Knifeplay are only a few years removed from their Topshelf Records debut Animal Drowning, a stunning blend of shoegaze and slowcore aesthetics subverted by string arrangements and other surreal flourishes setting the record apart from the countless acts treading similar territory from their hometown of Philadelphia alone. We haven’t heard much from the band since then, aside from several of the band members aiding lead guitarist John Klein in fleshing out his concept for the new Euphoria Again LP.
But that all changed earlier this month when the group’s Bandcamp followers were treated to a pair of new tracks: the expansive, nine-and-a-half-minute “Spirit Echo” and its B-side, a cover of Elvis Depressedly’s “Cry Babies.” Both tracks are lighter than the bulk of Animal Drowning, though hardly removed from some of that record’s more introspective and atmospheric stretches. As the band’s lead vocalist TJ Strohmer tells us, the dual single is meant to bridge the gap between their 2022 LP and the project’s next chapter. “It indicates a stylistic shift toward long-form songwriting supported by more traditional arrangements and production styles,” he shares. “As we go deeper into working on our third LP we’re finding ourselves more drawn to making music that can be realistically performed live. I see ‘Spirit Echo’ as a bridge between Animal Drowning and the material we’re invested in now, some of which we’ve played live a decent bit.”
Regarding “Cry Babies,” he adds that Elvis Depressedly’s Mathew Lee Cothran’s version of the track is slightly reworked from an original version recorded by enigmatic avant-folk wunderkind Noel Thrasher. “The song is one I’ve wanted to cover since the beginning of Knifeplay, but never quite had the skillset or vision to accomplish in a way I felt to be honoring,” Strohmer notes. “To me, Noel’s lyrics show an absurd desperation that I’ve always resonated with, and within which I’ve found a seemingly infinite well of inspiration. I hope to give her music some visibility with this cover and show a gentler side of what we’re able to do as a band.”
Hear the new tracks below, and find them on Bandcamp here.
