'If I Had A Heart' Fever Ray

For whatever reason, I never took the time to get into The Knife. Which is a shame because I have a weird fondness for Swedish bands (The Radio Dept., The Concretes) and judging by the sister half of The Knife's new solo album I'd probably fall for them as well. Karin Dreijer Andersson, or Fever Ray, has proven that she can break off from the family tree and succesfully make hauntingly beautiful, badass music.

Her first single 'If I Had A Heart' is a real soft treat. Blending the sounds of a tribal funeral with a continuous stream of threat and a drum machine. Unlike other songs such as 'When I Grow Up'-where Karin's voice is used to it's sharpest-'If I Had A Heart' demonstrates a more breathy and throbbing chant, demanding "more, give me more, give me more..."

The B-side to this single is more of a surprise treat, taking things to an inevitable next step. It's not surprising to hear a more beat-orientated remix of the dark track, but who would have expected noise geniuses Fuck Buttons to take it there. Luckily it's an absolute success (not that I would expect any less) and proves that you can turn a hypnotizing requiem into what should be this years most danced to song. It starts with a sped-up beat almost reminiscent of 'Bright Tomorrow', Karin's deep-breaths weaving in and out of electronic chimes, then at the 4:44 mark the "calm before the holocaust" that we love in tracks like 'Sweet Love for Planet Earth', 'Bright Tomorrow', and the FB remix of Mogwai's 'Fear Satan' initiates. It's loud, it's static, it's perfect. My only complaint (and it be a small one) is that the ending seems to come out of nowhere, leaving you wishing it would loop for another five minutes. But maybe that's just their genius at work, making you re-listen over and over again.

Fever Ray's self-titled debut album is out now, and the second single will be 'When I Grow Up'.