knives of spain

knives of spain is 21st-c trobairitz. Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter Gwen Young's music "...braids aspects of folk and the psychedelic avant-garde, minimalism, electronic experimentation and sonic mood painting..." (John Adamian, YES!)

Gwen performs all parts, and records and produces her work in lo-hi-fi domesticity. Her live solo performances combine flutes, analog synths, guitar, sitar, accordion, and original audio with voice, into forms and ranging from intimately crafted songs to fever-dream improvisations. She has shared bills with a variety of artists, including Cate Le Bon, Ora Cogan, Clang Quartet and Eugene Chadbourne.

knives of spain has been featured on Tiny Mix Tapes, WGXC WaveFarm, Free Form Freakout KMSU, WFMU, Tome to Weather Machine, Psychic Glands (Auckland), and The Crooked Button (Dublin). Her second full-length release, Telluric (Hairy Spider Legs), was featured in "Top 200 Tapes of 2016" by Tabs Out.

"Performing under the name knives of spain, Gwen Young’s sophomore EP Telluric is transcendental. The record utilizes everything from analog synths to flutes to create a captivating, almost mystical sound. Knives’ sound calls forth comparisons to goth-rock goddesses like Kate Bush or Liz Fraser of Cocteau Twins; bestowing these comparisons feels like a rarity, but I am unable to think of someone else more deserving to coexist in this gossamer world." Hooligan Magazine

“The results are wide-ranging, with ominous thrumming and unsettled dissonances in some places, and lilting acoustic settings or hypnotic drones in others... Foghorn sounds, deep-breathing accordion, insect hissing, music-box tinklings, and clouds of shivering synth oscillations all contribute to a vibe that can either lull or put you on edge. Fans of music that braids aspects of folk and the psychedelic avant-garde, minimalism, electronic experimentation and sonic mood painting will find things to like..." Yes!

“The diversity throughout (Telluric) is completely amazing. Knives of Spain delivers a specially warped version of pop music, achieved from being baked in a kiln fired by ghostly spirits...Gwen Young's voice seems to slip through these fissures of a decomposing world." Lost in a Sea of Sound