I had been wondering when weirdy Swedey electro types The Knife (being weird, right) would return, and then - lo! - comes the news that they shall return next year. Er, with an opera. About Charles Darwin. In Denmark. A year from now. Um, hurrah!
As a huge fan of their last album, 2006’s twisted pop masterpiece Silent Shout, I’ve had the odd moment mulling over what kind of madness they’d return with after their three-year hiatus. I did wonder if they’d do some ker-azy art bobbins - they seem the type, don’t they, with their funny masks and whatnot.
But oh, how did my heart sink when I read that they were scoring this fecking opera called Tomorrow, In A Year.

Sure, the music - which will feature original compositions - might see a commercial release, but what are the chances it’ll contain anything as tunefully sinister as “We Share Our Mother’s Health”? The nature of opera means its music has a structure markedly different from the delicious 3-5 minute nuggets us pop fans like to swallow.
I have nothing against opera per se - those cute little binoculars! - but I don’t want it stealing away my fave gothlectro combo. I mean, what if it’s successful? They might start touring it all over the place for the following year. That would mean ANOTHER year with no album from The Knife! That will not do.
Having said that, it would be marvellously entertaining, if the show did tour the world, to see how an opera about Darwin goes down in the US bible belt. But then I don’t really want The Knife to get shot, either…
[source: Pitchfork]

Possibly related:

1. Rufus Wainwright to compose opera

2. I Don’t Like Them As Much As I’m Supposed To… The Knife

3. Pop Heaven: Robyn and The Knife create Swedish synth superness on “Who’s That Girl”

4. The Feeling to return with “I Thought It Was Over” - listen to it here

5. Hot Chip return and are “Ready For The Floor”

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Posted by Stuart Waterman on Tuesday December 2nd, 2008 at 10:45 am