Upon the next stage, a spotlight is focused on a mammoth bronze sculpture of two snakes entwined. Their bodies are wrapped around each other in an intimate embrace, and their tongues touch suggestively. The deep, somber boom of a standing bass leads into a twelve-string guitar’s plaintive moan, and as the music swells, a stunning, statuesque woman steps out from behind the statue, her fierce and regal face in profile. The spotlight dims to a deep amber-red, and shines a dark, sanguine light onto her, tinting her long, wild hair the color of blood. She sings:
Sunday is gloomy, my hours are slumberless.
Dearest, the shadows I live with are numberless.
Little white flowers will never awaken you,
Not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you.
Angels have no thought of ever returning you.
Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?
Gloomy Sunday.
She turns, and abruptly faces left. Her features are coarser, more masculine, and you notice the rough, dusky shadow of an evening beard on the singer’s face. On this side, the hair is cropped short, and as s/he sighs and begins the next verse, you hear the voice deepen to a weathered, sorrowful baritone.
Gloomy is Sunday; with shadows I spend it all.
My heart and I have decided to end it all.
Soon there’ll be candles and prayers that are sad, I know.
Death is no dream, for in death I’m caressing you.
With the last breath of my soul I’ll be blessing you.
Gloomy Sunday.
The singer turns to face the audience, and your senses reel. On the left side, the features are sharp, but feminine. You can see the curve of her breast, the soft fullness of her hips, the arch of her fine brow. On the right, it is the body of an Adonis, muscular and commanding. You see that a thick seam runs down the center of the body, stitched roughly.
Though the vision is disconcerting, the warmth and passion in the singer’s voice swells inside your heart, and you are spellbound. Enraptured, you realize that though the gender is opposed on either side, one soul binds the whole.
Dark, moody, and bittersweet: black currant, patchouli, tobacco, cinnamon leaf, caramel, muguet, and red sandalwood.
Bear –
Knave of Heart is almost overwhelmingly sweet when I first put it on, but it quickly reels itself in to reveal layers of fruity currants and buttery, flaky pastry! The rose is there just on the outskirts of the scent, wafting in from time to time to support the pastry. The rose reads more like a rose lokum. I was really surprised by this perfume and I’m absolutely delighted by it!
My only problem is now I have to go out and buy some fruit tarts to appease the sudden craving.
Gloame –
Wow, what? This smells like chocolate and spice to me. Nathan says it smells like holidays. Really really lovely. After a second application, I get that bready note like in Mari Lwyd—a bit of fermentation. Ugh, I fucking love this.
Where I’d wear this: New Year’s Day, baking for luck
sarahheady24601 –
Fruity delicious pastry– I do think I can smell currants specifically. I wish this had a touch more rose, but it is warm and comforting and pleasant. It’s very loud when wet, but dries down softer.
olgaleshchova –
In the bottle, and freshly applied on my skin, “Knave of Hearts” smells ecactly like creme brulee. As it dries down, and for the rest of the time “Knave of Hearts” stays on my skin, it anells like church candles. I’ve had this perfume for three or four year’s. In that time, the scent has greatly intensified, but not changed. I prefer to use “Knave of Hearts” as an incense oil, rather than, a perfume oil.
rmazar –
I don’t so much get rose from this, though I think it’s woven in there. I get pastry and pie filing, possibly blueberry, to be honest. Though my familiarity with currants is a bit limited. I love it. It’s beautiful and comforting.
imaweirdowhodrawsevilpastries –
BEST SCENT EVER! I have no idea how I ever survived without this stuff!