01 Aug 2009 // A review by lukefitzmaurice
When I first listened to this album I immediately got the impression of movement. The first track definitely felt like it was driving towards… well… something, I wasn’t quite sure what at that stage. As the repetitive yet strong guitar riff and powerful rhythm of the track built towards a climax, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. To be completely honest it was exactly what I had expected from a band led by a drummer, so I wasn’t disappointed. The second track was equally upbeat, so it felt like the rest of the album was going to be well worth listening to.

As the album progressed, I continued to enjoy the way Cairo Knife Fight mix elements of rock, soul, beats and other genres. The third track reminded me of My Old Man by Anika Moa, and at some point I remember thinking that the band sounded like Op Shop with far less pop, although later I could never pinpoint the exact song which prompted this thought.

By the time I had listened to it right through, I was reasonably impressed, but I couldn’t help feel as though it had lost momentum towards the last few tracks. Not wanting to judge it to quickly, I listened to it a few more times through. Again the first few songs were enjoyable, but again the album seemed to peter out towards the end. I couldn’t really figure out what it was, but it felt like the album was missing… well… something. It wasn’t until I started to write down my thoughts that I realised that what it seemed like the album was driving towards never really eventuated. The promise of an exciting journey that lay in the first half of the album was there, but without an equally interesting destination, it was a little unsatisfying.

Don’t get me wrong, I would still say that on the whole the album was good, but I couldn’t help but feel that it could have been better. Even after listening to it multiple times I still can’t pick what’s missing, but perhaps Iron would have been better as a six or seven track EP rather than a full length album, I just don’t know. That said, I wouldn’t hesitate to see these guys live given the chance, as it is the type of music that would no doubt make for a great gig, so it’s not all doom and gloom by any means. Cairo Knife Fight certainly have the potential to produce something outstanding, but in my opinion, that potential isn’t quite fulfilled on this album.

Cairo Knife Fight is Nick Gaffaney, a man who has drummed his way around the place for many of New Zealand’s leading songwriters, and George Pajon Jr, a Grammy award winning songwriter and guitarist who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music business including The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, Carlos Santana, Macy Gray, John Legend, Sting, Nas and Damien Marley. Forming as a duo in 2009 Cairo Knife Fight try to redefine what two musicians can create live with Nick combining the responsibilities of playing drums, keyboard bass, creating live loops and lead vocals with George’s seemingly limitless guitar soundscapes and incendiary riffs. The bands long history of dedication to pushing the boundaries of music video content has also seen them achieve viral status with their 2014 single Rezlord being viewed more than 11.7 million times.

In short order the band shot to the attention of the public after gaining a standing ovation from a packed Opera House in Wellington following their support set for UK act Gomez in late 2009 and being hand picked by Them Crooked Vultures to open for their New Zealand tour in early 2010 July 2010 saw CKF release their self-titled EP. The first single This is Love was included on the NZ Radio Hit Disc for mid 2010 seeing it rated as one of the songs of the year. The EP went on to be nominated in the 'Best Rock Album' category at the New Zealand Music awards in 2011. 2010 also included a trip the NYC to perform during the CMJ festival (while not actually a part of CMJ the band came to the attention of several members of the team and found themselves on a CMJ bill at the Bowery Electric) and touring Australia.

2011 was an extraordinary year for CKF. It began with a NZ tour with NZ's rock hall of famers Shihad in January before Them Crooked Vultures front man Josh Homme once again requested CKF to be the opening act for his Queens of The Stone Age NZ tour in February, which was disrupted by the deadly earthquake in Cairo Knife Fights hometown of Christchurch. While dealing with the aftermath of such an horrendous event the band took solace in recording the follow up EP II, released in August 2011 to 5 star reviews and top 40 chart placing’s, and to appear as special guests of the Foo Fighters for an earthquake benefit concert in Auckland, NZ. CKF rounded out the year by again joining the Foo Fighters onstage at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand in front of 45,000 people for the band's Wasting Light tour. The concert is considered one of New Zealand's biggest ever stand-alone shows.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Cairo Knife Fight

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