Album Review

The King Blues – “The World’s Not What It Used To Be” Remix EP

• 21st Nov 2011

Tracklist:
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be (Silcox and Eyes Remix)
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be (Liquid Stranger Remix)
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be (Liquid Stranger’s Phunk Remix)
The Future’s Not What It Used To Be (Drifta Remix)

The King Blues have what can only be described as an innovative musical style, combining ska and folk with an infused punk background. This style, true to all their releases thus far, is found in their most recent release, “The Future’s Not What It Used To Be”. Almost found here a little bit more evidently.

The single, which includes 4 remixes of the song, is in keeping with that definitive King Blues sound. The title track opens with a compelling beat as Jonny ‘Itch’ Fox’s voice rings in. Horns sound aloud in the background, as Itch gets into the differences between his generation and the last.

Itch has been known as one able to turn a phrase in his lyrics, but one powerful image thrown at us in this song is the defiant “Schoolgirls dress like hookers / The hookers dress like schoolgirls”, clearly portraying his disgust at how quickly children are forced to grow up these days.

Then, out of no where, the song opens up and becomes increasingly aggressive. Each instrument chimes in, the drums picking up tempo as Itch’s singing somehow manages to keep time, and escalate from there.

Attached to this single, as stated, are 4 remixes of the title track. Each of these adds something different to the initial production. The Silcox and Eyes Remix adds an almost old school techno touch to it, with the chorus being ripped apart. It has to be heard to be believed.

Personal favourite remix is the Liquid Stranger’s Phunk Remix, which takes everything down a peg and slightly slows the song down, makes it more mellow. I’ve always believed that a good song is one which works at different speeds. “The Future’s Not What It Used To Be” is a definite example of this.