Album review: The King Khan & BBQ Show - 'Invisible Girl' (In The Red)

A classic example of a star in his own mind, over the past few years King Khan has seen his profile rise to match his own self-created legend. It’s all thanks to lurid, chaotic live shows, a relentless release schedule and his association with acts such as the Black Lips and Jay Reatard. Prior to ‘Invisible Girl’, Khan was fronting The Shrines, and this time out, the King and his buddy BBQ – also known as Mark Sultan and once Khan’s bandmate in the heroically named Spaceshits – go further back through American pop history, into the rock’n’roll and doo-wop annals, while always mindful to soak the results in the juice of their punk origins.

From opening track ‘Anala’, it’s clear this motley two aren’t afraid to goof it up with their fantasy proto-pop. ‘Animal Party’ seems to be an excuse for Khan to do farmyard impersonations over twangular guitar and bemoan the fact one of the beasts has eaten his pizza. If you have a cousin of pre-school age who you think would benefit from being introduced to ‘cool’ music, this is purpose-built. However, you may have to shield them from the scenario described in ‘Spin The Bottle’.

When Khan and BBQ hark back to not only a pre-punk but pre-garage era – that is to say, the late ’50s – on numbers such as ‘Third Ave’ and ‘Tryin’’, they sound teary enough to cut through accusations of empty pastiche. The (admittedly not entirely serious) image these two have cultivated, as sweat-drenched sex tigers, doesn’t preclude them from admitting they can’t always charm the femmes: to wit, the fizzing rockabilly of ‘Lonely Boy’ (“I’ll be your slave/I’ll even dig your grave/But you won’t talk to me”). ‘Tryin’’ even salutes a love interest for her taste in chewing tobacco. Takes all sorts.

It’s about time Khan shared in the recognition his bad-boy mates have enjoyed, and this is the album to do it. Though the harder of heart might not be able to swallow the rock’n’retro stylings, ‘Invisible Girl’ is an ice-cool, analogue-warm winner. Make like its creators and loosen up.

Noel Gardner

What do you think of the album? Let us know by posting a comment below.

7 out of 10