King Krule is undoubtedly a pioneer of sound. Since the age of 12, Archy Marshall, under the alias of King Krule, has been writing and recording his individualistic music. To this day, he is known for his unique blend of punk, jazz, no-wave, and indie rock. His biting, gritty, emotional, and atmospheric releases have claimed millions of fans, myself included. He maintains all of his past successes and more in his newest EP, SHHHHHHH!.
Following his well-received 2023 album, Space Heavy, Krule unveiled his surprise EP on June 20, featuring four tracks that were previously only available on flexi-discs sold during his recent tour. Alongside the EP release, he also revealed a self-directed music video in black and white for one of the four songs, “Time For Slurp”, which features bandmates Ignacio Salvadores and George Bass.
“Achtung!” is the first track of the EP, and it is gothic and kaleidoscopic, driven by Krule’s iconic guitar tone. Ethereal, wordless vocals and intense percussion push the song along towards an ominous, desperate climax as Krule sings, “Whatever you do / Don't follow me, I won't follow you / I'm not turning back.” The song cultivates a disconcerted sense of subtle fear, while still maintaining the darkly beautiful, lush sound that Krule is known for.
“Whatever you do / Don't follow me, I won't follow you / I'm not turning back”
The second track is “Time For Slurp”, an intrepid, guitar-driven soundtrack. The music video for this song features Krule, Salvadores, and Bass taking a boat through a swamp. This track definitely maintains the swampy, murky aesthetic of its accompanying film. The lyrics are simple, repeating “communication” over and over, and alternating between “I’m sorry for my bad” and “I’m sorry ‘bout my bad.” The juxtaposition between remorse and connection truly creates a uniquely compelling and audibly interesting piece. As distorted guitar echoes through the shadowy soundscape, it is easy to get lost in this atmospheric yet high-energy track.
“Whaleshark” shifts the tone of the EP, introducing an undeniably classy synth, guitar, and percussion loop, highlighted by Krule singing, “It goes round and round / It mends, it bends / But it all stays the same.” There is a clear bossa nova influence, as the layering of each instrument creates a simple clave rhythm. This track is the most lyrically complex of the EP thus far, and details an endless cycle without change, as well as lost love as Krule questions, “Where’d your lover go?” The song concludes with a simple yet tragic saxophone solo with a sweet, warm tone, perfectly wrapping up this beautiful track.
“It goes round and round / It mends, it bends / But it all stays the same.”
The EP concludes with “It’s All Soup Now”, a pensive track featuring elements of jazz as multiple saxophones decorate blues-inspired guitar melodies. Krule sings, “It’s all soup now / You could be there, staring at nothing,” conveying a loss of meaning in all that surrounds you. This is deepened with lyrics that are seemingly nonsensical, such as “There’s a cat on the roof / They’re looking for you / The man in the suit.” About halfway through the song, the music fades slightly to highlight the sound of rushing water, leading into a sudden shift in mood. An intense bass riff leads into a saxophone wailing with human desperation, as Krule repeats, “It’s all soup now.” Again the sound cuts out to leave only synth and computer sounds, embellished by rapid electronic percussion and keyboard crescendoing to an intriguing and unexpected conclusion.
“It’s all soup now / You could be there, staring at nothing”
SHHHHHHH! doesn’t follow the rules. Each song is vastly different from the last. Lyrics range from incredibly simple to intricate and complex and nothing is as it seems. But much like a painting, it all makes sense when you take a look at the whole picture. This EP is truly the apex of King Krule’s career, continuing to redefine the boundaries of genre and sound. This artist is definitely one to watch, as his music continues to cut through the “soup” of our world with abundant modernity and drive.
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