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| King C Rules OK |
Part 1: the headline act
FANTASTIC, MIND BLOWING...I don't really have words fit to share the experience that was King Creosotoe and the Earlies headlining the 2013 Cloudspotting Festival in the rain and mud and grass and beer.
It was just one of those great music feelings that washed over us - mainly because the festival setting in the Forest of Gisburn which felt magical - all fresh and outdoors. And it felt like a temporary alternative village with a bunch of happy liberals in a trouble fee, pace free zone of crapstress existence.But it was also mind blowing because King Creosote and the Earlies played an emotionally uplifting blinder.
It proved why, for me, they are the perfect indie stars of the 21st century - all bearded, semi-folk and Scottish fishing village mixed with dry wit and a hint of the terrible dark void. Great for rocking out and dancing under the stars with your brain and heart joyfully rolling as one.
The mainstream music industry and national music ad campaigns has apparently missed out the great quirky indie pop of Kenny Anderson and his troubadours, perhaps not seeing how quirky talent fits with short-term profit and not caring. Too regional? Too clever? Too original? Too individual? Maybe KC tracks don't work when narrow economic reasoning is applied with industry professionals unable to think beyond the restrictions of the narrow marketing strategy of the cultural overlords of the ruling media elites? Who knows. But we, the audience at Cloudspotting, got it. And he seemed to be loving it too, as he warmed to the fact that his music was being appreciated.
If you don't believe me then check out every track on the first album KC Rules OK on spotify and you'll want to order it. Then check out the album Bombshell and keep going.
He has many versions of everything he's every done this century but as an indie folkie this won me over to begin with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2Nm7Wv4C0
The liner notes on the KC Rules OK sleeve (written by author Ian Rankin) suggest that the songs on this album were written between 1988 and 2003 which is mind blowing because who has heard them nationally. Kenny Anderson spent years bringing out small vinyl runs of new versions of song after song and only sold them at live gigs or by special order (as far as I can tell, it's all very complex and mysterious) only to end up as a Mercury Prize nominee in 2011.
Some of you may only know the 2011 album Diamond Mine, which earned him the nomination. An exploratory chill out with Jon Hopkins with the full Fife fishing village experience intact but without the quirky full band sounds of the Earlies. It's different form the rest of his albums. Because this is a creative talent who's moved through phrases of musical experience and it's worth exploring as a listener..
And these methods of public exposure may sound like a romantic, guerrilla tactic art war on the world of UK music which adds to the charm but I wonder if it's not a real ball ache for him? He deserved more recognition for such exceptional music full of wit and literary character but then it is how it is. Here's a Scottish folk song that he upgraded just to leave you with a good feel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ceDUE8D0Ys
Look forward to seeing you next year!
