—> Tracks from Alone on the Throne are not available for posting <—
We Didn’t Start The Fire – King Charles
It’s been over a year now since we first featured King Charles here on TWHP. At the time, I was living in London, and stumbled upon his show at The Lexington, where he proceeded to climb the walls to the side of the stage. His 2009 release which included “Love Lust” and “Mr. Flick” has never been available in US, but with his new EP, Alone on the Throne, we’ll finally be able to get our fill of King Charles.
Unfortunately, if you’re expecting his mix of spoken psych folk and guitar-driven rock, this EP isn’t what you’re looking for.
With the new version of “Love Lust”, be prepared for a toned-down Charles. Alone on the Throne presents us with a more accessible King Charles, a stripped down EP that showcases the man, not the band. The galloping percussions and flawless harmonies of the original version are missed here, but there’s something raw about the new version that makes it just as good.
“Love Lust” is no doubt the highlight of the EP, but the accompanying tracks pull their weight and round out what will undoubtedly act as a launch pad for the Charles here in America. The most desirable thing about King Charles, which quickly becomes apparent while listening to Alone on the Throne, is his ability to present us with music that is completely new and different than what we’re exposed to on a daily basis. The Brooklyn scene is probably the best in the world, but Charles is making a monumental statement for the music in London.
What we’re looking at here is a very short EP that finally brings Americans the music that Brits have been enjoying for many years now. My only reservation is that, while more digestible, this isn’t the sound that has previously set King Charles apart. As great as Alone on the Throne is, it lacks the diversity of King Charles‘ previous releases. Let’s hope this is merely a taste of something new, as opposed to an entirely new direction for the band.
—–> Buy Alone on the Throne <—–
