Page 15 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE JANUARY 2015

RGG January 2015 - p.15
Promo Album: King Rich –
Buy@: iTunes & Amazon [ ]
Web: kingrich co uk
Verdict: When you follow the careers of Midland artists via their
recorded work you become excited when you hear a pattern of positive progression; this is the
Midlands finest alternative acoustic artist without a doubt and I’ve reviewed some greats. A
King Rich CD is always entertaining anyway, normally this alternative acoustic act delivers
regular EP’s which he sells at shows. In 2011 he released a full album on iTunes &
Amazon which was a collection of his most popular tunes from his EP’s released
between the years 2004-2007 and like clockwork he’s still recording and releasing
EP’s as we speak; however this 2015 album promo titled “KING RICH 2008-2011”
is his follow up to the 2011 release “KING RICH 2004-2007” and this time he’s
darker, more experimental and to be quite frank has got to be the most deepest
grouping of songs from the artist to date (even though it’s pretty certain that there
will one day be a KING RICH 2012-2015 release which will no doubt improve over
this one!).
Never an artist to stick to traditional rules ,likewise, I’m going to be the same
with my review; ‘Operation End’ is the final song on this 20 track album and
I’d suggest getting it just for this tune as it’s a brilliant example of why this artist
is the king of alternative songwriting and risk taking. It begins with a haunting
wind followed by a guitar arpeggio that rivals the tones from music legends like
The Animals, then we hear King Rich playing and singing the beautiful delicate
opening verse, but there’s a twist of genius to come. From the start there is what
appears to be a light distorted quality to the song mix, as if it’s halfway tuned
between two radio stations, then we notice morse code over the top of the verse
along with the interference of another radio frequency. The gentle but incredibly
atmospheric soulful song builds up further and, as it does, so does the hybrid of
background noise.
Three minutes into this epic it suddenly transforms into super sound quality and all
interference completely disappears leaving just the wonderful guitar line and vocals
which lifts the song to a high plain dynamically, in such a unique way, that in all the years
of hearing music the nearest to an example of this superb uncommercial method would be that
of the experimentation that appeared during the recording of the Axis: Bold As Love album by
The Jimi Hendrix Experience; but ‘Operation End’ by King Rich is still different in approach.
Pure genius. The song ends by slipping back into the void of radio interference as if flying
into the heavens leaving you stunned as a listener. One of the most original and powerful
examples of songwriting I’ve witnessed in a tune; that’s why this is CD of the month, there’re 19
other songs too which all fashion this in to a truly remarkable record. King Rich isn’t afraid to be
different, will do things for the sake of a song and gives off the performance of a master.
KING RICH
of
the album month