Album Review: King Krule - Man Alive!

South Londoner King Krule is a powerful talent operating under the radar. Riffing over something of a lo-fi shoegaze vibe with corrosive, contemplative lyrics, the 25-year-old has garnered solid praise and grateful listeners with his three previous long-players, (one of which he released as Archy Marshall). King Krule’s latest, Man Alive!, dials up the cynicism and expands the space around his musings so he can speak more directly about his bleak experiences while tempering them with loping but pretty melodies. Man Alive! feels like reading riddles and dark admissions in a left-open diary.

Having said that, there are a few slightly more upbeat tracks which offer snapshots into the everyday life of a young family man facing a post-Brexit UK and divisive political world. Comet Face and Stoned Again emanate warmth despite their cold settings thanks to Marshall's unique, vast and provoking soundscapes. The Dream and Slinsky produce the same feeling but their dazzling, lush motifs mean they’re more pleasurable to the senses. Aptly titled closer Please Complete Thee is a wrenching finish – slide guitar, angled into some uplifting lines – and it serves as the perfect therapeutic ending after so much deep reflection.