Kings & Queens
Glossier than Jamie T\'s debut, *Kings & Queens* is no less incisive about modern Britain. There are bad nights out (“Sticks and Stones”), illicit affairs (“Spider\'s Web”), and prescient condemnations of the surveillance state (“British Intelligence”) wedded to Treays\' usual hotchpotch of music influences. “368” uses a milk bottle as percussion, and gives way to strange sampled vocals and chanting. “Emily\'s Heart” is a lilting murder ballad, while “Chaka Demus” and “Earth, Wind & Fire” nod to soul. *Kings & Queens* had a difficult gestation, but you wouldn\'t know it from this cocksure collection.
Two and a half years after his debut, ‘Panic Prevention’, and neatly side stepping an attempted folk direction, Jamie Treays returns asking "Difficult second what?".
I’m sorry, I know England loves this guy, but something about him rings false.
<p>Treays has discovered the acoustic guitar, and with it a dreamy vocal style, says <strong>Caroline Sullivan</strong></p>