Cairo Knife Fight - EP Review: Dream Season
Cairo Knife Fight have been around a while and been through a lot. Spawned in NZ and now based in the U S of A it has been a journey full of highs and lows.
It’s no secret that I love this band and that I think you should too.
So, there is only one way I was going to write this review: To do it live.
In my house on my own. Headphones on. Listen and write at the same time. Stream of consciousness with their EP Dream Season on a constant loop
For a band that has pushed the boundaries and plays using live loops, it makes sense eh?
So let's go...
Oh my fucking god! The production. I actually just pulled my headphones off and put them back on again to make sure I was not hearing things.
This kicks hard. Crystal clear but hard and heavy. It makes my heart best faster (like music should). Here we go again Cairo Knife Fight are back!
The grove and energy that is the soul of this band and has seen them tour with Queens, Them Crooked Vultures & Shihad, and seen them move from freezing cold sessions in a storage unit in Christchurch to splitting their time between LA and Vegas is oozing through every crackle and crunch.
That tone on the guitars. The vocals cut in and for those of you who have never heard CKF, you are in for the most pleasant surprise when they do.
This is CKF but on steroids.
I am moving around the room to a band that clearly only cares about the music they make and makes that music for themselves.
Hit pause.
I know what I just wrote is a cliche, but I didn’t read that in some record company-created Bio (I was too busy dancing). If you listen to Dream Season, you will understand what I am saying.
Hell, I wish more musicians were like this. The fact that Cairo Knife Fight aren’t packing out stadiums is criminal.
Hit play.
Dance.
Damn, it’s finished already. I am only just getting started. Thought I had hit repeat.
Hit repeat.
Loop , dance, soak it up, write, repeat.
Hit repeat again and again. it’s like a drug each repeat takes me further into myself and further away from my own day to day shite that I am dealing with.
Like riding a wave I am lost in the vibe with lyrics punching through the wall of sound and hitting home.
Song titles. I don’t know. I am lost in the music. It’s a blur of noise and vocals that stir something deep inside.
Am I waffling? I don’t know, nor do I care. This is a loop I never want to come out of.
Then. Something shines a little more.
Live track The Violence of Action is a stand out but also a footnote that captures the essence of CKF. From where they have been and where they are going. There is a video to accompany the live track.
Ok let’s pause again and watch that.
Jesus this song and its accompanying video is insane watch and listen and you will see and hear what I can’t put into words.
Back to the EP..
It is all over too soon so hit repeat, repeat, repeat again. Each run stirs up new emotions throwing me deeper into the grove.
Turn the volume up more.
Shit volume is up full it won’t go any higher.
Ok let’s dance some more. Lose myself in the music. This is music you can dance to like no one is watching and not give a shit. My dog is watching, and he clearly doesn’t care.
I am spinning like Barry at Western Springs.
Memories of seeing CKF there with the Foos, at the Kings arms, at Them Crooked Vultures are seeping through.
CKF are essential listening, and their new EP feels like and end and a beginning. They are going back to their roots and showing you where they are branching out to.
I can’t wait for what is coming next and nor should you.
Get Dream Season now and then buy everything else CKF have done if you haven't done so already.
See them play live. It is an experience you will never forget.
Listen on repeat and dance like no one is watching.
About Cairo Knife Fight
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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