Kenny Anderson (also known more regally as King Creosote) sounds like he is trying to bury something. Whether that be a former version of himself, or aspects of the world that surround him is open to interpretation, but there is an overarching search for rebirth to be found in these ten songs.
“I’m thinking maybe dying’s just not for me / You’ll see how hard I can cling to my life,” he sings on ‘Burial Bleak’ as strings swell and his voice floats to a heavenly vantage point. “Alone and contentedly clutching a good read / To the chest, that’s a welcome retreat / From worrying oneself to death,” he continues, finding consolation in the simple pleasures that assuage the crippling panic that can come from living in the past.
Built on enigmatic synths, fractured loops and towering indie rock soundscapes I DES is resolutely Scottish; an ink blue loch where accordion drones and Anderson’s canny voice evoke an invigorating space where one can wander and lose themselves. ‘Dust’ is a hypnotic wash, while the playground chant of ‘Susie Mullen’ embraces a playful dance element. Finally, the 36 minute ambience of ‘Drone In B’ allows space to contemplate all that has come before; and the conclusion is that ‘I DES’ is a celebration of future possibilities, and a truly beautiful listen.
8/10
Dig This? Dig Deeper: Withered Hand, Nils Frahm, Meursault, Frightened Rabbit
Words: Craig Howieson
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