Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

crayon king - strange love

12/30/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Crayon King

Strange Love
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Jamie Robash

As the saying goes, the more the merrier. This saying especially holds true if you’re in a soul, funk and blues inspired jam band. These attributes belong to the seven piece Melbourne Australia outfit Crayon King. The band has recently released their debut five-song EP entitled Strange Love. Though the title may hint at otherwise, Strange Love isn’t very strange at all. In fact it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a band inspired by funk and soul. There are funky guitar riffs, the likes of a mellowed out Carlos Santana, rollicking bass thumps, jazzy and funky soul infused organ, and enough brass and percussion to keep it all on the right track. 

Collaborating with seven different people is no easy task thoug, and so the band had to elect a leader for direction. That task of keeping everyone on track came down to drummer James Webster who allowed each of the bands members to find their own space for their sound. One thing I believe helped most with the bands recording of the Strange Love EP was that it was all recorded live in a large room and was later touched up with overdubs before being mixed and mastered. 

This live recording becomes evident both in sound and feel from the very beginning of Strange Love, as the first track “I’m Gone” gets the EP going. Right from the start the feel is right with organ keys bouncing away in the background, the bass and guitars rippling and banging, and the horns coming in to add depth and that well displayed funk that only the brass can add. Lead singer and principal songwriter Scott Nelson also gets the vocal grooves off to a good start. His vocals have a warmth to them of the kind that aren’t trying too hard to overdo the soul singers voice, and in this way their naturalness becomes instrumental in fitting into the overall feel of the band. But Nelson isn’t the only one who can take credit for the vocals, as one can hear over the course of several of the tracks a good amount of backing vocal harmonies that add so much, so subtly to each song they appear on. 

Though soul and funk inspired, Crayon King didn’t forget how to rock either as is evidenced by the rocking and epic sounding guitar solo near the end of the track “Black Pole.” Even more so is best and most promising song on the record “Can’t Help,” a poppy jam session which recalls at turns such bands as Supergrass and Belle and Sebastian with its funky and rollicking bass, horn and organ trio, along with precisely placed hooks and backing vocals. The EP closes with the title track; a sprawling seven-plus-minute jazzy and mild meld of soft horns and drums, along with bits of feedback. 

With the release of Strange Love, Crayon King have launched a solid soul EP out into the world, one that deserves attention from anyone looking for some straightforward good old fashioned pop influenced soul and funk to both chill and dance to. 
Become A Fan
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact