Kaki King
Dreamng Of Revenge
Velour Records
By Hiro Kinuta
It seems that these days there are so many singer/songwriters out there in the market that it’s hard to keep track of what’s old, what’s new, what’s good and what isn’t. Nevermind sifting through all of them and finding what you want because the mass interweb expedition in finding something that grabs your attention leads to a lot of disappointment. Now, with that said, it warms my awkwardly big ears to find someone like Kaki King releasing great records.
With a solid foundation of stirring guitar work, her newest release, Dreaming of Revenge, is largely an instrumental record, filled with a musicality that surpasses many of her contemporaries.
Aside from the first track, Dreaming of Revenge is quite a departure from her previous albums, which boasts her knack for percussive and unconventional guitar playing. King’s extraordinary style is still tucked safely underneath many layers, but it seems that she’s expanded from the rigorously passionate solo guitar route to a sound that has more instrumental depth. Sadly, this seems to compromise the raw nature of her previous sound, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the record is well produced, and her song development is still stellar. If anything, this record shows Kaki King’s competence in getting past and beyond a style that she’s created for herself.
From the poppy, Metric-esque tracks like “Pull Me Out Alive,” to the extravagant string arrangements of “So Much For So Little,” this record shines through not by creating memorable knacks and tid-bits, but by keeping a constant fluctuation in texture and sounds that keep the entire record a consistent source of exhilaration. Kaki King’s reserved and soft narrative vocal stylings are smooth yet vindictive, brushing past the urgency that is reflected by the drums. Her bold and clean guitar work leaves a bittersweet, yet charming aftertaste at the end of each deceptively calm track.
King is definitely a musician worth checking out, if only just for her extreme prowess in manipulating her instrument. Dreaming of Revenge is, all in all, a good record. Admittedly not for everyone, but if you’re looking for a soundtrack to a nice night time drive, or perhaps chill-out music for a silent session of self-reflection and/or reminiscence, pop this record in. I highly doubt you’d be unimpressed.
|
