Back in 2012, I was digging around and listening to new music when I stumbled onto a song titled “Rock Bottom” from an artist I had never heard of at the time named King Krule. The song absolutely knocked me out of my chair — it was unbelievable how good this song, and this artist was. And to find out that he was a “kid” — out of the UK named Archy Marshall — who had just turned 18 was even more unbelievable.
Now this NEVER happens. You never stumble onto an artist this young, who is this good, with this depth of lyric and sophistication in the music. Rock ‘n’ roll, soul, elements of jazz, with a raw punk rock aesthetic — really a unique mix of sounds. I remember playing the song to start my radio show that week, a show that follows the legendary Henry Rollins. He stopped whatever he was doing in the studio and remarked “who is this?” Which also NEVER happens… so I knew I was onto something.
I soon learned that King Krule was set to release a debut record the following year in 2013 and around that time we learned there would also be a performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic to coincide with the album release. The record “6 Feet Beneath The Moon” was absolutely dazzling — eventually making my #1 pick for that year (and I maintain it is probably the best album ever written and recorded by an 18-year-old, feel free to debate me). So the anticipation for the MBE performance was very high and he certainly did not disappoint — it is one for the ages.
King Krule. Photo by Larry Hirshowitz.
Check out more KCRW Throwback Sessions:
Jimmy Cliff live on MBE in 2012
Orbital live on MBE in 2012
Cymande live on MBE in 2016
The Internet live on MBE in 2015
Hot 8 Brass Band live on MBE in 2017
Laura Mvula live on MBE in 2013
John Legend’s Apogee Session in 2014
Café Tacvba live on MBE in 1996
Lykke Li live on MBE in 20
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Moby live on MBE in 1999
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings live on MBE in 2014
Animal Collective live on MBE in 2016
Marlon Williams live on MBE in 2018
Khruangbin live on MBE in 2018