The King Heat Ensemble – Songs
Out Now
If you’re at all like me, here’s the scenario…
…it’s coming near the end of January. It’s not getting any warmer, but you might have a few quid in your pocket for the first time in weeks and it makes living with the cold and the darkness just that little bit easier. You’re beginning to come to terms with that fact that last year is done, there are no rewrites, and a new one is upon us, and it too will slip away before very long.
I would reckon that now is the time to break open the cellophane wrapper on some new songs. In fact, why not try out a new band altogether. And, I have just the one for you!
The King Heat Ensemble are a UK duo releasing their debut E.P. It has been available for a little while now, but only for those who keep their ear very close to the ground. Now with the likes of Tom Robinson championing them, they have re-released Songs with the song and dance that it deserves.
The opener Give and Take opens with a remedy for every winter affliction I mentioned above. My God, it’s the freshest sound I’ve heard in so long. A pretty complicated 7/8 and 3/8 bar rhythm is handled so comfortably by these two that it sings along as musically as anything. As the song progresses, it unravels so many layers. Enough to keep me coming back for more, discovering something new every time.
Things relax pretty quickly with Ten Years. Although it’s more sombre mood, it grooves along beautifully, carried on by crooning Dobro.
‘For ten years I’ve been waiting
For ten years you’ve been gone
Well, I heard nothing from no one
The only word I heard, walk on’
At this point, I’ll mention that the King Heat Ensemble are made up of Jeff Kightly and David Goldsmith. They do however call on some help on these tracks. So far we’ve heard Pete Varkala play the Mandolin on track one, and Al Fransham on 12 string on Ten Years. Track 3, Landslide is back to just Jeff and David, and it shows just how well the duo work together. So many times multi-layered recordings can sound flat, thin and displaced. Between the two of them, these guys can capture a groove and dynamics that The Specials would be proud of. I love the way it’s all in-house too. The record is self-produced and recorded with an incredibly dynamic and musical mix by Goldsmith. These guys have strong musical and technical foundations. It’s like Landslide says…
‘I got a little older, I needed a home
so I formed foundations from the rubble and the stone.
I made these walls stronger, strong as I could
and I woke each morning to see that my home still stood.’
The spirit of Bert Jansch lives on in Triumph. It reminds me that I haven’t yet mentioned Jeff Kightly’s vocal which sits lovely and present in this tune. It’s such a lovely voice, so characterful. So much so, I’m not sure if he is an old man that sounds young or a young man that sounds old.
Either way, every time he opens his mouth, I’m hooked.
While the Snow Falls sounds like the most radio-friendly track on the E.P. I’m delighted that they left it to the end. Some would have put it first, but that would have felt like ‘Here’s the track we think you will like, and now here are the rest.’ rather than a stylish King Heat Ensemble approach that I’m guessing is more ‘yeah, we like doing this, and this and this…but did we mention, we can also do THIS!’. I am writing this live while I listen, and as if to hit home my point, While the Snow Falls, the most ‘radio friendly’ hit, ends on the most uncaring and genius ways. A little two fingers to the DJ’s perhaps? A round of applause lads. People, you’ll have to listen for yourselves to understand!
I like a nice red Bordeaux. I know what I like and that’s sound, but if you start talking about a hint of liquorice, a smidgen of oak, and a full-bodied berry explosion…you’ve lost me. But the King Heat Ensemble are a damn good vintage. There’s a lot in there, a little Peter Gabriel, some of the Faces, Graham Coxon, John Martyn, Muse, The Who… and that’s just this side of the Atlantic… it sounds like these guys grew up inheriting incredible record collections.
Don’t misunderstand me. They don’t sound like anything or anyone in particular. They have carefully cultivated the right ingredients over a lifetime and captured a very raw and original sound. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.
I hope to God these boys had as much joy recording this as it is to listen to, because I want them to do it again and again and again.
It’s so rare to hear a duo that are this good across the board, and especially on a debut collaboration. The songwriting, performing and production of Songs by the King Heat Ensemble is quite astounding.
https://youtu.be/yjrz-KRbv4I
https://thekingheatensemble.bandcamp.com
