THE KNIFE SILENT SHOUT: AN AUDIO VISUAL EXPERIENCE DVD RABID, BORDER RELEASE: NOVEMBER 8, 2006 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 9, 2006

If you are one of the lucky ones who caught The Knife on their first – and so far only – tour, you know their performance is like nothing else. Wearing weird masks, the siblings Olof and Karin Dreijer stand behind a thin veil, upon which cool projections are cast. Also, the live sound is in surround, which is a first for me at least.

This DVD features a gig recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the beginning of this year, and while it of course doesn’t give the same feeling as actually being there, it’s the next best thing. We also get a closer glimpse of the duo than live. The camera is focused on the performance, and the audience is noweher to be seen. Mostly you can’t hear it either, except between tracks.

The sound quality is nothing short of excellent, and the disc takes advantage of 5.1 surround. I wasn’t really a fan of The Knife before I saw them at the Arvika Festival in Sweden this summer, but I find I really enjoy them now. Karin’s quirky vocals and the smooth electronic music create a sort of trancelike state. Their older material is redone, in a new slick, modern costume, which makes it gel together well with the songs from the latest album “Silent Shout”.

Also included on the DVD are all the videos the band has made. I really like some of their videos, so it’s a nice inclusion. The live performance is the main reason for buying this DVD though. A big reason it is.

JOHAN CARLSSON