Today, Knife Knights (The Palaceer aka Ishmael Butler, Erik Blood, OCnotes and Marquetta Miller) share a dizzying new visual for “Drag Race Legend,” a psychedelic tale of wasted youth, directed by Joshua M. Johnson. The young man has a penchant for street racing, skipping school and getting high. He proclaims himself a legend, drinks spodie and parties with dorks like Billy Parker.”
1 Time Mirage is out now on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop. The long-player features the aforementioned “Drag Race Legend,” with additional highlights “My Dreams Never Sleep”“Give You Game,”“Seven Wheel Motion,”“Light Up Ahead (Time Mirage)” and “Low Key,” and was as produced by Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle. 1 Time Mirage includes guest appearances from labelmates Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray, along with Stas THEE Boss, Thaddillac, El Mizell, Gerald Turner, and Darrius Willrich.
1 Time Mirage orders through megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers and Knife Knights shows will receive the limited Loser edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last). The album cover also features gorgeous artwork from Robert Beatty.
What “The People” have said about Knife Knights 1 Time Mirage: “[A] spellbinding fusion of rap, blessed funk, and tough soul” - London in Stereo
“The result is an album of eminently listenable sonic frontierism, and Butler’s most accessible work in years.” [4/5] - MOJO
“[A] suite of sci-fi cosmic hip-hop that takes myriad turns and twists, none of them predictable, all of them compelling.” - The Wire
“Like Butler’s frequent collaborator Flying Lotus, Knife Knights create a rich, fibrous world around each of the tracks on 1 Time Mirage. This is an album whose air you can breathe, whose fragrant musk seeps from each detail. Its production has an insomniac energy, oddly tranquil and unsettled at the same time, each dab of reverb and tickling delay sending ripples through the fug of warped beats and sardonic rhymes.” [8/10] - Loud & Quiet
“1 Time Mirage leapfrogs across several different genres and subgenres, pulling hip-hop, psychedelic soul, and shoegaze into an 11-track set of chaotic noise. Between the woozy bounce of “Seven Wheel Motion,” the house-inflected stomp of “Can’t Draw The Line,” and the hazy pop of “Come On Let’s Go,” the album is easily as esoteric as anything created by Shabazz Palaces; but the music here feels lusher and more sophisticated.” - Bandcamp Daily
In “Seven Wheel Motion” colossal drums puncture walls of labyrinthine noise sculpted from deranged synthesizers and mutated guitars, yielding an absolute powerhouse of a track. Butler seems to rap in dialogue with himself, detailing a threatening streetscape and shaping the experience into personal realizations.
In the “Seven Wheel Motion” visual, the song soundtracks the fantastical “Twin Queen Tryst” short film. Set in an alien landscape, a queen (played by Rhonda Faison of Shabazz Palaces “Déesse Du Sang” video) sends her royal subject (played by The Palaceer) on a quest for a magical jewel. Along the way, he encounters a mystical being (played by OCnotes) who helps the subject with his quest to return the jewel to the queen. This wild new video also features scene art by Olde Nightrifter and cinematography from Futsum Tsegai.
Knife Knights (The Palaceer aka Ishmael Butler, Erik Blood, OCnotes and Marquetta Miller) have a scheduled performance in Seattle on Wednesday, October 16th at Earshot Jazz Festival (at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute).
[Photo Credit: Justin Henning]
1 Time Mirage is out now on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop. The long-player features the highlights the aforementioned “My Dreams Never Sleep” along with “Give You Game,”“Seven Wheel Motion,”“Light Up Ahead (Time Mirage)” and “Low Key,” and was as produced by Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle. 1 Time Mirage includes guest appearances from labelmates Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray, along with Stas THEE Boss, OCnotes, Thaddillac, El Mizell, Marquetta Miller, Gerald Turner, and Darrius Willrich.
1 Time Mirage orders through megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers and Knife Knights shows will receive the limited Loser edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last). The album cover also features gorgeous artwork from Robert Beatty.
Knife Knights have delivered a new video for “My Dreams Never Sleep,” a standout from 1 Time Mirage, their Sub Pop debut. The slightly NSFW and psychedelic visual was directed by animator Joe Garber (illustrator for Foo Fighters The Making of Concrete and Gold) and is a meditation on love, loss and letting go both on a mortal plane and in the afterlife. Garber offers this on the video, “In a dream, she calls him onward, and in sleep, she calls him back.”
