King Creosote

Last updated

King Creosote
King creosote.jpg
Background information
Birth nameKenneth Anderson [1]
Born1967 (age 56–57)
Origin Fife, Scotland
Labels
Website www.kingcreosote.com

Kenny Anderson (born January 1967), [2] known primarily by his stage name King Creosote, [3] is an independent singer-songwriter from Fife, Scotland. To date, Anderson has released over forty albums, with his latest full length, I DES , released in 2023. Anderson is also a member of Scottish-Canadian band The Burns Unit. In 2011, Anderson's collaborative album with Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine , was nominated for the Mercury Prize and the Scottish Album of the Year Award. Astronaut Meets Appleman was also longlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.

Contents

Musical career

After having featured in Scottish bands Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra and Khartoum Heroes, in 1995 Kenny Anderson launched the Fence record label and began recording albums under the name King Creosote. [4]

King Creosote was one of the original artists to contribute a t-shirt design for the Yellow Bird Project charity initiative, back in 2006. Anderson's design features an accordion, inscribed with the name "FENCE"; a reference to his DIY record label collective. [5]

Anderson founded Fence Records alongside Johnny Lynch, [6] but stepped back from day-to-day running of the label in 2010.

In recent years, Anderson has teamed up with Domino Records who have co-released some of his albums. He also spent some time on Warner subsidiary, 679, which gave him major label backing for the first time. His increasing frustration with the music industry and how digital recordings are becoming throwaway commodities led him to release his material in small, vinyl only runs which were largely only available at concerts.

To this end, KC Rules OK was re-released in 2006 with different versions of some songs, and a version of the album called "Chorlton and the Wh'earlies" recorded with The Earlies was available with some purchases. Bombshell was released with an additional disc, a DVD film of King Creosote and friends on tour.

In the 2007 film Hallam Foe two of his songs, "The Someone Else" and "King Bubbles in Sand", were featured. [7]

In late 2009, Anderson released a new studio album Flick the Vs , and crafted a performance only album, entitled My Nth Bit of Strange in Umpteen Years . Anderson also contributed to the Cold Seeds collaborative album along with Frances Donnelly of Animal Magic Tricks, and Neil Pennycook and Pete Harvey from Meursault; which was released on the Edinburgh-based indie label Song, by Toad Records. Anderson, Donnelly and Pennycook all wrote songs for the project, which all four performers then recorded together; each singer often taking the lead vocal role on a song written by another of the artists. The album was given a special limited release at the Fence Records Homegame Festival in Anstruther, Fife in March 2010, before a general release was announced for June 2010.

In 2011, Anderson attended the SxSW Music Festival and played a number of shows, two of which featured fellow Scottish attendees Kid Canaveral as his backing band. The same year, Anderson released Diamond Mine , a collaborative album with electronica composer Jon Hopkins, to critical acclaim. The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize, with Anderson stating, "It feels like this is the beginning of something. And to feel that so far down the line, after putting out forty effing albums, oh my God! It means, I can still do this, it's not over." [8] The duo subsequently released an EP, Honest Words .

In 2013, Anderson released That Might Well Be It, Darling , a full-band re-recording of his limited edition vinyl album That Might Be It, Darling .

In 2014, Anderson created the soundtrack for a film about Scotland for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. From Scotland with Love is a poetic film exploring the history of the country, compiled entirely from archive footage with no commentary or narration. Speaking to The Guardian about the creative process, Anderson explained that the film was a long way from the typical "tartan, Highland Games, shortbread kind of tourist film". It was broadcast on BBC Scotland in June. [9]

Personal life

Anderson's brothers are also musicians: Ian Anderson (known as Pip Dylan) and Gordon Anderson (Lone Pigeon) – who is lead singer and main songwriter with The Aliens. The three frequently collaborate at live shows and on album releases. He also has a sister living in Australia.

Anderson lives in Fife. He has three daughters: two with his partner, Jenniffer Gordon (a.k.a. musician HMS Ginafore). [9] [10] [11]

Discography

Releases on CD-R

Albums released on CD, LP and/or digitally

EPs

Singles

Other works

Sources: [16] [17]

Other recordings

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domino Recording Company</span> British independent record label

Domino Recording Company, or simply Domino, is a British independent record label based in London. There is also a wing of the label based in Brooklyn, New York that handles releases in the United States, as well as a German division called Domino Deutschland and a French division called Domino France. In addition, Stephen Pastel presides over the subsidiary label Geographic Music, which releases more 'unusual' music from Britain and outside of the Western world. In 2011, the company announced that it was beginning a book publishing division, The Domino Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Yorkston</span> Scottish folk musician

James Yorkston is a Scottish folk musician, singer-songwriter and author from the village of Kingsbarns, Fife. He has been releasing music since 2001. As well as recording as a solo artist, he has released music with his backing band the Athletes, as part of the Fence Collective, and as a member of the trio Yorkston/Thorne/Khan. He has also written fiction and non-fiction books.

