Blurring the lines between caricature and confessional, Kerry Charles isn’t quite certain where his act ends and reality begins. Sardonic, yet sincere, abject but personal and indisputably groovy, Charles’s timeless pop recordings are as enigmatic as their author. Drawing influence from the likes of Prince, Hall, and Oates, and Steely Dan, Charles’s obsessively produced tracks land somewhere between laid-back synth pop, smooth dad rock, and seductive R&B.
On “Empress of the Crystal Moon” Charles brings a modern sensibility to a well-loved songwriting style. The synth bass immediately drives into your shoulders and gets them moving before the band even drops in, and by the time the disciplined and articulate drummer drops in the rest of your limbs might just give in to it. The tightly rehearsed and particularly written rhythmic play creates a truly memorable listening experience. Big bonus points for a latter-half sexy saxophone solo. Can’t wait to hear more from Kerry Charles with his debut LP dropping sometime this year.
