Departure Lounge - King Kong Frown
by Olga Sladeckova
published: 18 / 1 / 2002
Label:
Bella Union
Format: CDS
intro
Energetic introductory single to their forthcoming third album ‘Too Late To Die Young’ from Departure Lounge, one of the mainstays of ex Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie's Bella Union label
The London based rock band, Departure Lounge, first met in 1998 while working in the studio on a Tim Keegan and Homer Lounge song ‘Save Me From Happiness’. Its line up, which features Tim (vocals, acoustic electric guitar, percussion, harmonica), Chris Anderson (electric guitar, keyboards, oboe, saxophone, stylophone, melodica, vocals), Lindsay Jamieson (drums, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, vocals) and Jake Kyle (double bass, bass guitar, trumpet acoustic guitar, vocals), worked so well together that the musicians decided not to waste any time and to form a band. They gave the group the name of Departure Lounge to express the main idea of what their music is about, which is simply to bring relaxation and relief from the stresses and strains of life. By 2001, the band had released 2 EPs ‘Goldfield’ and ‘Out Of There’, and had followed this with two albums ‘Out Of Here’ and ‘Jetlag Dreams’. All these records came out conjunctly on the band’s own label Meek Giant, and the well established London label Bella Union. ‘King Kong Frown’ is the introductory single to their forthcoming third album ‘Too Late To Die Young’. The energetic title song finds Tim comparing himself to King Kong! With his voice passionate with love, he sings the surreal words “They took me off the Empire State and put me in a cage, locked me in and left me there with a female half my age”, forcing you to listen to the lyrics till its very end. The music that accompanies the lyric is playful, but dynamic and is thickly juicy with its wide range of instrumentation. Drums maintain a creative rhythm over which the percussion slides gracefully, while the guitars are used to underlie the whole song, providing a firm base. The B-side ‘Grow Your Own’ is, however, calm and peaceful. The music is much more simple , and contrasts well with all the hyperactivity of the previous song. The last track, ‘Equestrain Skydiving’, is an instrumental, which, taking the instrumentation from ‘King Kong Frown’ and the calmness from ‘Grow your Own’,blends them both together with an artful sensitivity. . Tasty? If so the bad news is that the single has only 3 tracks. The good news, however, is that it will be followed by an album in March. Watch out then!
Track Listing:-
1 King Kong Frown2 Equestrian Skydiving
3 Grow Your Own
interviews |
Interview (2002) |
Despite its members now living in three different countries, Bella Union signing Departure Lounge have recently released their most acclaimed album yet with 'Too Late to Die Young'. Olga Sladeckova speaks to the band about their career to date |
reviews |
Too Late To Die Young (2002) |
Relaxing third album from London-based four piece, signed to ex-Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie's Bella Union label. |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart