Simple Kid#1

• Music

Amazon.co.uk Simple Kid's self-styled debut is an eclectic, rambling, self-assured and generally compelling prospect, who's originality should be celebrated every bit as much as its musical treasures (which are plentiful). Sounding (vocally at least) like a hybrid of Damon Albarn at his best and a ramshackled Damon Gough at his worse, the Kid's slightly skewed world is built of loops, drum machines and acoustic guitars wrapped round unpretentious Jamie Oliver stripped-bare pop sensibilities. He possesses a fine sense of melody and, like all musical geniuses, makes you work to find them. Self-produced and self-recorded on his own 8 track, it's a project that feels remarkably free of artist indulgence and the flabby excesses of ego with a recording contract. The Blur vibe is most prevalent on opener "Hello" (with the druggy, juvenile "Truck On" even sounding like a Gorillaz cut in places) but don't be fooled, as the songs twist and turn through a variety of different poses and influences. So, part Beck, part Jason Downes (without feather) and part cheap, tatty, yet expertly deployed second-hand technology, it's a lo-fi production with high ambitions which succeeds in nearly everything it attempts. --Ben Johncock Product description Simple Kid ~ SK1 [Explicit]