There are few artists that sit between purely traditional music and experimentation. Alasdair Roberts on his recent 'No Earthly Man' album is such an artist (see review here) as is Andrew King. Andrew is a current vocalist in the traditional singer style and on his first album appeared without accompaniment. On this, his second album, he uses instrumentation but in a stark and individual way often reminding of the reed organ minimalist backing to Shirley Collins.
His voice and phrasing are powerful and would appeal to fans of Peter Bellamy, The Copper Family, Harry Cox and other source singers that came from the pre-folk music revival in origin. However the backing is a series of drone and looping pieces that carry forward the simple reed organs and accordions of previous eras. However often here they are often bringing new qualities to the music through subtle and occasional use of electronic layers. As a symbol of enduring suffering it is therefore likely that Andrew King has more profound intentions with this album than retelling the song traditions. It may reflect his own state or his belief that the common people have suffered at the hands of those in authority. But also perhaps he sees it as a way such as Parsifal did of bringing compassion ‘The Amfortas Wound represents the conflict inherent in our personality, the nature bound collective conscious and the desire to rise above it. The music then acts both as an exploration of this nature bound drive, of suffering and through it’s making also rises above them. The album itself is therefore a form of Amfortas Wound.
This tension sits at the heart of the music, unresolved but apparent. It is an uncompromising and fearless album but one that demands your full attention. Many people may find it barren or too minimalistic however it does exert a strong power and is a singular experience.
This tension sits at the heart of the music, unresolved but apparent. It is an uncompromising and fearless album but one that demands your full attention. Many people may find it barren or too minimalistic however it does exert a strong power and is a singular experience.
Andrew King suena como si Shirley Collins hubiese salido del infierno, a un David Thomas Broughton (pronto de visita en la aldea) desauciado, a un Ignatz deselectrificado y a haber pasado un temporada con Tara Burke en los bosques. Venido de la alta Edad Media, en su ceremonia de las festividades paganas sufre, hiere y maldice bajo la clave del experimental obscure british folk.
