Really like this. Pretty, but also sort of grim and emotionally oppressive. LOVE the guitar sounds. Love the willingness to sit in downtempo feelings for so long. His voice is so cool and has so much range, reminds me of Geordie Greep but like in a different way but just as much range and expression. Also the record as a whole really reminds me of Alabaster DePlume, not surprised that a lot of the UK stuff I've been into this decade has been influenced by KK. And absolutely echoing Ooty's comments on the production. The drums also kinda snuck up on me, not too prominent but very out there and eclectic
I am glad people are fucking with it! Very much a mood record, good for rainy days and lonely nights. Absolutely benefits from repeat listens, and hopefully it pushes folks to check out some more of his stuff.
Really interesting, atmospheric album. The soundscape in "Cadet Leaps" is especially neat. I can see really falling in love with this in the right mood/weather.
Echoing what others have said - Space Heavy is my least favorite, but he hasn't missed yet. I would recommend his live album to you specifically. Man Alive! furthers this sound but more concentrated/cohesive, while 6 Feet Beneath the Moon is much more just him with a guitar and some beats. A New Place 2 Drown is the trip-hop album he put out before this under his own name (Archy Marshall).
I have always enjoyed King Krule, but I have only listened to his albums a few times each as they are a lot to take in for me. He doesn't make music that you can just leave on in the background while doing other shit, haha. Have always really enjoyed Archy's voice too. This album is really fucking good with all that being said. Half Man Half Shark is the easy favorite
Really liked The Ooz, lots of bangers great vibe. The only reason I dont go back to this one is the length, I want 40mins of KK.
Listening to Man Alive! now and while it's good, I'm missing the atmospheric elements of The Ooz. feels a little less cohesive as well
I thought the same thing when it came out. For some reason, I kept reaching for it. Still prefer The Ooz, but I probably return to MA more than any of his other releases at this point, at least in full.
Felt really indecisive for this pick, many that I would’ve been excited to talk about. Decided to go with the one that had a little more contrast with my previous pick: Bill Frisell - East/West (Disc 1 specifically) Bill is tied for my favorite living guitarist. The only non-jam band artist I’ve seen twice in two nights, as far as I remember. His style is so unique and haunting and uplifting and beautiful. He toes the line so perfectly between ambient and not, form and free, song and vibe. This is a trio record with drums and bass but it’s really about Bill. The opening cover of Grapevine is a perfect mission statement for him, you hear exactly how he works with a melody. You’ll think it’s totally gone and they’re jamming, and then he hits that volume pedal and the whole thing SWELLS and you realize retroactively that the melody never left. Frisell also has an insane breadth of work, he was in Zorn’s Naked City playing jazz grind and on Earth’s Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull. Soundtracked Tales from the Far Side. Charles Lloyd and Mary Halvorson and Julian Lage records. Etc etc etc. Disclaimer: This is a two hour double album so out of consideration for your time I’ll say the official pick is just Disc 1, the “West” set, but I encourage you to listen to all of it if you can. I tried to convince myself to pick Good Dog, Happy Man or Blues for Los Angeles instead but…this is the one.
Interested to see if the weekly for me/not for me back and forth trend is gonna continue this week. Not heard a single note of Bill Frisell
Shenandoah and Pipe Down on disc one are like the two sides of Frisell made plain. I would say disc 2 is “softer,” a little more ambient, a little more like Shenandoah as a whole