Knife Knights Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Knife Knights (Ishmael Butler, Erik Blood, and OCnotes) have also announced their first-ever North American tour in support of 1 Time Mirage, which begins April 25th in Tacoma at the Tacoma Elks Temple and currently ends May 24th in Oakland at The New Parish. On select dates along the tour, there will be special guest appearances from the 1 Time Mirage universe. And from May 1st through May 24th, the group will be joined by Mello Music Group recording artist Lando Chill as direct support.
Apr. 25 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Elks Temple Apr. 26 - Victoria, BC - Eventide Music Series at Centennial Square Apr. 27 - Vancouver, BC - Fortune Sound Club May 01- Milwaukee, WI - Colectivo Coffee Back Room * May 02 - Minneapolis, MN - Icehouse * May 03 - Chicago, IL - Sleeping Village * May 04 - Detroit, MI - The Lager House * May 05 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop Bar * May 06 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups * May 07 - Lakewood, OH -Mahall’s 20 Lanes * May 09 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre (small room) * May 10 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory * May 11 - Washington, DC - The Pie Shop Bar at Dangerously Delicious Pies * May 13 - Atlanta, GA - Aisle 5 * May 14 - Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder * May 15 - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry’s * May 17 - Austin, TX - Empire Control Room * May 18 - Dallas, TX - Ruins * May 21 - Tuscon, AZ - Club Congress * May 22 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom * May 23 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg Theatre * May 24 - Oakland, CA - The New Parish * * w/ Lando Chill
1 Time Mirage is out now on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop. The long-player features the highlights the aforementioned “My Dreams Never Sleep” along with “Give You Game,”“Seven Wheel Motion,”“Light Up Ahead (Time Mirage)” and “Low Key,” and was as produced by Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle. 1 Time Mirage includes guest appearances from labelmates Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray, along with Stas THEE Boss, OCnotes, Thaddillac, El Mizell, Marquetta Miller, Gerald Turner, and Darrius Willrich.
1 Time Mirage orders through megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers and Knife Knights shows will receive the limited Loser edition on blue vinyl (while supplies last). The album cover also features gorgeous artwork from Robert Beatty.
In the “Moon Whip Quaz” video, slumber party magic summons forth the otherworldly figure known as Quäz; and in the “ode to badass females” visual for “Julian’s Dream (ode to a bad),” the mythical Quäz joins forces with lead protagonist Dr. Julian in her quest to liberate the controversial bodyswap tech she invented.
Shabazz Palaces European and UK tour dates in support of Quazarz Born on a Gangster Star, and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines have been extended through February 2019. Beginning November 17th in Skopje, Macedonia and ending December 3rd, 2018 in London at O2 Arena, the group will support Ms. Lauryn Hill on the EU/UK edition of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour.”
Then in early 2019, Shabazz Palaces’ EU/UK headlining tour has expanded and now begins February 1st in Toulouse at Le Metronum and ends February 8th in Dublin at The Sugar Club.
Nov. 17 - Skopje, MK - MKC* Nov. 18 - Brussels, BE - Forest National* Nov. 20 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 21 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 22 - Amsterdam, NL - De Marktkantine (DJ Set) Nov. 23 - Glasgow, UK - SSE Hydro* Nov. 26 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena* Nov. 27 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Arena* Nov. 30 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena* Dec. 03 - London, UK - O2 Arena* Feb. 01 - Toulouse, FR - Le Metronum Feb. 02 - Paris, FR - International Cité Theater Feb. 03 - Brugge, Sint-Andries, BE - MaZ Feb. 04 - Rotterdam, NL - Bird Feb. 05 - Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet Feb. 06 - Liège, BE - Le Reflektor Feb. 07 - London, UK - Jazz Cafe Feb. 08 - Dublin, IE - The Sugar Club *w/ Ms. Lauryn Hill
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums released in 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS / Illustrated album worldwide through Sub Pop.
European and U.K. dates supporting Ms. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour begin November 17th.
Shabazz Palaces are sharing the official video for “Déesse Du Sang” from their acclaimed 2017 release, Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star. The ominous, slightly NSFW visual, is directed by returning director Stephan Gray (“Dawn In Luxor,” “Since C.A.Y.A.”).
SHABAZZ PALACES TOUR DATES
Shabazz Palaces European and UK tour dates in support of Quazarz Born On A Gangster Star, and Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machines have been extended through February 2019. Beginning November 17th in Skopje, Macedonia and ending December 3rd, 2018 in London at O2 Arena, the group will support Ms. Lauryn Hill on the EU/UK edition of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour.” Then in early 2019, Shabazz Palaces will return to the EU/UK a string of headlining dates beginning February 4th in Rotterdam at Bird and ending February 7th on London at Jazz Cafe.
