King Mob - Force 9

  by John Clarkson

published: 14 / 11 / 2011

---

"I wanna change my shape/I wanna be somebody else/I keep shifting and shifting cause I'm so sick of myself," vocalist Steve Parsons sings on 'Lover of High Renown', the first track on King Mob's debut album, 'Force 9'. 'Lover of High Renown' is a song about abandoning everything for love. These lines could, however, serve as a mission statement for King Mob, which ex-Sharks front man Parsons has formed with his former band mate Chris Spedding (guitar), the Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock (bass), Pretenders' main stay Martin Chambers (drums) and young rockabilly guitarist Sixteen. Spedding in particular has done other things, including touring with both Paul McCartney and Roxy Music and dabbling with jazz and the blues on his latest solo album, 'Pearls'. One might expect, however, given Sharks' mid-70’s influence on the punk movement and Matlock's and Chambers' background, that King Mob might be some kind of punk super group with Sixteen roped in as a young gun to give the project some credibility. What we have, however, is both far less cliched and more thrilling. The group describe themselves as a "a brand new English combo", citing Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and more bizarrely Duke Ellington as their main inspirations. They also say that they have taken some of their influence from “the spirit of ’69.” ‘Force 9’ is essentially a classic rock album and, while there is an element of punk especially in Parsons’ often scathing lyrics, it also throws in as well equal doses of vintage rock 'n' roll and psychedelia. The album was recorded in just four days, which gives its production a sharpness. From its outset ‘Force 9’ lives up to its title. ‘Lover of High Renown’ lifts the album off to an explosive start, as Parsons' echoing, soaring vocal and Spedding and Sixteen's dueling, scorched guitars trade and bounce off one another with fireworks-like effect. From there it does not let up. Anti-United States tirade, ‘American Slaves’, with its snappy backing harmonies; chugging, quickfire guitars and sarcastic, seemingly throwaway lyrics (“I’m not big enough (for the dirty blues)/I’m not sick enough (for the greasy spoon)/Yeah the cruise ship used to be wrong/So hip-hip-hooray for the USA”) is possibly the album’s highlight. ‘Make That Call’, which comically concludes with the sound of a telephone ringing and thrusts Chambers and Matlock’s stomping rhythm work to the front, is, however, equally forceful, and in a complete change of pace ‘Chapel of Love’ is a crooning 50’s-influenced balled. ‘King Mob’ meanwhile closes the album in a storm of eerie, hazy psychedelia. King Mob have created with ‘Force 9’ an album that, as well as versatile, in its energy and enthusiasm out shines many acts a third to half of their age. It is one of the most exciting and captivating albums of the year.

Track Listing:-

1 Lover Of High Renown
2 Who's Chasing Who
3 Va Vah Voom
4 Secret Song
5 American Slaves
6 Chapel Of Love
7 I Was There
8 Make That Call
9 China Waters
10 Selene Selene
11 King Mob

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/kingmobbeatgroup

Label Links:-

http://www.spv.de/
https://www.instagram.com/spvgmbh/
https://www.youtube.com/user/spv
https://plus.google.com/102347998414354926862
https://twitter.com/SPVGmbH
https://de-de.facebook.com/spvhannover

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg