I had a great write up in Mass Movement Magazine and Viva Le rock. Arthur Kitchener – King Of The Jungle LP/ CD (Randale Records) Musically this is a million miles away from the usual Randale records fodder – instead of stomping bootboy anthems this is an album of classic English folk singer-songwriter tunes. Of course if we mention that Arthur is a veteran musician who has played with oi! legends The Last Resort and The Warriors before making a name for himself in the ska scene fronting Arthur Kay and the Originals, then things start to make a bit more sense. Arthur’s heritage stretches far beyond punk and ska and it shows on here, with Arthur proving himself to be a very accomplished guitarist and troubadour. Most of these songs are new to me and they build touches of country into the folk sound skillfully and Arthur is quite the street poet too, urging you to listen to the stories he has put to music – “The Lost Generation” being a standout song for me. A couple of Last Resort songs get the acoustic treatment so if you ever fancied hearing “King Of The Jungle” or “Rebels With A Cause” unplugged well you’re in luck! Another highlight on here for me is the acoustic version of The Warriors’ “Made In England”, I love this song and this is a really powerful version. Arthur’s vocal delivery is pretty unique, with an accent that makes Billy Bragg sound like the queen! The Billy Bragg comparison is fairly appropriate here as Arthur also takes songs for the working man and turns them into passionate anthems. I must admit this took me a couple of listens, possibly because this is al little different to my usual ear candy but I was soon hooked. This is a release that might appeal initially because of the Last Resort connection, but soon leaves that way behind as you enjoy the man and his music. Tom Chapman Music Reviews
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 12:11:50 +0000
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