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THE REVIEW
After the release of an EP and the single “I Decline", mid-August marked the official debut of this trio from Glasgow, with an extremely physical and visceral album, set in a dark and nostalgic atmosphere despite the sounds at play.
The voices are beautiful, often whispered à la Gregor Samsa, but never monotonous, sung over a dirty sound reminiscent of Unkle and sometimes almost tribal. The electronics, which certainly play their part, are not an end in themselves but serve the melodies, to the point where the recent "Eraser" by Thom Yorke inevitably comes to mind (and thus Radiohead).
But Union Of Knives mainly play both on the contrast created between their musical distortions and the trembling vocals, and on riffs as obsessive as they are engaging, in a mix that is very easy to listen to. In fact, the 11 tracks of the album are very catchy, yet "Violence & Birdsong" curiously remains an album imbued with darkness and cold, despite the "warm" voices and McClean's pulsating electronic percussion, which sometimes come close to the verge of dance.
Certainly, they do not reach the creativity of the Guillemots (which is very difficult), but this is a debut well above average and one that brings hope.
Regards, Addison.
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Summary by Bot
Union Of Knives' debut album 'Violence & Birdsong' presents a dark and nostalgic atmosphere with tribal electronics and haunting whispered vocals. The album is catchy and engaging, balancing melodic warmth with cold, distorted sounds. Influences from Unkle, Thom Yorke, and Radiohead are evident. Overall, a strong debut that holds hope for the band's future.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Union of Knives
A Scottish electronic/alternative trio from Glasgow; their debut album Violence & Birdsong was released in 2006 and received positive reviews for its dark, visceral sound and vocals.01 Reviews
