‘Love Lust/Mr. Flick’ – King Charles

Love Lust / Mr. Flick

King Charles released their first single in May, to only a little press attention but a lot of mine. They have an incredibly unique sound – distortion, synth, blunt South London accents, folk elements and heavy guitars. It’s an addictive combination, believe it or not, and if you don’t believe it just have a listen to it.

‘Love Lust’  starts off with some folky, almost Celtic-sounding harmonising dampened effectively by just a touch of distortion, and bounces on with the addition of a low piano. Just a low piano. It’s perfect in it’s simplicity, and when the first verse comes the pace doesn’t slow. The words are all perfectly placed too, with just the right folk flourishes to make you think there must be a sardonic humour behind this song. If the lyrics haven’t given it away already.

King Charles then launch off into the guitars, and the riffs are expertly played. It’s a smart, sexy romp of a song – the quasi-rap in the middle is a little misleading, but all is well again very soon. The other a-side ‘Mr. Flick’ (eh?) is edgier, nodding to the distortion-rich guitar sound of Eels, but it’s more melodic, ‘poppier’, if that’s the right word. Again, the lyrics are brilliant and the vocal delivery is perfect.

King Charles – a full-length album is due. And I hope to be the first to hear about it.

9/10

Tags: alternative, indie, king charles, love lust, mr. flick, review, rock, single