PREMIERE: Stream King of The Mountains’ ‘Zoetrope’

On 14 April, Melodic Records release Phil Kay’s debut solo album Zoetrope. Following his work as a member of the renowned Manchester based experimental group Working For a Nuclear Free City, Kay relocated to London, where he began crafting the euphoria-inducing ambient swirls and melodic, pensive 4/4 tracks which would eventually form this record.

“Precious few artists have the ability to distill something so organic sounding from their gadgets and machines”, our reviewer wrote in regards to Zoetrope. And when discussing the themes running through the album, Kay has spoken about conjuring up emotion with machinery and hard materials: “The record was very nearly called Brutalism because I realised that what I was trying to do in music was similar to what brutalist architects were trying to do in the post-war period. There’s a similarity in using these really hard edged electronic materials to try and create something human and meaningful, and the way the brutalists used concrete and steel to do the same. I’m more influenced by architecture than any other art form other than music. When you see a building like [Barcelona basilica] Sagrada Familia you realise the sheer potential of the creative mind. It gives you something to aim for.”

You can listen to the premiere stream of Zoetrope below. Copies of the album in digital, CD and vinyl formats are available to pre-order via Melodic Records. There will also be a deluxe package available including a limited edition A2 art print, hand singed and numbered by Kay himself.