- Unconventional "club" music.
- In an interview with XLR8R, Exael explains that Flowered Knife Shadows is a return to more club-orientated sounds. If you're new to Exael's music, take that with a large pinch of salt. There isn't too much information available about the artist, AKA Naemi, but one thing is clear: they're not too fussed about how a club-focused record should sound.
They're not too fussed about how a record should flow, either. In a sense, Flowered Knife Shadows runs from back to front, or, at least, it inverts the idea that an album should build, peak and then come down. Skipping the small talk, the deliberately abrasive opener, a remix of Arad Acid's "Koch Metish," screeches out the blocks. Its two layers of sandpaper breakbeats sound like they just happen to be in sync.
"Quikgel," another neurotic drum workout, keeps up the pressure. It has a neat switch-up that could easily ride out for a few minutes, but it's not quite so generous, offering just a wry smile from a still stern demeanor. Following the claustrophobic and sludgy techno of "Boneheading", you blink ("Fig Jelly"), and it's light again, as if those fiery opening volleys never even happened. The album has pivoted and Exael's guard is down.
It's plain sailing from thereon in. "Anc" and the Jan Jelinek-style interlude "Ko" are soft and welcoming. Heavy blankets of ambience take the edge off the drums. "Rotor" flickers and splutters, as if Exael's computer drifted off to sleep while exporting the file. "Reality's Sweetheart," a spoken-word collaboration with Zoe Darsee, makes up for previously pulled punches. It layers on the emotion extra thick and leaves you in a place far away from the roughneck opening gambit.
Tracklist01. Acid Arad - Koch Metish (Exael Remix)
02. Quikgel
03. Boneheaded
04. Fig Jelly
05. Anc
06. Ko
07. Rotor
08. Reality's Sweetheart feat. Zoe Darsee (Moon Pie Mix)