Song of the Day: The Skull Defekts - The Known Unknown

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is "The Known Unknown" by The Skull Defekts from the 2014 album Dances in Dreams of the Known Unknown on Thrill Jockey.

The Skull Defekts - The Known Unknown (MP3) Swedish experimental group The Skull Defekts have gathered a steady following since their inception. In 2005, the band began quietly producing post-rock melodies, addictingly discordant tracks, and, well, noise. Six years later, in 2011, the group collaborated with singer, lyricist, and Jew's harp improvisationalist Daniel Higgs of Lungfish. As a new member of the band, Higgs assisted in the creation of Skull DFX's Peer Amid, popularizing and tightening their exploratory sound. The musical allyship with Higgs marked a watershed moment, and band harnessed his energy once again, working together to produce their 2014 album, Dances in the Dreams of the Known Unknown. For today's featured song, we've brought you "The Known Unknown," a quasi-title track, which sounds something like how Fugazi would look in a funhouse mirror.

Higgs' influence is evident throughout the album, but "The Known Unknown" emerges as a jam which evidences both artists' distinctive styles. Per usual, it's heavy, abrasive, laden with fast-paced drums and even harsher guitar, but advances itself masterfully with the subtle addition of Higgs' lines like, "It all started / with a minor conflict / something about sex and confusion. / He went on with armed forces / attacking my brain. / it was psychic warfare." It's hypnotic, repetitive even, save for the moment when the built-up layers of the song converge, and the track floats up into a dark cloud of gritty buzzes and muted back-beat.

The Skull Defekts just finished an abbreviated tour of the U.S. and are currently back in Europe, but they promise more live dates to follow, so keep checking their website and Facebook page for updates. For now, watch your head (er, skull rather) and this video for "The Known Unknown" now: