Archie Marshall is hands down one of the most compelling contemporary artists making music these days. No matter which alias he is creating under, we're always served an intense, yet rewarding listen. His latest, The OOZ, is no different.
King Krule’s second album under the name makes good on the murky promise of his debut, 2013’s 6 Feet Beneath the Moon. The OOZ is another exciting entry into the discography of the challenging young artist, offering up an artfully brooding and grimy trip through punk, ska, jazz and hip hop—all held together by Marshall's menacing vocals.
With a total of 19 tracks, The OOZ is long, heavy, personal, and a musical journey through a mind on the brink. The record confronts the monotony of day to day, falling back into your head, and being taken with your thoughts into a different place. Emotive, rhythmic guitar is layered atop grimy, spacey production, forming a dark and powerful sonic punch. From the slower songs, like the magnificent "Czech One," "Lonely Blue," and "Logos," to the more guitar-oriented tunes like "Dum Surfer," the album is an all-encompassing experience where anger and tenderness bang heads throughout, while he reflects on the impacts of a harrowing breakup and the grind of urban life.