ALLEN’S HAND-CHICKEN KING
Athens, Greece-based alternative/progressive band Allen’s Hand, self-described facetiously as "a cult boyband dedicated to the reverence of the one true Chicken King," despite the zany imagery and strangeness have produced a record in Chicken King that is really quite good. In fact, I appreciate that they’re not so self-serious while still clearly taking their art seriously. What you’ll find here is an album with strong instrumentation and vocals that pulls from a variety of influences resulting in a diverse and rewarding listening experience. As a frame of reference and perhaps signaling where the band’s collective sonic head is at, the three albums Allen’s Hand recommends on their Bandcamp page are Don Broco’s Amazing Things (one of my personal favorite records from the past half-decade), Shiny Eyed Babies by Bent Knee, and Nearer My God by Foxing.
Getting in to some of the specific numbers on Chicken King, "Thermochemistry" is an interesting song that flirts with a kind of funky new wave vibe in between its rousing emotive choruses. "Deep Space" follows, taking the atmosphere of the choruses on "Thermochemistry" and pushing it out into the cosmos, a sort of hybrid of post-rock and the soaring melodicism of a band like Young Guns. Following "Deep Space," "Dellabongo," featuring one of the best bassists in the game in Skyler Acord (ex-Issues), circles back to the funk with a tune that felt like a breezier version of Incubus’s "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)."
Elsewhere, ghosts of 90s rock haunt the record, while "Barbae" has a Tracy Chapman-"Fast Car" feel to it at times and "Poutsatron" closes the album out riding an absolutely sick Southern-fried riff that reminds me of Blood in the Gears-era The Showdown crossed with some Mastodon vibes. Chicken King is an interesting listen that displays a lot of range and showcases obvious talent while focusing on songcraft. It’s a record that feels very cared-for, and that translates over into the enjoyment of an album that continues to deliver delights over repeat spins. Highly recommended!