DEAR LORD, NO DEAL

A Knifeworld EP has more than enough going on to feel like a LP. The energy level is constantly so high, and the melodies always so varied and polyphonic, that there's a lot to take in. And yet, it's amazing how easy a pill Knifeworld is to swallow. Knifeworld's main guy, main broseph, Kavus Torabi, manages to (like his close affiliate Tim Smith) to write addicting and catchy pop tunes whose complexity can make any musicians arms fall off. The melodies that weave together so beautifully and epically that in away that's almost instantly recognizable. It seems that in particular with this EP, Kavus and the fellows have really struck gold big time. It is with this EP that Knifeworld really sounds like a band, and one of the better sounding bands. The musicianship is just off the charts. Kavus's manic arpeggios, Khyam Allami's masterful control of the time signatures, Craig Fortnam's excellent melodic bass work, and really just... everything. It is all executed so professionally, and mixed great, all clean and fresh and psychedelic in the way that it messes with your mind. Honestly it gets me excited writing about it.

So it all starts with the huge whirlwind which is "Pilot Her". This bizarre love song, I think, is one of the single catchiest coolest songs I've heard in my life. The two chord harmony is done with crunchy guitars, and sharp blasts of Hammond. It is beautiful and rather nervous... particularly with the great falsetto background vocals. The great C part towards the end, with the fantastic bouncy bassoon is such a gigantic wall of psychedelia, is practically perfect. Kavus and Melanie Woods vocals work beautifully together.

The next song "Dear Lord, No Deal" (took me soooo long to get the word play here), is an immediately more laid back affair. Kavus starts singing with an acoustic guitar, and I just kinda wish there was a bit more umph (for lack of a better onomatopoeia) off the bat, but luckily the song picks it up rather quickly with cool harpsichord transitions and great musicianship. Emmett Elvin's keyboard skills are to be commended here.

The real beast here, however, is the 14 minute full on psychedelic swashbuckling epic that is "HMS Washout". The initial 8 or so minutes are rather calm, a long dreamy part with great trumpet work and dreamy synths. The seagulls in the background disappear when this epic violin and guitar led melody in god know what time signature comes in. Khyam Allami (my Iraqi brother!) really, just destroys it on the drums in that part. Rolling toms and great fills and everything. And this is all just a crescendo to the wonderful, endless, downright hypnotic, looping finish. With Kavus singing "saw their arms away" over and over again it's all a bit pirate-themed. The horns hear are just so epic, and Khyam once again takes the weird time signatures and plays with it like nothing. Kavus's guitar lines add along with the synths, the horns, and even Craig Fortnam's bass, give the song the insane polyphony that makes Knifeworld unique. The song is a beautiful well made epic, simple as that.

Really, Knifeworld is one of the most exciting bands in the world. Seamlessly combining prog, metal, pop, RIO, add genre name here, Knifeworld successfully creates a sound which is just exciting, erratic, joyous and addicting.

Please, just release another full length already.

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