Knife Slits Water is an independent label based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. We only release small quantities of our own favorite bands lingering in obscurity. Each release has an exclusive, small quantity pressing with a special design.
K/W 01 - THE JE NE SAIS QUOI - One-Sided 12" EP (2008)
Stockholm's The Je Ne Sais Quoi are a band that are constantly redefining and developing themselves and their sound. They started off as a two-piece garage band on their first EP, expanding themselves to a 5 piece on their debut, new wave-esque, album 'We Make Beginnings' and took it even further along that line with their last album 'Rhythm' where the now 6 piece blended in some glam, weird electronics and even some violins!
This new 12" mirrors their evolution. The title track, Making Love With Time, is a synth driven, catchy and hasty song with a late 70's pop feel. The second song, I Read the Signs, is holding back a little bit more, echoing the sound of mid-80's new wave bands. The last track is a late 80's acid house-like remix of the song 'Rhythm' by Eester Benny.
The 12" comes on clear, one-sided silk screened vinyl in a nicely designed disco sleeve. One time only edition of 500 copies, in collaboration with Mono/Rhetorik.
K/W 02 - CHRONIC HEIST - Quick Fix With Repairs/The Brighter Lights - 7" EP (2008)
The guys in Chronic Heist (from Stockholm, Sweden) gathered their musical tricks in post-hardcore bands like Jr Ewing, Trapdoor Fucking Exit and 8 Days of Nothing. Chronic Heist, however, differs very much from those previous bands, not approach-, but sound wise. With Chronic Heist they took the winding road to 'free dudes'-state. After their impressive, debut album their new songs take 'it' further and sound even more 'out there' in a solid way. What this 'it' is is hard to describe. Chronic Heist passionately plays a modern version of '70's art/krautrock that's dynamic and nervous, yet raw and stiff. It's progressive spaced out glam or suburban goth (like they describe their music themselves) that was directly implemented into the 'here & now'.
The title track 'Quick fix with Repairs' immediately kicks in with loud electronic piano's and psychedelic bass riffs. It's a great song with even greater hooks that combines the best parts of the songs on their first album. The B-side 'The Brighter Lights' has an odd, meandering atmosphere. You can feel the tension rise and fall until the sound erupts, scatters and fades away.
The 7" comes on black vinyl in a crazy mimeographed sleeve. It's a one time edition of just 300 copies.
K/W 03 - APPIE KIM - 5 Strings/Everybody is your Friend - 7" EP (2008)
Appie Kim is from The Hague, The Netherlands. They, Marcel and Natascha, are the remains of 'De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid'; a band that was suddenly destroyed by their captain. Marcel plays drums, keyboards and writes poems. Natascha writes the songs, plays guitars and sings. Just with the two off them they create a sonic galaxy that encompasses different sounds from the past and the future. Taking cues from The Velvet Underground & Nico, Zappa and The Breeders, Appie Kim explores the realm of dark, droning pop music and trashy psychedelic garage. They write about treason, death, loneliness and Death (the guy).
The song on side A: '5 Strings' sounds reserved and reticent in a way. Looked at it from a distance, it's a beautiful meandering pop song, but if you look closer there's a darkness below the surface.
Side B truly is the contrasting side of the EP: 'Everybody is your Friend' is upbeat and psychedelic with a lot of references to 70's rock: loud distorted guitars and beat rings.
The 7" comes as an edition of 200 in a beautiful silk screened sleeve on crazy 3-colored psychedelic vinyl.
K/W 04 - EMPIRE CHEESE - Efficient use of Space 7" EP(2008)
Some bedroom projects should stay there. Or even better, be hidden under the bed, covered up by piles of empty beer cans, dust and dirty laundry. This is definitely not the case with Empire Cheese, the moniker chosen by Matthias Kreutzer. Empire Cheese manages to give you a glimpse in the personal space of the bedroom loner. Sitting there, recording sketches, ideas and traces of lo-fi pop and delay drenched melodies while downing a bottle of cheap red wine, without the limitations and reservations you feel when writing songs intended to be heard by 'others'.
Non-the-less, Empire Cheese was made available on vinyl. The first song, Trap, starts off with a distorted, almost danceable, beat but after the plastic sounding 1970's Bontempi organ combined with his low, layered vocals come in, the atmosphere of the song completely changes into an intimate lo-fi pop song with a beautiful melody that sticks into your mind. The second song, 'The Gap Between What I Should and Will do Tomorrow', somewhat connects to Trap, but includes more layers of organ, vocals and guitars. Despite the absence of drums the song is very rhythmic: one staccato guitar playing just three cords (remember punk?), while another plays a melodic loop, all accompanied by sober vocals.
The flip side features the song 'Distant', a 6-minute drone of delayed guitars and vocals that's like a long drive in summer through a landscape similar to the one pictured on the sleeve: a clear blue sky, crystal clear lake, green treetops and majestic mountains in the distance…
K/W 05 - Eva Braun Tape (2008)
Info soon.
K/W 06 - ABOUT PARIS - 'Untitled' One-sided 12" EP (2008)
About Paris was formed in Amsterdam in 2004. Right from the beginning About Paris has been playing a blend of post-punk and new wave to create a sound that's both dark and moody, as well as uplifting and danceable.
The quartet recorded a four song EP in March of 2005 that was released in November 2005 through Zabel Muziek. Ironically, the release party for this EP was the last show of About Paris as a quartet, because in January 2006 Johan joined the band to take up guitar duties, and Caspar switched to bass guitar. Now equipped with a fuller sound, the quintet recorded 4 new songs that were more diverse and promising than their older efforts. About Paris decided they were done in 2006. Three of the songs they recorded back in 2006 are now finally available. This 12" was released in an exclusive edition of 1 copy and is now sold out. You can download it for free by clicking this link .
K/W 06.66 - DEIFICATION - 'Hymns of Perpetual Darkness' 12" EP (2008)
Deification was a Blackmetal band from Alkmaar, Noord-Holland from 1994 - 1999. A rediscoverd demotape resulted in the decision to distribute the grimm sounds today. Hymns of Perpetual Darkness feature four raw demo songs of epic and furious anti-cosmic black metal recorded back in 1998. It's a must-have for oldschool blackmetal maniacs.
This 12" was released in an exclusive edition of 1 copy and is now sold out. You can download it for free by clicking this link .
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