be thinking of Dirty Vegas, who are listed as a “Sounds Like” on UoK’s MySpace.
September 1st, 2006 at 11:15 pm
I tried out the samples of Union of Knives and have officially fallen in love with this music. When you said “File this under Could Not Possibly Be More Right Up My Alley” I could have said the same thing about this band. They’re awesome. I just wish that I could get the album off the US itunes….I’m dying to hear the rest of their stuff. Thanks for this musical suggestion.
September 4th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
ah yes - ‘dirty vegas’, that’s who i’m thinking of
will give this a few more whirls and see what i think
klaxons aren’t bad at all - wasn’t that impressed at first but they’re gradually growing on me!
September 4th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Evil Has Never Loved You has sneaked up on me and won’t let me stop playing it now.
It’s bloody brilliant.
September 4th, 2006 at 9:02 pm
Yeah, I know, it definitely has a way of doing that - same thing happened to me. I was all about “Opposite Direction”, “Taste For Harmony” and not that much else on the album, then “Evil Has Never” got all up in my kool-aid and I haven’t gotten it out of my head since.