Pocket Knife Army: Midnight Masquerade

What if there was a party where people could dance without a care in the world, because no one could judge them? Dutch electronic pop duoPocket Knife Army road tested this idea when they played the bulk of the tracks from their work-in-progress album Midnight Masquerade at a show in Leiden on April 1, 2023. They wore masks, as well as most of the audience who were also invited to dress up for the occassion.

Fast forward to 2025 and the album is finally here. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl share a love for smart danceable songs, wherein the vocal approach of the Eurythmics is mixed with a Weimar-era cabaret backing (Raincoat Rendezvous), or dream up of hybrid of Yazoo and Dead Can Dance (Let Me See What's Out There) as a source of consolation.

Pocket Knife Army: "Midnight Masquerade" release show in Utrecht

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army will celebrate the release of their new album Midnight Masquerade with a show @ De Nijverheid in Utrecht on February 8. Tickets are available here.

» pocketknifearmy.com

Pocket Knife Army: "Midnight Masquerade" crowdfunding campaign

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have launched a crowdfunding campaign on Voordekunst.nl to cover the costs of releasing their new album Midnight Masquerade on vinyl:

We started a 'voordekunst' campaign (crowdfunding) where you can already pre-order an LP and donate some more if you want to support us. There’s all sorts of nice rewards for supporting us, like an XL Fan package, tickets to the release show, a handwritten song lyric, signed LP and we even offer a private concert in your living room/garage/office/you name it.

Pocket Knife Army: The Flood

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army turned it down a notch for their new single The Flood. It is a consolation for everyone who is kind of overwhelmed that a raucous high tide won't last: "Every flood will crawl back to the sea, eventually". This is as close as they got to writing a ballad, but thankfully without the candy-flavoured bits that tend to ruin the lyrics.

Pocket Knife Army: free download of debut album "'This Time I'll Come Out Unharmed"

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army celebrate the anniversary of the release of their debut album This Time I'll Come Out Unharmed by offering as a free download: 11 tracks that explore the other regions of utterly danceable glamorous synths and bass music.

Pocket Knife Army: Endgame

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have gone back to The Draw, one of their live in the studio recordings, and turned into the more upbeat track now called the Endgame. It is a warning of sorts - "you had it coming", but also an invitation to dance the night away.

Pocket Knife Army: Way Too Early

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army did something different when they recorded Way Too Early in a single night in the early months of the COVID pandemic in 2020. It was a kind of lullaby / ballad, a far cry from their usual in-your-face sound. They went back to it and added a few extra layers, but the intimacy is still intact.

Pocket Knife Army: "Masquerade" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have made a video for Masquerade: "a game of hide and seek on their new single Masquerade, changing the rhythm to both throw off and entertain the dancers".

Live date:

• 07/06 MadNes Festival Ameland, Netherlands

» pocketknifearmy.com

HCTF review of Masquerade.

Pocket Knife Army: "Raincoat Rendezvous" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have made a video for Raincoat Rendezvous: "It is a tale about an undercover meeting of sorts between a hopeful protagonist and a stranger, set to a dance meets Weimar-era cabaret backing. And yes, it's raining, because it always is when something like this goes down."

» pocketknifearmy.com

HCTF review of Raincoat Rendezvous.

Pocket Knife Army: Masquerade

photo: Desirée Coumans

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army are playing a game of hide and seek on their new single Masquerade, changing the rhythm to both throw off and entertain the dancers. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl added a wealth of carefully placed pops as the icing on the cake, serving as the musical equivalent of a strobe light show. It is a reworked version of the track that was shared as part of their "one new song each month" in 2020.

» pocketknifearmy.com

HCTF review of Raincoat Rendezvous.

