Benjamin Taylor - The Legend Of Kung Folk PART 1 (The Killing Bite)
The son of American music stars James Taylor and Carly Simon, Benjamin Taylor’s whole life has so far centred on musicianship and songwriting. The budding folk artist is so confident in his abilities that he claims to have outlined his own genre.
Kung Folk is Taylor’s uniquely convoluted vision of how life and love entwine and The Killing Bite communicates it through songs that audibly smile, sigh and groove. Slinky opener Wrong sets a warm and comfortably sexy tone with the singer’s husky croon riding over a brooding bass line that rocks back and forth, tempting the ear to listen further.
She’s Gone is a bluesy lament brightened by playful guitar arrangements and a shuffling bongo rhythm. A frustratingly repetitive, but surprisingly catchy, chorus leads into a sparse middle section that leaves the heart of the song feeling a little lifeless.
Another slow number, Wicked Way documents what seem to be a sleazy man’s desperate unappreciated advances and pining to get a beautiful girl’s clothes off; an odd subject for a song which, from a distance, sounds much more tender and meaningful.
With marginally more soul, Something For Nothing grooves as surely as the tide rolls in, making The Killing Bite begin to sound like great music to make love to. Sure, it sashays and swaggers in equal measure, but for the most part it all sounds a little flat and uninteresting.
In a weird twist, You’re The One For Me gushes soppy sentiments and syrupy drawl that push it into Maroon5 B-Side territory – not cool. Taylor describes his style as ‘folk with a kick’. A kick in the teeth perhaps, I’m not sure.
This dreary and sedate record is just another in the long line of good songwriters with great voices who sadly just haven’t been able to apply their vision to the extent that a truly knockout record requires.
Individually, the tunes are fine, but with ten samey songs in a row, The Killing Bite will surely have anyone in their right mind reaching for the eject button in haste. Fans of Jack Johnson and lime soda will feel at home, but most of us would appreciate something a little stronger.
Rating: 3/5
Skip To: Something For Nothing
FemaleFirst – Anthony Hill