Fever Ray - Fever Ray [2009]

Women are said to have a lot of dark secrets and live in their irrational, imaginary world. We like to present ourselves as reasonable, powerful and optimistic creatures though;) Yet when Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife began writing her solo album, she managed to mix both these natures and create the most female album since ages.


If I Had a Heart is indeed a dark, mysterious duo with a trembling bass and almost flat melody that completes the hypnotising atmosphere of the song. Do women have hearts? And if they don’t, is it because they are naturally black-natured or were their hearts stabbed to death?

What’s the favourite saying of every little girl? When I Grow Up, I want to be...!  our singer mentions a number of careers and seems a busy, dedicated person, yet she explains that part of her is still waiting for something/someone special to love her back. I’m addicted to the way this music fills me with energy, its electronic, dynamic melody immediately reminds me of how good it was to be a kid, trusting in a wonderful, dreamed future...

Dry and Dusty on the opposite seems a bit fearful, it’s a tune drowning in melancholy and slight jealousy of every good moment. The only burst of emotion:

Work as I’ve been told
In return I get money
Small feet in the hall
And I long for every moment 

is definitely enough though.

Seven is a much happier memoir, a picture of real female friendship (that indeed exists, I tell you!) and inspiration. It also has calm, but electrifying music with the loops that seem to sparkle like J.M. Jarre’s songs. One of my favorites.

I have to admit that even though I love Fever’s lyrics, for a long time Triangle Walks meant to me just one of the best rhythms in the world. Fantastic use of oriental drums and loops + croaking vocals = purr, purr, purr as Sheldon Cooper would say... And there really is something about this song that makes me think of legendary Pass This On by The Knife and song’s episode in Les Amours Imaginaires. Perfect for the end of a party.

Concrete Walls and its heavy, swinging loop would be better for a hangover though. It’s the most instrument-based song on the album and has entrancing, dark atmosphere.

Now’s The Only Time I Know is a heart-breaking Carpe Diem. For the first time in this album, Fever loses her Swedish harshness in her voice and becomes really delicate and romantic, you’d wish to say – like 19th centuries ladies. Subtle music gives a modern breath though, so we don’t drown in victorian sadness entirely.

La Donna Mobile as Italians say, and women don’t like to show their weaknesses anymore as I say. After a little breakdown, we must show our determination. And just as complex, dynamic music in I’m Not Done motivates to fight...

So, I lost my head a while ago
But you seem to have done no better

We set fire in the snow
It ain’t over I’m not done

Some do magic
some do harm
I’m holding on holding on
I’m holding on to a straw

But there comes a time for the best song of the album. As we once agreed with a fellow night traveler – Keep The Streets Empty For Me – is perfect for lonely trips in the dark city, no matter what you did before. The simple music eases the pain in legs and heart and slowly softening voice of Fever begs for company in singing, murmuring or both. It is also a thrilling story of desire, anger, regret, hope and all that storm that goes on in our female minds so often.

Coconut is more of an afterword, an entrancing tune, full of musical cookies, with much smaller emotional impact than its predecessor though.

To me, the phenomenon is that even though pop and electronic music usually bores me really soon, I've been loving Fever Ray for more than a year now... The catchy, but not boring sound and amazing lyrics speaking of both – most usual and most extraordinary things – made a real masterpiece!