The Kings Parade release 'Woman' EP

The Kings Parade are just as “classic” within their sound as the name of their band is, as they deliver a fusion of British-sounding Soul, Folk, and Pop-Rock with heart wrenching harmonies, beautifully performed on songs like “The Look,” and great music production on their new E.P’s title track “Woman” where you’ll hear electric guitars with that echo-reverb sound similarly used by other Indie bands like The National, specifically on “I Need My Girl.” With an overall melancholic vibe, tight musicianship, honest lyrics and smooth, occasionally raspy vocals from lead singer Olly Corpe, their “Woman” E.P is bound to gain a positive response from all UK music critics.

“The Look” is ROUGH’s favourite track, specifically for its’ poetic words “judging by the look you gave each other, wouldn’t be a stretch to say there’s history there, read you like a book covered in cover, it’s not fair,” and Olly’s emotional vocal performance as he sings, in a voice that tells a bittersweet story on its’ own, “I’m finding it harder to get rid of this part of me.” With its’ use of mid-tempo drums, and the major and minor chords played on the organ, slightly reminiscent of Sam Smith’s “Not The Only One,” and a voice that reminds us of moments when Adam Levine let us hear a more sombre side of him, “The Look” will get your attention from the get-go and you will be hooked until its’ stripped ending. The music video takes us to the most ordinary, down-to-earth environment you could think of……a typical London pub, where the band perform the song in front of a small audience, in which the narrative cleverly and conceptually embraces the unspoken story behind someone’s eyes when they first look at you, whether that be the insecurities, the deceit, the desperation, the longing for romance, the need for companionship, and the possibilities are endless, but extremely telling. It is an easily relatable subject, which is one of many reasons why “The Look” and its’ a music video are bound to capture peoples’ hearts.

“Mirror” takes on a more uplifting approach, showcasing a similar vibe to Take That’s “Shine” with a heavier guitar sound and bitter lyrics like “I just don’t give a fuck, and with these words I feel I’m struck with emptiness,” contradictory over its’ major chords played on a distorted, muted electric, leaving you with a smile on your face about how pissed off you might be about yourself, while Olly passionately sings “these days I find the man in the mirror is the one I’m up against.” This extremely confident E.P ends with the Slow-Jam, Rock number “Lemon Zest,” reaching out to all you fans of Soul singers like Duffy and Leon Bridges. If you’re a lover of Ben Harper’s fusion of Soul, Rock and Blues, specifically his album “Diamonds on the Inside,” give The King’s Parade’s E.P “Woman” a listen to.