King Dinosaur - Walking Dancing Dying 
Release Date: Out Now
If you go anywhere near live music in the South West of England then the name King Dinosaur will be familiar to you so it's a little surprising that 'Walking Dancing Dying' is their debut album. That said, when you're having so much time playing live, who's got the time or inclination to lay down a whole album eh? Anyway, it's here now and it's a doozy so let's dive in, shall we?
The piano fuelled rag-time of 'When I Get You' kicks us off with high energy and the gravelly, jazz influenced vocals just add to the vibe with the wailing trumpet sealing the deal. 'You Can't Take It With You' transports you to a Jazz bar in downtown New York with a muted trumpet, skittish beat and piano stabs riding along on stop of a smooth bass-line all the way to a good time. The vibe is maintained on 'Loneliness' but with a broken-shoed sense of hard luck woven in to the tatty fabric of the down-at-heel vocals.
'S.W.I.N.G.' spells it out for the listener with a horn and piano dance that injects rhythm and melody straight into your feet and your hips before 'Stay Young' takes things down a notch with a super cool bass line and a sense of late night chill that just oozes class. On 'Procrastination', perhaps my favourite track on the album, the band take to tracks like a train out of control with the piano chiming out and the drums keeping the engine turning over apace. 'What's Life Meant To Be' is slithering, hip-swaying slice of cool that would make perfect the perfect soundtrack if you wanted to make a head-turning entrance to any party.
Penultimate track 'Drink, Drink, Drink' stumbles and staggers in to a Cuban rum joint with horn blaring in its ears before downing a shot and setting about a rapid dance that brings everyone along for the ride and is, I'm sure, an absolute showstopper live. The album finishes (all too soon) on 'Dead Man's Shoes', a track that will have people singing along and is tailor made for festivals, packed crowds and people up for a boogie. This is good time music grounded in some classic riffs and brilliantly executed chops so let's hope this is the first of many albums to come but for now we can enjoy this one and look forward to some great shows in 2024.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/kingdinosaurcornwall
Live Dates:
16th December - Calstock Village Hall, Calstock