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Posts tagged Fever Ray
Who Can Say Where We’re Going
Jan 25th
Another Spotify playlist, this time a rather mellow one as I’ve been incredibly lazy this week (same goes for my cat, hence the picture). Amongst the artists included: Brendan Perry, Lykke Li, Roxy Music, Great Lake Swimmers, Fever Ray… Listen.
Fever Ray – “Fever Ray”
Jan 12th
When I heard that Karin Dreijer of The Knife was releasing a solo album, I got all kinds of excited. But upon my first listen of the single “If I had a Heart” I was actually a bit disappointed. I had expected something far different from The Knife’s experimental electrosound, perhaps something more like Karin’s former band, indie rockers Honey Is Cool. Instead we got a light version of The Knife – pretty much the same, just less danceable.
However once I got over my initial disappointment and (admittedly somewhat unfounded) expectations and gave the album a chance, I found myself falling in love with Fever Ray. Granted I still think of it mostly to be a churned down version of The Knife, but considering how good it is that really doesn’t matter anymore.
“If I Had a Heart” makes an eerie start of the album, leading you in on what I imagine to be a narrow dark wooden path that is just as ghostly as it is beautiful. Sometimes the path clears and you can see the night sky, as well as roads, buildings and distant cities. But you’re still in a whole different world, cut off from that around you. The album as a whole is like having a soundtrack to a haunting dream you can’t and honestly don’t want to escape.
I apologize for sounding like a flake when reviewing this album but these are the images that pop into my mind when listening to Fever Ray. It’s nothing short of brilliant and I couldn’t think of a better way than to start off the new year. So whether you’re starved for new ‘Knife material or completely new to the sound I highly recommend Karin Dreijer’s solo effort.
Release dates: March 18th 2009 (Sweden), March 23rd (UK) and March 24th (US) via Rabid Records and Mute.