Image: Caitlin HurikKneeling Knave is the latest project for Cooper Bowman, a Melbourne musician who NOISEY has covered before through his work in Roman Nails.Whereas Roman Nails, was all twisted techno, Kneeling Knave explores the heavy mid-80s industrial sound, in particular Dead Tech, a short lived project for Mitch Enderle whose only tape release has become a collector item.Cooper will release ‘The Messiah Complex / Involuntary Admission’ an upcoming 7” through Altered States tapes .“Kneeling Knave differs from other projects that I’ve done recently in that there are vocals and an overall harsher sound," he says. "Thematically, it is currently centred on a lived experience of mental illness and the health care system surrounding it. I’ve been diagnosed with a mental illness and currently volunteer in an inpatient unit / study in the field, so I’ve seen both sides of the coin. Sonically, Kneeling Knave is primarily influenced by seminal 80s project, Dead Tech and, to some extent, early SPK. I see these acts as the apex of the industrial sound.”Cooper tells us that there will be full-length Kneeling Knave tape coming out soon on Trapdoor Tapes that pursues more of a power-electronics direction.In the meantime take a listen to “Involuntary Admission” the b-side to the upcoming 7’.
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“The Messiah Complex / Involuntary Admission” is available June 1 through Altered States.Catch the Kneeling Knave launch/live debut in Melbourne Aug 25 at Hugs n' Kisses with Collector + Dead Boomers.