King’s Gambit are a seven-piece band from Northampton who play, I think we are obliged to say, folk-rock. The songs are written by Chris Startup but laced with traditional tunes driven by Phil Searing’s fiddle. However, if you’re looking for something conventional in that genre you should look elsewhere. After several years of home-made product they have just released their second “proper” album, The Elder And The Lost Bet, named for the two tracks that top and tail the record, in turn named from an old story about two grave robbers.
The opener ‘The Elder’ has the feel of an improvised overture, not exactly orchestral but looking in that direction. ‘Shout Out From The Rooftops’ tends toward the choral – with five vocalists and some multi-tracking that’s easy to do – and its “going home” refrain reminds me of Runrig in their glory. It’s here that I needed some lyrics to refer to, not that the words are in any way unintelligible but I want to study them at leisure. Having done so, they seem like the verbal equivalent of surreal art. The same is true of ‘Mary McLeod’, a decidedly folky song performed at a sprightly pace. It mentions the Isle of Ewe, an island in a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. That may not be helpful.
‘Millie Bear’ is a more conventional hard-driving instrumental set with Chris on harmonica. ‘Back Beat’ takes us back to the dancehalls of our youth; a bouncy song celebrating whoever and wherever we were back then and one of the highlights of the album. ‘The Guilty’ is another song dragged from history with a seagoing theme reminiscent of Skinny Lister while ‘Pans Fame’ pairs Helen Turton’s cello with Phil’s fiddle in a slower, anthemic song and another highlight.
The closing track, ‘The Lost Bet’ begins with three instrumentals, two original compositions sandwiching a bouncy reading of ‘Salmon Tails Up The Water’ (something of a favourite of mine) before the actual song comes in. There are guest appearances by Elliot Scribot-Carter and Tobias Scribot-Carter on saxophones and a thumping kick drum underpinning it all.
On reflection, I don’t believe that I really needed the lyrics apart from the clarification of one or two names. The thing is, The Elder And The Lost Bet sounds better than it reads – think of some of Bob Dylan’s early lyrics – but put the words and music together and I guarantee that it will carry you away. Just let your imagination do the work.
Dai Jeffries
Artists’ website: www.kingsgambitband.com
They call this ‘Harmonica Bit’ but some of it is ‘Back Beat’ – live:
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