This ominous electro-rock trio from Glasgow has released a debut of danceable mechanization and robotic crooning in the vein of Massive Attack and Death By Vegas that’s wired top to bottom. As a tribute to life’s "dark beauty", Violence & Birdsong, their vocals roll like a graveyard mist over mysterious beats with a tempo to make any zombie groove.
It’s one of those albums that makes electronic music both more technical and more accessible. Pop IDM is the name of their game, but with several standout moments that transcend both rock and club genres. Not just headphone music, and not necessarily just for the car stereo either, but maybe for your headphones while you’re driving your car. But that’s not recommended. Just blast it anywhere.
Even though it’s their first album, these three already seem like pros. Craig Grant, Chris Gordon, and Dave McClean could provide the soundtrack to the next Batman movie – if Batman was actually cool. Overall, The CGs provide vocals for McC’s beats, resulting in a three-heads-are-better-than-one depth of sound. "Evil Has Never" features vocals by Jenny Reeve, and as far as I can tell, several other tracks do as well. Her spots serve well as backing harmonies, and add extra harmonic depth to already-complex tunes.
Anglo-tribal beats drive "In Decline" while a guitar siren rises and falls and cool, throaty vocals skim over it all. "Taste For Harmony" builds on and runs off with the energy, upbeat and brisk. These are the most radio-friendly tracks and provide great instances of Union of Knives’ ability to write a catchy but complex song. There’s some sort of future-pop brewing here.
The electronic elements of Violence & Birdsong are enough to make your head and turntables spin, but they’re arranged in a way that is beautifully elaborate and calming at the same time. For a first effort, it’s certainly noteworthy, and covers a relatively wide range of territory.
