King Krule: 6 Feet Beneath the Moon Album Review

By Yarely Ortiz
Music Journalist

Artist: King Krule
Album: 6 Feet Beneath the Moon
Release Date: August 24, 2013
Website: https://kingkrule.net

Archy Marshall, or should I say Zoo Kid or, King Krule, how many stage names can a musician get? Krule has been writing music since the age of eight but was formally recognized in 2010. 

On the day of his nineteenth birthday, his debut album 6 Feet Beneath the Moon was released. This album is what you listen to when you want to cry and scream your heartaches while driving on the highway. Krule’s gravelly voice truly makes the listener feel a sense of bittersweetness from “Easy Easy” to “Bathed in Grey.”

6 Feet Beneath the Moon was the first album released under his new stage name, King Krule, on August 24, 2013, on True Panther/XL records. The album is combined with different elements of jazz, electronic textures, horns, piano, blues, rap and folk.

When I first listened to King Krule at age 15, I remember being stunned by his voice. Once Krule sings, one can only hear the soothing, deep and sandy voice he has. His lyrics depict profound loneliness as he shares intimate thoughts on his emotions regarding love, solitude and pain.

“I keep my head down and my mouth shut/Cause if you’re going through hell/You just keep going,” he sang on “Easy Easy,” a representative sentiment.

A strength demonstrated through 6 Feet Beneath the Moon is Krule’s ability to change tempos and rhythm throughout his songs. Some of the tracks that showcase his ability ranges from“Border Line,” with lyrics regarding his emotions about his post-break-up with his ex-partner, leading him to feel numb where it is accompanied by simple guitar patterns and drum beats.

Then“Foreign,” a song about his longing feeling for a girl who he is not able to get, and the internal conflicts he is dealing with, that is combined with hip-pop drum kicks and electronic effects.

Despite his ability to combine a mixture of brass, horn and guitar with a tempo that is picked up,  Krule’s “A Lizard State” is a song that is not appealing and can be considered disapproving.

Krule’s lyrics, “You’re a bunch of fat bitches” and as he threatens, “Girl I’ll tear you apart/From the inside to the out,” is not politically correct and leaves a sour taste to the listener.  

 6 Feet Beneath the Moon is an intimate album consisting of tracks with compelling ideas, emotions and a diverse variety of music sounds throughout each song. Despite its complexity, the album can be seen as out of focus and inchoate.

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If you can, contextualize this a little bit for our readers. Is he writing lyrics that leave a sour taste in the listener’s mouth solely out of anger toward his ex?

Featured image via 6 Feet Beneath the Moon album cover.