Pocket Knife Army: Raincoat Rendezvous

photo: Desirée Coumans

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army take it slow on their new single, Raincoat Rendezvous. It is a tale about an undercover meeting of sorts between a hopeful protagonist and a stranger, set to a dance meets Weimar-era cabaret backing. And yes, it's raining, because it always is when something like this goes down. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl are getting out of their comfort zone with this one and it bodes well for their forthcoming new album. It is a reworked version of the track that was shared as part of their "one new song each month" in 2020.

Live date:

• 02/10 Midnight Masquerade festival @ De Nijverheid, Utrecht

» pocketknifearmy.com

HCTF review of Dance Like A Cobra.

Pocket Knife Army: "Dance Like A Cobra" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have made a video for their new single Dance Like A Cobra, a song about "a woman who is plagued by insecurities on their new single Dance Like A Cobra. She tries hard to be sexy and look cool, calm and collected as she dances the night away, only to get home alone and find that there no one waiting for her. Was it all worth it or should she stop caring about the both real and imagined demands of the outside world?"

» pocketknifearmy.com

HCTF review of Dance Like A Cobra.

Pocket Knife Army: Dance Like A Cobra

photo: Desirée Coumans

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army take the perspective from a woman who is plagued by insecurities on their new single Dance Like A Cobra. She tries hard to be sexy and look cool, calm and collected as she dances the night away, only to get home alone and find that there no one waiting for her. Was it all worth it or should she stop caring about the both real and imagined demands of the outside world? It is a reworked version of Dancing Like A Cobra, a track that was shared as part of their "one new song each month" in 2020.

Pocket Knife Army: new album "Midnight Masquerade"

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have finished the eight tracks for their third full-length album, Midnight Masquerade. They will play a special show @ De Vrijplaats in Leiden on April 1st. More details and ticket info TBA.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

Pocket Knife Army + LIJO: shows in Gouda, Ede & Helmond

Dutch avant-electro pop acts (and label mates) Pocket Knife Army and LIJO join forces again for a couple of shows. Both acts love to take risks and are always looking for an opportunity to create something special.

Live dates:

• 10/08 Gouda @ So What!
• 10/22 Ede @ Astrant
• 01/29 Helmond @ Muziekcafe Helmond

Pocket Knife Army: "Over And Done" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have posted a video for Over And Done, the last song of "one new song each month" challenge. They got the keys to P60, a concert venue in Amstelveen, and made good use of it, The clip was shot Jesse Immanuel Bom and used Okke van Breemen's bracelet gesture controllers to add effects in real time.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

HCTF review of Over And Done.

Pocket Knife Army: Over And Done

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have released Over And Done, the last song of "one new song each month" challenge. The pandemic got in the way, messing up the schedule, and the project grounded to a halt. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl felt the weren't done yet and with this melancholic track they put their self-imposed limititations to bed. The eighties continue to be a huge inspiration on this eighties-inspired song, with the sytnhs and beats having a good-natured tug of war.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

Pocket Knife Army: "Wrapped Around Your Finger" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have posted a video of them doing a cover of Wrapped Around Your Finger, an underappreciated song by The Police, to wrap up their "one new song each month" challenge which they kept going for two years. The clip was filmed by Jesse Immanuel Bom.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

HCTF review of Dancing Like A Cobra.

Pocket Knife Army: "Dancing Like A Cobra" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have posted a video for Dancing Like A Cobra as part of their "one new song each month" challenge. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl tell the story of a woman who intends to abuse and seduce while dancing the night away. The clip was filmed by Jesse Immanuel Bom.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

HCTF review of Raincoat Rendezvous.

Pocket Knife Army: "Raincoat Rendezvous" video

Dutch electronic pop duo Pocket Knife Army have posted a video for Raincoat Rendezvous as part of their "one new song each month" challenge. Desirée Coumans and Erwin Tuijl tackle the need to be left alone when an inexplicable anger it about to overtake you. A walk in the rain might calm the nerves then. The clip was filmed in one take by Jesse Immanuel Bom.

» Pocket Knife Army on Facebook

HCTF review of Masquerade.