I Know Not by Sean MacLeod is on the borderline of commercial pop forms and experimental sound decisions, which creates a unified whole and makes his own musical language. The chorus makes clear 1950s doo-wop allusions, and the aspects of the wall of sound approach of Phil Spector are present. Its melody is conspicuous and well developed in the structure of the song.
The use of microtonal tuning is of primary importance in the formation of the track. The piece was initially recorded by MacLeod on lyres, which were medieval instruments that were retuned flexible and then he translated the retuning in percussion. This leads to a tonal structure whereby notes are not within normal Western scales. Eastern touches are present all over, especially in the manner the vocals are playing the melodic lines.
The album was recorded at home and was recorded in lo-fi style. There is wind chimes, overlaying guitar and active drum rhythms all combined to make an eclectic mix. These components are in a thick yet fine soundscape.
The stylistic allusions are as old as punk of 1970s, or 1960s psychedelia, particularly in the vocal harmony. MacLeod, originally, Scarriff, played in the Dublin band Cisco, worked previously with Paul Barrett, who has worked with U2. I Know Not was featured in his fifth solo album, That’s When the Earth Becomes a Star. The song has a light tone as it touches on philosophical concepts lyrically. There are influences of the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Motown in the melodic construction, folk and classical influences are incorporated into a wider experimental framework.
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