The Knife - 'Silent Shout - Deluxe Edition' (Brille) Released 02/07/07

Which brings us to the extensive extra material. If ‘Silent Shout’ is a tour de force of psychologically cathartic club music (which it is), then the attendant live show was a lesson in how to translate this sense of foreboding euphoria into a communal experience. Distorting the dimensions between band and audience with pop-culture visuals seemingly projected in the middle of the air, utilising such simple devices as masks and, of course, playing their music with such ferocity and volume that the only reaction is complete abandonment, The Knife live show is unforgettable, and all the more startling considering their continued reclusion from the gig circuit. The DVD, which was released separately last year under the title ‘Silent Shout An Audio Visual Experience’, is a mostly successful attempt at capturing this intensity for a home audience.

Filmed in Sweden in April 2006, the show begins in darkness with only a slight electronic throb and the noise of the crowd for company; only a few minutes later do the ghostly figures of The Knife’s Karin and Olof emerge. An accompanying essay may link the actual mechanics of this live performance to the work of Fritz Lang or Andy Warhol, but visually the DVD picture itself looks as though it could’ve been pulled from YouTube. This certainly isn’t a criticism however, rather an acknowledgment that the grainy stock and tight framing help add an immediacy to the event, and reflect the stunning collage of electronica and video art far better than a slick MTV-style ten-camera affair would have. An accompanying collection of eleven music videos (whose highlights include the touching hand-drawn narrative for 2001’s ‘N.Y Hotel’ and the haunting Chris Cunningham-inspired promo for ‘Silent Shout’) only adds to the ridiculously generous feel of the entire package. The third CD is a recording of the aforementioned gig, and proves that The Knife live can sound vital even without the attendant imagery.

There’s a tangible feeling that ‘Silent Shout’ may eventually become The Knife’s true masterpiece, which is all the more reason to indulge in this multimedia celebration. This is the moment the Swedes’ idea of their sound became indistinguishable from their idea of art; as a piece of music it’s dramatic. As a statement it’s beautiful. Proof that it’s never too early to be a classic.