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums released in 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS / Illustrated album worldwide through Sub Pop [purchase it now here].
What people are saying Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Starand Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machinesand affiliated singles: “In thermodynamics, black bodies are both perfect absorbers and emitters of radiant energy. That seeming contradiction would not be lost on one Palaceer Lazaro, better known as Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, who continues to find far-out ways to reflect and refract the sound and fury of popular culture and contemporary blackness…Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star…pushes an interstellar narrative that’s equal parts absurd and real…It’s a cosmic trip. [Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star] - NPR Music
“The power of Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Starand Quazarz vs the Jealous Machinescomes from the way they spike their dense, abstract sound with moments of accessibility: a band broadening what they do without blunting their edge or losing their uniqueness.” - [4/5, Album of the Week] - The Guardian
“The pair’s music sounds like rap music viewed through a prism - a psychedelic reverie of glittering electronic textures and unconventional beats that’s sensual, expansive and disorientating….Like interstellar guides, they’re always positioned a little further out than their peers, and these two records offer suggested routes to an infinity of possible futures.” [8/10] - Uncut
“A thrilling excursion, possessing an otherworldly ambiance and substance you’ll spend months decoding, every spin yielding something new. Adventurous ears, listen up!” [4/5 stars] - MOJO
“Set Quazarz to stunning.” [4/5 stars] - Q
“The Quazarz suite is an unequivocal triumph.” - [9/10] - Loud & Quiet
“These exquisite new sonic meanderings conjure up the ghost of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.” [Record of the Month] - London In Stereo
“Both of Shabazz Palaces’ new albums are meticulously crafted, with an obscure narrative and arrangements so vivid they beckon you to unravel them.” [4/5 stars] - The Skinny
“Digitally cut-up, delayed and reverberated, words tumble, swirl and spill, smearing themselves over fragmented beats and shimmering kaleidoscopic backdrops: strands of audio graffiti sprayed on walls that gleam, shift shape and then finally vanish.” [Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star & Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines] - Wire
Shabazz Palaces have added new European and U.K. dates for 2018 in support of Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machinesand Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star. The dates, which find the band supporting Ms. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour, begin November 18th in Brussels at Forest National and end on December 3rd in London at O2 Arena.
Shabazz Palaces’ previously announced U.S. dates with Ms. Lauryn Hill resume on September 20th at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California and run through October 7th at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The band will also appear at Cropped Out Festival in Louisville on October 6th. Please find a complete list of dates below.
Shabazz Palaces have also shared “Quazarz on 23rd” a short film for the closing song from Quazarz Vs The Jealous Machines, their acclaimed release and second album of 2017 [watch here].”
Director, multimedia artist and fellow Black Constellation member Nep Sidhu says of the visual: “In continuing from the previous short film (“Welcome to Quazarz”), A Being from the Quazarz raises from the Black Constellation System Scramble ® but still finds himself lost tonally and sonically amidst earth’s recent offerings. In receiving Bhai Vir Singh’s response by way of a familiar female form, he journeys to ready himself to meet her on H.E.R. terms by way of cleanliness, and a non-deity based ritual. Far from superstition, this is a ceremony that has no place for fake cathartic release. An indigo drenched reflection in drum awaits his understanding of himself.”
“Quazarz on 23rd” stars Michael Singh (as “The Soul”) and Allix Thompson (as “Mother Nature”), and features collaborations from: Michael Reynolds (editing and analog optics); Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Noel Chaput, and Reynolds (VHS cinematography); and Alex McLeod (animation).
In related news, Sidhu will also unveil new works at the grand opening of Toronto’s MOCA Museum first show entitled “Believe,” beginning September 22 (through January 6th, 2019). This includes the Shabazz Palaces-inspired “Quazarz Pinball Machine w/ Leisure & Surveillance Enhancement Console” which will make its debut at the show.
Sep. 20 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre* Sep. 26 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* Sep. 29 - Houston, TX - Smart Financial Center Sugarland* Sep. 30 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory* Oct. 03 - New Orleans, LA - Lakefront Arena* Oct. 05 - St. Louis, MO - Chaifetz Arena* Oct. 06 - Louisville, KY - Cropped Out Festival at American Turners Oct. 07 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre* Nov. 18 - Brussels, BE - Forest National* Nov. 20 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 21 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 23 - Glasgow, UK - SSE Hydro* Nov. 26 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena* Nov. 27 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Arena* Nov. 30 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena* Dec. 03 - London, UK - O2 Arena* *w/ Ms. Lauryn Hill
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Starand Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums released in 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS / Illustrated album worldwide through Sub Pop over here, and you can hear here: