We may have been in the midst of a general election here in the UK over recent weeks, but it’s the aristocracy that are getting our vote today. Not only is this King Charles one fly looking motherfucker, seemingly dressed like the offspring of Amy Winehouse and that other artist adorned with a royal moniker, Prince. Fortunately the musical genes were successfully passed down, as he’s also adopted their genuine ability to pen a well crafted tune. In fact his songs punch way above many of the current pretenders to the warm indie throne, being sexier than Noah And his blubbing Whale, or sharper than Mumford & Sons. Clearly devoted to his heart with lyrics of yearning love, on tracks such as Beating Hearts and Love Lust, even showing enough confidence to re-write the lyrics on Billy Joel‘s We Didn’t Start The Fire, with his own contemporary update. It’s not a completely tidy package that’s on offer from this gutsy English fop, as there’s something about him that’s difficult to swallow, when you consider this is a man offering some of the most sincere, exciting concoctions around whilst wearing a waxed moustache and a beehive haircut. However, it’s this stand-out, look-at-me quality that equally serves up the charm from this free thinking libertine. His music has a slick flow throughout, with sections that race and jump along, which is precisely what your heart will do once you plug into his thinking. He has that fearless confidence Adam Ant had in spades, often jamming like a hound on heat, whilst never losing the ear for hooks and melodies. Releases have so far appeared from Mi7 Records, following singles in June and October last year, but we are told the debut LP is in the pipeline for 2010. We will get our first chance to see him live when he arrives in Brighton to play next week’s Great Escape Festival. Only time will tell if he rules that event, among the hundreds of performances, but if his mental barnet doesn’t put you off then perhaps allow his wonderful, alternative folk pop songs to hold onto your iPod’s vote. (MB)
Find him here: Myspace
Hear him here: KING CHARLES – LOVE LUST
Hear him here: KING CHARLES – TIME OF ETERNITY
Hear him here: KING CHARLES – BEATING HEARTS
