Space Heavy
Forget the mumbled vocals and air of perpetual dislocation—Archy Marshall is a traditionalist, albeit a subtle one. Like all King Krule albums, *Space Heavy* has its jagged moments (“Pink Shell,” the back half of the title track). But as a father on the cusp of 30, he seems evermore in touch with the quiet contentments that make our perceived miseries endurable: a long walk on a chilly beach, a full moon seen from a clean bed. His ballads feel like doo-wop without exactly sounding like them (“Our Vacuum”), and the broken sweetness of his guitars are both ’90s indie-rock and the sleepy jazz of an after-hours lounge (“That Is My Life, That Is Yours”). New approach, same old beauty.
On his fourth album as King Krule, Archy Marshall reckons with love and newfound fatherhood, but he still sounds beset by existential doubt.
Archy Marshall’s fourth King Krule album breaks new ground while further enriching his tried-and-trusted soundscapes
Although it's great to hear the forever prodigy in a better headspace, more mature and precise with his words and emotions, it was the youthful messiness echoed in past efforts that made King Krule far more intriguing than what listeners will experience…
In 2013, Archy Marshall's King Krule released 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, a loopy homemade collection of tunes that jammed together bits from jazz, post-punk, hip-hop, indie rock, bedsit EDM, and even bossa nova.
With his new album Space Heavy, King Krule takes varying flavours from his unique sonic world and brings them together to create his most colourful work to date.
It is nearly ten years since Archy Marshall released his debut album, aged 18, under the moniker King Krule, garnering critical acclaim and a devoted fan base who admired his honest storytelling and experimental style.
Archy Marshall is an enigma. Through the midst of critical acclaim, a devout legion behind him, he still remains a figure of mystery, the only glimpse
Space Heavy by King Krule album review: another slice of psychological horror from the tireless Archy Marshall
The music on King Krule’s ‘Space Heavy’ is grimmer than the lyrics, but even its lyrics return again and again to the subject of isolation.
King Krule's 'Space Heavy' is a wild listening experience, more muted and introspective than past outings and seemingly reflecting our pandemic moment.
Space Heavy by King Krule album review by Ryan Meyer. The UK artist AKA: Archy Marshall, forthcoming LP drops on June 9th via Matador Records