‘In an alternative universe The Fall and The Smiths would have been bigger than U2 or Coldplay. In an even more alternative universe King of the Slums would have been bigger than The Fall and The Smiths’ Stuart Maconie, May 2020
A certain DJ once said about a certain band that they were ‘always different, always the same’. The same can be said of King of the Slums – but what is the golden thread of DNA that pulses through their musical history? How can one describe them meaningfully? Is it rock music? Amplified violin driven folk? Strange story song daydream tales? Kitchen sink vignettes?
Maybe all of these... but that barely scratches the surface of their magical uniqueness. Lost virginity under disused railway arches.....strangeways headcases...unfit mothers....the dispossessed....the ignored...the unwanted....the pathologically challenged ...the defenceless....the indefensible...the lamented lost opportunities of what might have been.
King of the Slums started up in around 1985 in the 'Hulme', area of Manchester, England UK. They never considered themselves a 'Manchester' band, just a band with an arty background, a little self-indulgent with story-type songs. A distorted electric violin was used all the time in early recordings, along with guitar, bass and drums. They continued developing this sound throughout their initial singles and albums. In 1991, following their 3rd studio album, they fell out with record companies, management and each other and disbanded. Their instruments damaged, their biro’s broken. They were on the verge of a tour in the USA, and were considered a vital LIVE act.
In 2009 the band embarked on a new album, but everyone fell out again and only developed 5 or 6 new songs. The resulting album, “The Orphaned Files” sold out many times and is now a collector’s item but the band did not pursue things further.
The band got back together 7 years later and released a full brand new album ‘Manco Diablo’ in 2017 which received widespread critical acclaim. In short succession their 6th studio Album ‘Artgod Gods’ followed in 2018. Happily the new album featured the reintroduction of violin and viola. An incendiary and emotionally charged live performance, their first for many years, took place on 23rd June 2018 at Manchester’s Night and Day venue in which the band featured songs encompassing their full recorded history.
A certain DJ once said about a certain band that they were ‘always different, always the same’. The same can be said of King of the Slums – but what is the golden thread of DNA that pulses through their musical history? How can one describe them meaningfully? Is it rock music? Amplified violin driven folk? Strange story song daydream tales? Kitchen sink vignettes?
Maybe all of these... but that barely scratches the surface of their magical uniqueness. Lost virginity under disused railway arches.....strangeways headcases...unfit mothers....the dispossessed....the ignored...the unwanted....the pathologically challenged ...the defenceless....the indefensible...the lamented lost opportunities of what might have been.
King of the Slums started up in around 1985 in the 'Hulme', area of Manchester, England UK. They never considered themselves a 'Manchester' band, just a band with an arty background, a little self-indulgent with story-type songs. A distorted electric violin was used all the time in early recordings, along with guitar, bass and drums. They continued developing this sound throughout their initial singles and albums. In 1991, following their 3rd studio album, they fell out with record companies, management and each other and disbanded. Their instruments damaged, their biro’s broken. They were on the verge of a tour in the USA, and were considered a vital LIVE act.
In 2009 the band embarked on a new album, but everyone fell out again and only developed 5 or 6 new songs. The resulting album, “The Orphaned Files” sold out many times and is now a collector’s item but the band did not pursue things further.
The band got back together 7 years later and released a full brand new album ‘Manco Diablo’ in 2017 which received widespread critical acclaim. In short succession their 6th studio Album ‘Artgod Gods’ followed in 2018. Happily the new album featured the reintroduction of violin and viola. An incendiary and emotionally charged live performance, their first for many years, took place on 23rd June 2018 at Manchester’s Night and Day venue in which the band featured songs encompassing their full recorded history.
TRACK LISTING
1) Faux Faux La Bardot
2) Posh Town Witchcult
3) Fridgehead Canoe
4) Cockroach Frequency
5) Dissident Citizen
6) Snake Pass Luggage
7) Codewriter
8) 104 Words
9) Odd Sock Drawer
10) The Mercy Clown
11) Sugar Rush