Smile Without Concern

King Krule “Seaforth”

I like how Archy Marshall’s lyrics often grasp at romanticism while grounded in a dingy reality of blank walls, low ceilings, bad lighting, train stations, mini-markets, and other assorted liminal spaces. He’s always yearning for something transcendent and seeking it out anywhere he can, and finding it in the bleak or mundane only makes the feeling more profound. “Seaforth,” named for a largely derelict waterfront in England, is one of Marshall’s lightest and most relaxed songs. It’s a breezy jangle-pop song that trades sunny clear skies for a more overcast vibe, perfectly evoking the sort of spring or summer day when the weather is technically nice out but the light is so grey it puts a damper on your energy. The dazed, languid feeling suits the sentiment of the song, in which Marshall reflects on small moments of love and connection in the midst of a “world that falls apart.” Their love is more precious for serving as an anchor amidst chaos and decay, it’s basically “I Melt With You” for a world that’s already halfway melted. At its core, it’s a song about how love and connection make material conditions bearable, or even something to be ignored in the background while you engage with something that makes you feel truly alive.

Buy it from Bandcamp.