From the kaleidoscopic pop-scape of the sixties to the alternative 90′s and beyond, Britain has produced its fair share of experimental artists who are more than willing to blur and bend the lines between genres. The country’s latest budding experimentalist comes in the form of Archy Marshall, best recognized as King Krule or the artist formerly known as Zoo Kid. Under the latter moniker, he put out a sparse, affected track entitled “Out Getting Ribs”. A couple of years, one name change and a wave of anticipation later, and we find ourselves at the feet of Marshall’s first strike.
Although the disjointed poetry in his lyrics, the glistening, shimmering guitar licks and the bluesy slur to his voice is (as expected) the heart of his debut, the lifeblood and the thing that could make Marshall a seriously provocative talent are the little nuances which move outside of this realm and into other territories. There are a number of interesting influences which slither into the DNA of 6 Feet Beneath The Moon. Dub inspired reverb, jazzy lounge music key patterns, ska-like brass, breakbeats and rockabilly/psychedelic undertones all add a little gloss and sparkle to the more minimalistic core of the album. They also provide a much appreciated and brilliantly executed kick to proceedings which not only see’s Marshall up his game a few notches here, but have now become an integral part of why King Krule really is a diamond in the rough.
I say this because, although there are a number lovely bones (and believe me, there are some SERIOUSLY lovely bones) within the anatomy of 6 Feet Beneath The Moon, it does feel a little too skeletal in places. The album’s in need of some further fleshing out and a little more muscle. There are moments, such as “A Lizard State”, which do bear strength and show off a more robust frame, but as a whole, the record could do with a little bulking up. Krule’s sound and career, though, is still in its utmost infancy, and with more embellishment on the kind of ideas put forth here, he has every opportunity to become the kind of bold, sharp, angular, powerhouse that the potential here teases.
