Knife - Marble House

  by Andrew Hare

published: 6 / 3 / 2007

Label: Mute Records
Format: CD

intro

Creepy, but compelling collection of 7 remixes of the same song from Swedish electro-duo the Knife

Single remixes are a tricky little thing. I mean does any one really want 7 different versions of 'Marble House'. 'Marquee Moon' maybe, but not necessarily 'Marble House'. The original is an awesome song, filled with all the creepy atmospherics and ghostly boy girl vocals that we’ve come to know and love from Swedish electro-duo the Knife. The best remix comes from Rex the Dog who wisely knows the best way to tweak a cold minimalist masterpiece is, well minimally. Rex speeds the track up, and uses vocal samples to accentuate the dark, fetishistic nature of the song. Many of the other tracks seek to differentiate themselves by near complete deconstructions of the song, leaving only obscure howls and whispers as a signifier, as in the well executed Bookshade remix. Generally though 'Marble House' is not a dance song so the need for 7 remixes seems overindulgent at first. It really is an interesting and creepy listen, as a track gets broken down again and again. Rising like a spirit from the ether.

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