Pay no attention to the 4-star rating you see above these words -- labeling a record as dense, polarizing, and difficult as Knife Play with any number between 1 and 5 is pointless and next to impossible. Since the release of this album, Xiu Xiu have gone on to cement their reputation as a very respectable and often breathtaking avant-rock act, and this album is the bare and frightening skeleton of the elememts that got them there. As such, it is almost endlessly fascinating -- spare electronic beats meet clanging Asian percussion to provide an uneasy backdrop, which is lavished with squealing feedback, nauseated horns, and of course, Jamie Stewart's impossibly despairing wail.

Stewart has proven himself adept at creating truly chilling moments not from the inherent creepiness of an individual line or riff, but by the uncomfortable context he places them in. Lines that would come off as sophomorically melodramatic on paper are given a shocking potency by the way he orchestrates them into his abrasive compositions. At one point in "Over Over," an impotent disco beat bounces in the background before distorting itself into a teeth-gritting screech just as Stewart sings the words "kill yourself." Throughout several of the tracks, hopeful melodic figures appear that for a few seconds appear to be leading to some sort of satisfying emotional payoff... before they are cut mercilessly short and you are again left alone in the album's cold metallic landscape. Even when a comfortable chord progression is allowed to soar, the instrumentation that creates it is so detuned and unpleasant that it ends up even more heart-rending than the more deliberately malevolent moments (see the devastating "Suha").

Ultimately, Knife Play comes off as one of the most intensely intimate and tangible chronicles of utter despair that has ever been laid to tape. The sense of isolation created by this frigid music is almost unparalleled in its veracity. On "Hives Hives" Stewart screams "I cannot wait to die, can't you tell can't you tell can't you tell?!" Yes, Jamie, we can -- and that's what makes this record such a startlingly fascinating, if exhausting, work of art.

Wow. 'Knife Play' is one of the most disturbing, depressing, and beautiful albums I've ever heard. Their sound is hard to describe, but their lead singer, Jaime Stewart, kind of sounds like Robert Smith. Musically, the band (two guys and two girls) use a multitude of instruments like synths, mandolins, drum beats, gongs, trumpets, and programming. The guitar work is excellent as well, particularly towards the end of 'Hives Hives' and 'Homonculus'. Lyrically, if you find anything darker, I don't think I'd like to hear it. Here's a snippet of their glorious song 'Suha': "I hate my husband, I hate my children, I'm going to hang myself..." Yikes. If you like your experimental pop down and dirty and are open minded to different musical art forms, 'Knife Play' will surprise you, shock you, scare the hell out of you, and maybe even comfort you.

"This is the worst vacation ever. I'm going to cut open your forehead with a roofing shingle" - I Broke Up

I've been listening to this CD since I saw Xiu Xiu (pronounced "shoe shoe") at Alley Katz on Easter Sunday. Yeah, there was nobody there, but they played like the place was packed. Jamie's vocal style is reminiscent of Morrisey/Robert Smith (whom I was never a big fan), but paired with the instrumentation (which includes synths, bells, horns, accordians, and the kitchen sink), it's a delightful combination. Beats are subtle, if present at all. You cannot dance to this CD, anymore than you can dance to the ocean's waves or the moon's beams. But you can let the music on Knife Play wash over you, absorb it, and let it change you.

Fans of modern classical experimental art music should check this one out. I came here from Pigface and Skinny Puppy. If you're into Limp Bizkit, don't bother.

Knife Play is more like an old depeche mode album (for instance "construction time again" or "music for the masses") whose been kidnapped and raped by a Thai street gang "over and over", on its Asian sightseeing tour. The music is totally deconstructed, jamie stewart is a tortured dave gahan who eventually began to loose sanity and self confidence and became to sound like robert smith right after the incident. However there's still a sense of older depeche mode soul in it, keeping "knife play" away from the screaming and jaw breaking tops of "fabulous muscles". This debut work of xiu xiu is also away from the "bright eyes looking" mediocore appearence of "la foret", and is a demonstration of totally original roots of the band. A must have and the perfect start to get into this ground breaking band.

A completely psychotic "OK Computer." I mean this in the best way possible.