The Knife "Shaking the Habitual" (2013)

Shaking the Habitual
release date: Apr. 8, 2013
format: digital (2 cd)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: The Knife
label: Rabid Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "A Tooth for an Eye" - 2. "Full of Fire" (4 / 5) - 4. "Without You My Life Would Be Boring" - - Disc 2) 1. "Raging Lung" - 2. "Networking"

4th and proclaimed final studio album by The Knife released as stylised The Kniφe is issued as a double cd or a triple vinyl album. The duo hasn't released new material as often as most artists do, and four studio albums in 12 years may not sound as much but looking at the stylistic changes and stages they have gone through, document a considerable journey. This is no near Silent Shout or any other previous album by The Knife. Actually, it probably comes closest to their collaboration album from 2010 by being experimental and electronic. It's not classical opera though, but close to what one might categorise as modern or neo-classical, which is a rather broad term. Again, much like Tomorrow, in a Year (2010) this is more like an 'electronic' tapestry but really not without thought. The texts are about sexual behaviour, the political right, and human conditions. The title is apparently taken from the Michel Foucault quote: “The work of an intellectual is not to mould the political will of others; it is, through the analyses that he does in his own field, to re-examine evidence and assumptions, to shake up habitual ways of working and thinking, to dissipate conventional familiarities, to re-evaluate rules and institutions and to participate in the formation of a political will (where he has his role as citizen to play).” I cannot quite decide if I enjoy the music greatly or just hardly. Too often I end up putting one of their former albums on, which basically says that I don't, but somehow I still feel that I ought to because of something, and not just the subject matter of the lyrics, but elements within the music that stirs my attention.
[ allmusic.com, The Independent 4 / 5, Rolling Stone, NME 3,5 / 5, The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]
=> needledrop review [ 9 / 10 ]

The Knife, Mt. Sims, and Planningtorock "Tomorrow, in a Year" (2010)

Tomorrow, in a Year
release date: Feb. 1, 2010
format: digital (2 cd)
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,18]

Track highlight: Disc 2) 3. "Colouring of Pigeons"

A studio collaboration double album released as The Knife, Mt. Sims, and Planningtorock. The album is the studio version of the homonymous opera performed by Danish performance act Hotel Pro Forma based on Charles Darwin's 'On the Origin of the Species'. The collaboration artists have written the opera together with Planningtorock [aka Janine Rostron, English electronic musician] who participate in the music recordings but only has co-written music for two tracks, Mt. Sims [aka Matthew Sims, American (electronic) musician] who co-wrote most of the material with The Knife, who was involved in all compositions. Several traditional opera performers participate on the vocal side of the album. The music is experimental modern classical, or electronic opera and as such very different from what The Knife has released before.
I think, to fully appreciate the album, one has to be open to sub-genres of traditional opera as well as experimental music in general. It may not make much sense if you are a fan of synthpop only or techno for that matter. I must admit that the album needs more than just attention to digest. I find it interesting but difficult to enjoy in one take. I think, the music would suit fine as background noise if you are a creative painter, designer, or sculptor, or perhaps as a soundtrack.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Drowned in Sound 5 / 5 stars ]

The Knife "Silent Shout" (2006)

Silent Shout
release date: Mar. 20, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: The Knife
label: Rabid Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Silent Shout" - 2. "Neverland" - 4. "We Share Our Mother's Health" (live) - 6. "Marble House" - 7. "Like a Pen" - 9. "Forest Families"

3rd studio album by The Knife also signals the third stylistic change by the duo. On this, they introduce minimal techno to their repertoire, and I'm not really a big fan of traditional techno but neither is this - it's more like a new ingredient.
Initially, I found the album too extravagant, too experimentally electronic, but I have come to appreciate it more and more. The thing is, The Knife is constantly in search of new untouched territory and they do it ever so skilfully. The tracks on the album are like a complex tapestry, a variety of pieces that fit together like a jigsaw, forming a special dimension of sound, and I like it. But it requires time and attention. This album was the first by The Knife to reach number #1 on the Swedish album chart list.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, The Observer, Spin 4 / 5 stars ]

The Knife "Heartbeats" (2003)

Deep Cuts
release date: Jan. 17, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: The Knife
label: Rabid Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Heartbeats" (5 / 5) - 2. "Girls' Night Out" - 6. "Listen Now" (4 / 5) - 8. "You Take My Breath Away" - 10. "Is It Medicine" - 12. "Got 2 Let U" - 13. "Behind the Bushes"

2nd studio album by The Knife is like the debut from 2001 released on Rabid Records. Stylistically, the duo has turned up on the tempo and the variation making this an improvement from the interesting but slightly grey, moody, and one-dimensional debut. Instead, this turns out to be a highly original album of electronic pop and synthpop with more energy-laden and dance-friendly compositions.
The duo has had a considerable impact on musical styles in the first decade after the millennium and is highly respected for its innovative and experimental approach, which has much to do with this and the successive album. It's really hard to make comparisons with other artists because the music by The Knife builds on many sources but still turns out as something quite unique. In some tracks I hear Laurie Anderson, The Sugarcubes and Björk, but that's just a few, and never always the case. Swedish artist Jenny Wilson appears as guest vocalist and co-writer of track #8 "You Take My Breath Away", which was released as a single. Aside from that, track #1 brought the band more fame after Swedish artist José González in October released an acoustic cover on his debut album Veneer.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

The Knife "The Knife" (2001)

The Knife [debut]
release date: Feb. 5, 2001
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: The Knife
label: Rabid Records - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Neon" - 3. "Kino" - 4. "I Just Had to Die" - 5. "I Take Time" - 6. "Parade" - 7. "Zapata" - 8. "Bird" - 11. "Reindeer"

Studio album debut by The Knife, which is a project-duo consisting of (the siblings) Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer. The tracks are playful compositions of various styles. It's electropop, synthpop, and art pop but the band uses elements from trip hop and downtempo as well as points to new styles like electroclash and indietronica.
I think, the album may need time to open up and is less pop and chorus-founded than its successor.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]