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Union of Knives

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in 2008, but then encountered delays due to upheaval in the label at the time. The album was put on hold during a period of uncertainty and cost-cutting for the label. After their record label was sold in 2009 the band parted ways with the label and eventually ceased activity. Chris Gordon and Craig
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After a while of working together on original material, they met Craig Grant one night at the bar. Craig, originally from Aberdeen, had recently moved to Glasgow and was playing an acoustic night when Dave was doing sound. Chris and Dave invited him to work with them on some tracks they had started,
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Chris Gordon and Dave McLean met in the Glasgow bar Nice 'n' Sleazy where Dave was working as a soundman in the venue downstairs and Chris was working at the bar in between producing and touring with other bands. Chris and Dave started working together as producers and engineers on recordings and
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The majority of the album was performed by Chris Gordon, Dave McClean and Craig Grant, with additional drums contributed by Peter Kelly, guitar by Paul Westwater and vocals by guests including Orlaith Prenderghast, a local singer who appears on "Opposite Direction".
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In July 2020 Union of Knives announced via their social media channels that they would be reactivating, with a new line up of Chris Gordon, Anthony Thomaz and Peter Kelly returning on drums. The website was updated to mention new music coming soon, with
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From live shows in dance clubs and rock venues from Iceland to Japan, their music has taken them to the halls of the Tate Modern and studios in LA. Their songs have had both Radio 1 airplay and use in TV soundtracks for the likes of
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featured the track "Operated On" in their 'Ones to Watch' CD compilation, describing the band's sound as "melodic dark pop" and likening their music to Radiohead and Fischerspooner.
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in Reykjavik Art Museum in 2005. Extensive UK touring supporting the release of the debut album in 2006 culminated in playing the Hogmanay Party at the
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The original line-up as a trio saw Chris and Craig both sharing lead vocals and guitar duties, with Dave McClean on keyboards.
1525: 91: 407:. The artwork for the cover of the album featured a mural of three doves painted by Brian Miller on a house in Cumbernauld. 388:
Singles from the album picked up regular airplay on XFM, 6Music and BBC Radio One, where they were especially championed by
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in July 2006, and was described by The Guardian as "dance-rock...a nocturnal rendezvous between Muse and Massive Attack."
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Originally active between 2004 and 2009, the band have been on hiatus since but have announced new music is due in 2020..
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A follow-up album called 'The Anti-Fire' was written and recording had started in LA with Nine Inch Nails producer
44: 1452:"Living in lap of luxury in LA made it difficult to get up and make our album, says Union of Knives' Chris Gordon" 77: 1299: 422:, Massive Attack and Radiohead. Time Out described it as "glacial, epic pop melodies with dark electro detail" 48: 1510: 1436: 894: 880: 852:"New Hellfire Club Glasgow: The Trio Of Awesome Band Interviews Is Complete - NHC MUSIC Chats To Baby Chaos!" 451:
Their music also featured as the soundtrack for a short film by award-winning filmmaker Joseph Briffa named
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The first release was a self-titled EP on Stimulus Records in 2005. Soon after the band secured a deal with
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calling it "Marvellous". DMC described the lead track as "a dance rock hybrid of gigantic proportions."
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magazine as "glacial, epic pop melodies with dark electro detail," the music of Union of Knives blends
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Starting in 2005 the band had a string of success with tracks being used in TV soundtracks, such as
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and the success of those sessions become the early incarnation of Union of Knives in 2004.
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In Spring 2007 another UK tour was followed by a string of dates in Europe and an
436:. The track "Opposite Direction" was used in the soundtrack for American TV shows 257: 150: 991:"Union Of Knives - Violence & Birdsong / Relentless from Piccadilly Records" 518: 472: 349:
EP in April 2006 which picked up favourable reviews in the music press and saw
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Cumbernauld News, "Street art now a matter of record" published 6th Sept 2006
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Global Association for Creative Advertising and Design Awards | D&AD
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Early on in their career Union of Knives were invited to play at the
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In April 2008 the band played Tokyo, Japan, in a club date at Unit.
