CAPITOL K - Island Row

Island Row is a far cry from the mostly lo-fi electronic of Capitol K’s debut, Sounds Of The Empire, released two and a half years ago on Planet Mu. If it is Kristian Robinson’s second proper album, his first for XL Recordings, it is technically his third. In fact, when he released Island Row version one in 2000, Robinson was not entirely satisfied with the finished product, so he locked himself in his studio, and revisited it, adding two brand new tracks (Soundwaves and Darussalam), pulling two out (Is It U? and the Prince cover Dance On), entirely remixing another two, and re-editing the rest.
The tracks presented on this album all have an organic intensity, thanks to the clever balance between electronica and lo-fi rock. If both genres have cohabited before, Robinson doesn’t actually privilege either, concentrating on bringing together is fidgety compositions instead, meaning that his ambiences benefit from both equally. Right from the opening track, City, the dichotomy of sound, involving guitars, feedback and digital treatments, indicates a pretty singular concept. The 2002 version is however more balanced and more constructed than the rawer previous one. The sound is not anymore polished, but the general mix is more straight-forward, demonstrating an almost pop sensibility in many occasion, perfectly illustrated in Pillow, Anon or Heat. Pillow, first single to be lifted off the album, has a feel good touch to it, only distracted by its inherent stop-start nature. Anon or Heat are a little more subdued, but, essentially display the same easy going mood. The more intricate Soundwaves, Capitol Beat Sticky, the beautiful Breakers, Heat or Duffle Coat, co-written with John “Leafcutter” Burton, draw on different emotions altogether, although here again, Robinson preserve the underlying melodic sensibility uncovered on the aforementioned songs. Here, he explore the complex relationship between digital and organic, and pushes further his exploration of elaborate structures, although he seems to attack them from a slightly different angle than on his previous releases, making them more accessible in the process.
With this reworking of Island Row, Kristian Robinson offers a more open sound than before, creating a soundcape at once intriguing, beautiful and haunting. On this album, rock and electronic meet on friendly terms and contribute to make it an indispensable record.