Chrome Hoof have shook their sleek silver fur out of hibernation recently with the release of their third full studio album, Chrome Black Gold, and to mark the moment of their re-ascendency they’d also release a stunning new video for their track, Knopheria, featuring stunning might of Shingai Shoniwa. It’s a four and a half minute opus to late 70s disco with shades of the progressive woven into the construction, making it instantly unforgettable.
The Noisettes lead singer adds a lot of style and impact to the impressive track and video as she shakes and sways her way through a perfectly spun discolific homage. It’s got a lot of soul wrapped up in the charge of the song and it’s blended with a little eastern flare, giving it even more stand-out quality and experimental shimmer.
Shingai Shoniwa’s super crisp vocals, along with the steam train fuelled track itself are reminiscent of Chic, Donna Summer and Sister Sledge, but equally there are a few parallels to what Daft Punk have achieved on Random Access Memories. The vocals jump from point to point as the song builds, getting inevitably higher and higher towards the end of the disco infused track.
The video for Knopheria is just as cool as the music itself, featuring a lot of disco entranced techniques with kaleidoscopic light tunnels, pixelated black holes and crazy image transitions. Shoniwa is the perfect disco queen for the video as she emphasises the good times rhythm of the song, which doesn’t take itself too seriously while still being one of the best disco tracks we’ve heard in a while.
Knopheria is available on digital download, as well as being one of the lead tracks from Chrome Hoof’s Chrome Black Gold, which was released in November 2013. The band has also confirmed its first UK gig of the year to accompany the release of the video at one of East London’s newest venues, Oslo, on the 23rd January 2014.
If you’re not already a follower of all things Chrome Hoof, they’re based in London and made up of founding members Leo and Milo Smee along with a growing roster of band mates and a big range of different instruments. You’ve only go to take a quick glance at the pic of the band with Shingai Shoniwa above or listen to the lyrics of Knopheria to pick up on the Datarock tongue-in-cheek aspect of Chrome Hoof’s music.
Chrome Hoof, Knopheria music video:
Chrome Hoof, Chrome Black Gold track list:
1. Enter the Drobe
2. Knopheria
3. When the Lightning Strikes
4. Kestrel Dawn
5. Tortured Craft
6. Ultimate Sealed Unit
7. Exo-Spektral
8. Andromeda
9. Dysnomia
10. Varkada Blues
11. Drobe Out
