Knower Forever is the fifth studio album by American independent electronic jazz-funk duo Knower. It was self-released on June 2, 2023. Recording was done sometime in 2023 at the house of member Louis Cole, who was responsible for the album's production. Musically, Knower Forever diverts from the duo's four previous albums, featuring an experimental sound with avant-pop and jazz-funk whilst continuing their theme of humorous and vulgar lyrics.
The album was first released exclusively on Bandcamp, and was promoted with a series of home-made videos. Its success on the platform resulted in a vinyl campaign, which preceded its release onto streaming platforms. Knower Forever received positive reviews from music critics.
Background and recording The last album released by Knower was Life in 2016, an electronic record. From that year onwards, Knower expanded their lineup and began performing as a live band, with members including David Binney, Sam Gendel, Thom Gill, Dennis Hamm, Jacob Mann, Rai Thistlethwayte, and Sam Wilkes.
Knower Forever was recorded at Cole's house sometime in 2023; neither Cole or Genevieve Artadi revealed the dates of recording or production. Unlike their four previous albums which were produced exclusively by the duo, Knower Forever features performances and production from several musicians including Binney, Gendel, Thistlethwayte and Wilkes.
Release and promotion
Knower announced the release of Knower Forever in May 2023 as a Bandcamp exclusive, citing low payment from Spotify and other streaming services as their reason for doing so. "I'm the President", "The Abyss", and "Crash the Car" were released as singles that month to promote the album, alongside a series of music videos with a DIY style the band is known for.
Knower Forever was released on Bandcamp on June 2, 2023, and it was followed by a vinyl campaign. It was released on streaming platforms in October of that same year.
Critical reception Knower Forever received positive reviews from music critics and, by Cole and Artadi's account, was commercially successful. According to the duo, "for the first time ever, we made a shitload of money from an album" thanks to the success of the Bandcamp campaign.
Zoe Camp of Bandcamp Daily ranked Knower Forever among their best albums of the year, believing the duo "are certainly at home basking in muzak's creature comforts, from the hermetically sealed vocals of city pop to the tonal warmth of smooth jazz." James Rettig of Stereogum described it as "alternately squelching and smooth, and there are a whole lot of instruments backing Artadi as she talks some shit and pumps herself up." The same publication later included "I'm the President" in a "Best Songs of the Week" list, praising its "horn flourishes, a backing choir, and a completely wild song structure that leapfrogs from bass-driven funk to high school marching band to mind-bending free jazz."
James Sissler of Live for Live Music praised its variety, noting its switches from "aggressively funky and unashamedly silly" to "breathtaking melodies and epic orchestration". Writers of Song Bar called the record a "jazz-funk tour de force LP of outstanding musicianship, infinite energy, humour and invention", and praised the duo and supporting band. Tony Wolski of The Armed called Knower Forever one of his favorite albums of the year, stating that "It’s no secret that Louis Cole is an absolute force on drums. But Genevieve Artadi is the unsung MVP of this, making effortless melodies that get stuck in your head for days out of such unprecious, understated staccato utterances."
Track listing
Personnel Credits are adapted from the Knower Forever liner notes.Knower Forever (CD liner notes). Knower. 2023.
Musicians Louis Cole – drums, piano, keyboard, production, mixing, mastering Genevieve Artadi – vocals David Binney – saxophone chiquitamagic – keyboard MonoNeon – bass Paul Cornish – keyboard, piano Sam Gendel – saxophone Jacob Mann – keyboard Rai Thistlethwayte – keyboard, piano Sam Wilkes – bass
Additional musicians Leah Zeger – violin Lily Honigberg – violin Megan Shung – violin Yu-Ting Wu – violin Chrysanthe Tan – violin Sabrina Parry – violin Nora Germain – violin Tylana Renga – violin Tom Lea – viola Ethan Moffitt – viola Daniel Jacobs – viola Lauren Baba – viola Isaiah Gage – cello Chris Votek – cello Niall Ferguson – cello Emily Elkin – cello Karl McComas-Reichl – bass Logan Kane – bass Robert Murray – tuba Corbin Jones – sousaphone Kyle Richter – sousaphone Jon Hatamiya – trombone Vikram Devasthali – trombone Mariel Austin – trombone Nick Platoff – bass trombone Aidan Lombard – trumpet Aaron Janik – trumpet Andris Mattson – trumpet Chris Clarkson – trumpet Rob Sheppard – flute Amber Navran – flute Henry Solomon – flute Kathryn Shuman – choir Mikaela Elson – choir Dyasono – choir Micaela Tobin – choir Jessica Freedman – choir Rayah Clarkson – choir Alexandra Domingo – choir Sharon Kim – choir Linnea Sablosky – choir Katharine Eames – choir Glynis Davies – choir Michael Kohl – choir Jeff Eames – choir VJ Rosales – choir Brett McDermid – choir Luc Kleiner – choir Sean Fitzpatrick – choir
References