King In Yellow – Modern Dance (2024)
If The Smiths were to have a lovechild with The Strokes, and Radiohead adopted the kid, the chances are King In Yellow would be that kid. Finding a line between old-school post-punk, grunge and a dab of indie-rock, the US-based foursome spread a hypnotic glaze across audiences intoxicating their mind and soul. Formed by longtime friends and collaborators Kyle McDonough and Nick Vining, King In Yellow might have only a few songs to their name (at least according to Spotify) but their influence is being felt internationally. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Modern Dance’.
Following the well-received single ‘The Chelsea, At Night’, King In Yellow shifts from the high-paced, whiplash rush of punk-influenced music to a smoother, softer, gentler sound in ‘Modern Dance’. By no means do the lads reduce the energy levels but ‘Modern Dance’ brings things down a tad as compared to ‘Lightning Returning’ and ‘The Chelsea, At Night’. Pounding drums match scorching guitars with a hypnotic flood of post-punk swamping audiences in a kaleidoscopic fog – a fog that rattles your brain and sends you twirling about in a psychedelic haze.
The melody may be less mosh pit-inducing than previous material, but this is not a bad thing. King In Yellow showcases their versatility and flexibility, tapping into both the rough and soft sides of a post-punk spectrum. Yet, despite the chilled mellifluousness of the rugged single, a distortion exists in the melody. Each instrument flows in harmony but also offers an individual kick to the bag of sound.
Dragging listeners back to the heyday of post-punk with a strong hint of The Smiths in ‘Modern Dance’, King In Yellow adds vintage flair to modern-day playlists. The vocals up the ante to capture the essence of 80s post-punk with hushed, subdued, almost dull tones; however, a moving vulnerability explodes beneath offering a mind-numbing kaleidoscopic shake within the foggy voice.
This is my introduction to King In Yellow and while their earlier singles are jumping, ‘Modern Dance’ adds a comfortable lull in an outstanding discography. Soul-stirring, skin-chilling and breath-taking, I can honestly say I won’t forget King In Yellow anytime soon.
Find out more about King In Yellow on their Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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