Kingbathmat
'Crowning Glory'
2004 Independent Release
Track-list:
• As Ever
• The Final Star
• Top Of The World
• Almost There
• Alcohol Sea
• Rain On
• Fair Weather Friend
• The Sun & Moon
• Sunflower Eyes
• A Million Dreams
Let's face it, if you found an email in your inbox from KingBathmat, you'd think it was spam from someone trying to sell you giant size covering for your bathroom floor, and probably be tempted to delete it without even reading it.
Fortunately this particular KingBathmat is none other than John Bassett, who hails from Hastings (UK), a musician of seemingly endless talent, and equal enthusiasm for his craft, with a friendly offer of a new album to review. Never having heard of Mr Bathmat Bassett, I scooted along to his web site, listened to a track from 'Crowning Glory'. I was hooked, and so, with an enthusiasm almost bordering on childlike glee, I awaited the promised album.......
'Crowning Glory' could easily be a richly layered effort from a talented bunch of musicians, and the fact that this album in its entirety is the work of one person, makes these lovingly crafted and diversely influenced songs even more marvelous. The passionately performed material defies a collective genre pigeon hole - this is nouvelle guitar rock, and anyone with a love of music for music's sake, whether it be indie, alternative, prog, or modern guitar rock, will find something here to cling on to.
Bassett tinkers with influences so diverse, it's scary - Led Zeppelin-esque (circa #4), near mock falsettos (with nary a bum note in sight), and turning the modern British tendancy to emulate other successful guitar bands on its head, delivering instead a remarkable, fresh look at what British music is (or should) be all about. KingBathmat's approach to both his music and self-promotion should be regarded as ambassadorial.
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Although Bassett covers domestic and personal themes in his songs, he neatly avoids what could have easily turned into a chronicle of tragic parochial woes. Others who might have attempted a completely solo project would have commited both commercial suicide and ended up sounding like a whinging pom band; Bassett's work truly is a crowning glory, and has the potential to attract both the commercial arm of the music industry, as well as the more discerning, eclectic music afficiandos.
Now, if there was a music industry award for 'product presentation by an unsigned artist', Bassett would win hands down - his professionally packed CD came with a folded, colour print press leaflet, and a multimedia CD, containing video, tracks from his previous album, 'Son Of A Nun', a massive collection of older demo material - I mention this in more than just praise for his professionality; this multimedia CD is available as a sort of 'bonus disc' when you buy 'Crowning Glory' via his web site - and a very worthwhile incentive it is too!
Please visit the KingBathmat web site, where you can also hear tracks from 'Crowning Glory', along with a couple of 'oldies' from 'Son Of A Nun'.
review taken from http://www.musicworkz.co.uk
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