Lone Pigeon is the working name of Gordon Anderson, a Scottish musician and co-founder of The Beta Band. Later he was a member of The Aliens with John Maclean and Robin Jones from The Beta Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Hopkins</span> English electronic musician and producer

Jonathan Julian Hopkins is an English musician and producer who writes and performs electronic music. He began his career playing keyboards for Imogen Heap, and has produced but also contributed to albums by Brian Eno, Coldplay, David Holmes and others.

<i>Flick the Vs</i> Album by King Creosote

Flick the Vs is a studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote, released on 20 April 2009 on Domino Records and Fence Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Canaveral</span> Scottish alternative pop band

Kid Canaveral was a Scottish alternative pop band that formed in St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, but are now based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since 2007 the band have released a number of well received singles, an E.P. and an album on their own label, Straight to Video Records, and in 2011 they signed with Scottish independent label Fence Records. The band left Fence Records to join Johnny Lynch on his new label Lost Map Records in August 2013. The band have received praise for their pop hooks and melodies, and their energetic and engaging live performances. Their second record Now That You Are a Dancer was nominated for the 2014 Scottish Album of the Year Award. The group released their third record Faulty Inner Dialogue, via Lost Map Records, on 29 July 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meursault (band)</span> Scottish indie rock band

Meursault are a Scottish indie rock band from Edinburgh, formed in 2006. Led by singer-songwriter Neil Pennycook, the band's musical style has been categorised as folktronica, alternative rock and indie folk. The band themselves have described their latest work as "epic lo-fi". The name of the band is a reference to the main character of L'Etranger, the absurdist novel by Albert Camus.

<i>Cold Seeds</i> 2010 studio album by Cold Seeds

Cold Seeds is a musical collaboration between Kenny Anderson, Frances Donnelly, and Neil Pennycook and Peter Harvey of Meursault.

<i>Diamond Mine</i> (King Creosote and Jon Hopkins album) 2011 studio album by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins

Diamond Mine is a collaborative studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote and English electronica musician Jon Hopkins, released on 28 March 2011 through Domino Records. Inspired by the East Neuk of Fife, the album combines Creosote's songs with field recordings by Hopkins. Upon release, Creosote stated: "I really don't know what to do next, because, in some ways, I'm at that peak. I don't know where to go from here." The album was subsequently followed by the EP, Honest Words in September 2011, and the double a-side single, "John Taylor's Month Away"/"Missionary" in February 2012. A deluxe version of the album, titled Diamond Mine , was released in 2012.

<i>Honest Words</i> 2011 EP by King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Honest Words is an EP by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote and English electronica musician Jon Hopkins, released on 19 September 2011 on Domino Records. The release is available on 12" vinyl and digital download.

<i>That Might Be It, Darling</i> 2010 studio album by King Creosote

That Might Be It, Darling is a limited edition studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote, released in the winter of 2010 on Fence Records. The album was only available to purchase at Creosote's live shows, and is a vinyl-only release. Frequent collaborator, The Pictish Trail, describes the album as "another secret album." A full-band re-recording of the album was released in 2013, entitled That Might Well Be It, Darling.

<i>My Nth Bit of Strange in Umpteen Years</i> 2009 live album by King Creosote

My Nth Bit of Strange in Umpteen Years is a performance-only album by Scottish singer-songwriter King Creosote, debuted in October 2009, at Fence Records' Hallowe'en Homegame Festival. Described as a "celebration of community, intimacy, exclusivity, rarity and physical artefact," the album is not available in any physical form, and was performed seven times, throughout March 2010, on the condition that audience members record the album on whatever recording device they own. The List stated that, "King Creosote won’t release these songs commercially. Audience members, however, have his blessing to share their personal copies."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Taylor's Month Away / Missionary</span> 2012 single by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins

"John Taylor's Month Away"/"Missionary" is a double a-side single by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins, released on 6 February 2012 on Domino Records. The track, "John Taylor's Month Away", is taken from the duo's studio album, Diamond Mine, while "Missionary" originally appeared on Creosote's Kenny and Beth's Musakal Boat Rides. Hopkins and Creosote recorded a new version of the track, initially intended for inclusion on Diamond Mine, but ultimately removed it from the track listing.