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Production credits for the album were split between the band and
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Circular Breathing - Union of Knives commission for Tate Modern
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likened the album's sound favourably to contemporaries like
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stage) and 2007 (in the King Tut's stage) as well as the
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DMC Update Dance Music Review, published 5 April 2006
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Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 669: 1526:"Peenko's Scots Way-Hay! – Song of Return" 1411:"Union of Knives – We Are All Doing Drugs" 1049:"BBC - Radio 1 - Zane Lowe - Tracklisting" 980:Clash Magazine article, published May 2006 732:"BBC - Radio 1 - Zane Lowe - Tracklisting" 704: 507: 501:showcase gig at the Metro Club in London. 630:Time Out Magazine, published 26 July 2006 111:Learn how and when to remove this message 1523: 1480: 1153:"Union of Knives: Violence and Birdsong" 849: 678: 642:"Union of Knives: Violence and Birdsong" 1620:Scottish electronic rock musical groups 1202: 1186: 1184: 1149: 1113: 1019: 836: 834: 808: 806: 755: 753: 626: 624: 478:Festival appearances including playing 1597: 1449: 1408: 1206:"Works of art given a musical support" 1076: 895:"Union Of Knives - Union Of Knives EP" 786:"Music from The Vampire Diaries S1E04" 1476: 1474: 1072: 1070: 843: 1354:"T in the Park 2007 - Running Times" 1193:interview, published 3 December 2006 1181: 831: 803: 750: 621: 517:Grant continued to work together in 355:adding it to their playlist and the 326:out of their own studio in Glasgow. 49:adding citations to reliable sources 20: 1077:Geddes, Jonathan (5 October 2010). 957:"Various - Ones To Watch Volume 03" 850:Mcdermid, Jamie (30 October 2014). 639: 283:forms and draws on influences from 13: 1471: 1203:Malvern, Jack (1 September 2006). 1114:Lynskey, Dorian (11 August 2006). 1067: 1020:Lynskey, Dorian (11 August 2006). 577: 542:guesting on vocals for 2 tracks. 14: 1631: 1573: 1326:"Iceland Airwaves festival grows" 761:"Music from Grey's Anatomy S3E15" 679:Dingwall, John (17 August 2006). 336: 1615:Scottish electronic music groups 1605:Scottish alternative rock groups 1580:Official Union of Knives website 1524:Meredith, Lloyd (15 June 2011). 1481:Mitchell, Nick (17 March 2010). 1267: 550: 463:Touring and festival appearances 25: 1543: 1517: 1443: 1402: 1376: 1346: 1318: 1292: 1261: 1234: 1196: 1143: 1107: 1098: 1041: 1013: 983: 974: 949: 940: 926: 912: 887: 814:"Music from Supernatural S1E07" 528: 36:needs additional citations for 1409:Morgan, Thom (11 March 2009). 1150:Edwards, Mark (30 July 2006). 778: 724: 698: 633: 545: 482:Festival in both 2006 (on the 246:https://www.unionofknives.com/ 1: 1450:Cadden, Avril (16 May 2009). 1360:. 2 July 2007. Archived from 614: 16:Scottish electronic rock band 316: 7: 1610:Musical groups from Glasgow 488:Isle of Skye Music Festival 10: 1636: 840:Notion Magazine, June 2006 610:(Relentless Records, 2007) 604:(Relentless Records, 2006) 598:(Relentless Records, 2006) 592:(Relentless Records, 2006) 1509:: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( 1435:: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( 923:, published 15 April 2006 879:: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( 469:Iceland Airwaves festival 322:remixes for the likes of 241: 237: 225: 221: 205: 201: 184: 174: 143: 132: 125: 586:(Stimulus Records, 2005) 1457:Daily Record (Scotland) 1270:"Tate Tracks – Project" 1084:Daily Record (Scotland) 557:Violence & Birdsong 508:Second album and hiatus 379:Violence & Birdsong 372:Violence & Birdsong 180:2004–2009, 2020-present 1551:"A Second Incarnation" 567:Endless From The Start 308:(American TV series) 45:improve this article 1334:. 26 September 2005 439:The Vampire Diaries 362:Shortly afterwards 301:The Vampire Diaries 995:Piccadilly Records 738:. 13 November 2006 584:Union of Knives EP 561:Relentless Records 383:Relentless Records 343:Relentless Records 191:Relentless Records 685:Dailyrecord.co.uk 596:Taste For Harmony 492:The Edge Festival 410:Reviews from the 345:and released the 251: 250: 156:experimental rock 121: 120: 113: 95: 60:"Union of Knives" 1627: 1590:MusicBrainz page 1567: 1566: 1564: 1562: 1547: 1541: 1540: 1538: 1536: 1521: 1515: 1514: 1508: 1500: 1498: 1496: 1478: 1469: 1468: 1466: 1464: 1447: 1441: 1440: 1434: 1426: 1424: 1422: 1406: 1400: 1399: 1397: 1395: 1380: 1374: 1373: 1371: 1369: 1350: 1344: 1343: 1341: 1339: 1322: 1316: 1315: 1313: 1311: 1296: 1290: 1289: 1287: 1285: 1280:on 20 March 2018 1276:. 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"Union of Knives"
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Glasgow
Electronic rock
experimental rock
trip hop
ambient
Helen Marnie
https://www.unionofknives.com/
electronic rock
Glasgow
Baby Chaos
Time Out
electronic
rock
Massive Attack
Radiohead
Grey's Anatomy
The Vampire Diaries
Supernatural (American TV series)
Snow Patrol

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