An annihilating delirium of sound and vision, The Royal We shatters preconceived notions of experimentation—with vocal contortions aplenty—and simply vanishes into a surreal dreamworld.
Twenty Knives
We’re not sure how this one slipped under the radar. Perhaps intentionally meant to catch you off-guard, Steven McDonald (aka Twenty Knives) serves The Royal We—a virtual smorgasbord of electronics that flickers uncomfortably between Raoul Sinier, early V/VM, The Mitgang Audio and Global Goon. A cross-bred frenzy of disjointed vocals, both smothered in distress and subtlety, Twenty Knives is not at all concerned with any one particular genre. Fleshing out classical soundtracks that even Kattoo might consider in his playlists—digitized pops, sizzles and whirs flash around vintage computer conversations as poetically dislocated rhythms drip down your spine. Like being transported through the ages, time shifts with an absence of place on this full length for Hymen. Ethereal ambiences and silky lyrics are knitted with ease and finesse just as electrons ricochet off of polished analog music boxes. Though plenty of bits and bytes tend to wither away in a maze of obtuse audio contours, The Royal We plants several seeds of left-field explorations that may alienate listeners upon first rotation. All in good fun—or so we think—Twenty Knives escapes reality by not taking himself too seriously and inadvertently tangles his productions in the process. An annihilating delirium of sound and vision, The Royal We shatters preconceived notions of experimentation—with vocal contortions aplenty—and simply vanishes into a surreal dreamworld.
The Royal We is available on Hymen. [Release page] [Listen or Purchase]