<i>Immunity</i> (Jon Hopkins album) 2013 studio album by Jon Hopkins

Immunity is the fourth studio album by English electronic musician and producer Jon Hopkins. It was released on 3 June 2013 by Domino Records to critical acclaim and was nominated for the 2013 Mercury Prize for best album.

<i>That Might Well Be It, Darling</i> 2013 studio album by King Creosote

That Might Well Be It, Darling is a studio album by Scottish indie folk musician King Creosote, released on 21 April 2013 on Domino Records. Produced by Paul Savage, and released in conjunction with Record Store Day 2013, the album is a full-band re-recording of Creosote's limited edition vinyl release, That Might Be It, Darling (2010), and was initially released as three EPs: I Learned from the Gaels (2012), To Deal With Things (2012) and It Turned Out for the Best (2012).

<i>I Learned from the Gaels</i> 2012 EP by King Creosote

I Learned from the Gaels is an EP by Scottish indie folk artist King Creosote, released on 28 May 2012 on Domino Records. Produced by Paul Savage, the EP features full-band re-recordings of three tracks from Creosote's vinyl-only album, That Might Be It, Darling (2010), alongside a new track, "Little Man", featuring frequent collaborator Alan "Gummi Bako" Stewart on lead vocals.

<i>To Deal with Things</i> 2012 EP by King Creosote

To Deal With Things is an EP by Scottish indie folk musician King Creosote, released on 27 August 2012 on Domino Records. Produced by Paul Savage, the EP features full band re-recordings of three tracks from Creosote's vinyl-only album, That Might Be It, Darling (2010). The EP's title is taken from the track, "Ankle Shackles".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withered Hand</span> Scottish indie rock musician

Dan Willson, also known by his stage name Withered Hand, is an Edinburgh-based indie rock musician.

<i>Astronaut Meets Appleman</i> 2016 studio album by King Creosote

Astronaut Meets Appleman is a studio album by Scottish indie folk musician King Creosote, released on 2 September 2016 through Domino Recording Company. It received acclaim from critics and reached number 25 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie McLarnon</span> Musical artist

Julie McLarnon is a British recording engineer and record producer, known for working solely to analogue tape. Founder of Analogue Catalogue Studios, she has recorded albums for artists including the Vaselines, Lankum, Jeffrey Lewis, King Creosote, Duke Special and Alasdair Roberts.

References

  1. ↑ "Songwriter/Composer: ANDERSON KENNETH". BMI Repertoire. Broadcast Music Incorporated. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Nicola Meighan (22 July 2014). "Kenny's Loggin' The Past: King Creosote's Scots' History Soundtrack". The Quietus.
  3. ↑ "King Creosote Interview". Band Weblogs. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2011. I used to make records with a band called Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra, but always had to record a lot of my songs on my own. I wanted to put out these recordings on my own label Fence, so then I needed something to go on the fence. That's the creosote part. I wrote down King Creosote, and immediately liked the juxtaposition of the regal and the carcinogenic.
  4. ↑ "King Creosote – Interview". Contactmusic.com. 12 September 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  5. ↑ Matheson, Whitney (2 January 2007). "Buy a shirt, help a charity". USA Today. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Pictish Trail profile". Fence Records. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2010.
  7. ↑ "Domino | Albums | Hallam Foe – Original Soundtrack". Dominorecordco.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  8. ↑ Jude Rogers (30 August 2011). "King Creosote and Jon Hopkins: Diamond geezers | Music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  9. 1 2 Stuart Aitken (23 June 2014). "No tartan, no shortbread – King Creosote portrays a different Scotland". guardian.co.uk.
  10. ↑ Siobhán Kane (25 July 2012). "King Creosote – I'm Not Dead Yet". Archived from the original on 30 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "King Creosote interview: new albums, life in Fife and Fence Records". 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Scottish Albums of the Decade #17: King Creosote – Rocket D.I.Y". The Skinny. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "King Creosote: Sure & Steadfast". Alteregotradingcompany.org. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "King Creosote announces new record Astronaut Meets Appleman". thelineofbestfit.com. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  15. ↑ https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/king-creosote-announces-first-album-in-seven-years-i-des [ bare URL ]
  16. ↑ "music". king creosote. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "King Creosote Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  18. ↑ Archived 3 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.