The King Blues - Under The Fog Format: Album Release Date: 3rd Mar 2008 Label: Field Records Rating: Politics and music have been uneasy bedfellows since music became a commodity bought and sold for huge commercial gain. It is as customary amongst bands to now shout "Fuck George Bush" as it is to play an encore or sell t-shirts. There is however a very big difference between this sort of mindless sloganeering and a thoughtful expression of ideas and actions. King Blues are a band whose political beliefs are as equally a part of their lives as they are of their songs. The reason this band hold the respect of fans countrywide is that their words are backed up with actions. It is easy for a band to spike their hair and rip their jeans to be ‘punk’, but to march, debate and involve themselves in change as the King Blues do is the true definition of that tag. Taking musical cues from Reggae, punk and picket line poetry ala Billy Bragg, with a healthy dose of their own ‘play it anyway you can’ instrumentation, this album delights in its rambling birth. Doo-wop barbershop vocal only track ‘3 more’ sits next to the campfire acoustic sing-a-longs like recent single ‘Mr Music Man’. There are no unnecessary instruments on this album, taking the attitude that if it isn’t to hand it isn’t necessary. Every song on the album is driven by the vocals, allowing these tracks to stick their harmonies directly deep inside your head. Attached to the melodies are the occasional tongue-in-cheek lyrics (See ‘Duck and Covers’ “Where did I leave those weapons of mass destruction?...”) but moreover there are erstwhile expressions of disaffection and motivation for change. ‘Taking Over’ will have you fired up enough to take straight to the streets, whilst ‘Come Fi Di Youth’ will leave you madder than you thought possible. The album ends with the fantastic front parlour piano jangle with the albums best lyrics  “From the high rise tower blocks, where kids are outside cornershops, they are dressed to kill in stilettos, while they eat their Cornettos”. The tracks sums up the albums joyful approach to music and its serious attention to engaging lyrics Under The Fog is a great record that stands as a testament to the ambition and belief of youth. Recorded mostly in a front room and shot-through with a DIY spirit this is a record that celebrates and encourages the quest for freedom, honesty and enjoyment.

Written by: David