I Des is the fiftieth studio album by Scottish indie folk musician King Creosote, released on 3 November 2023 through Domino Recording Company. It is Kenny Anderson's first release as King Creosote in seven years and received acclaim from critics.

I Des
The words "I Des" carved in stone, with "MMXXIII" (2023) carved below it
Studio album by
Released3 November 2023 (2023-11-03)
Length83:45
LabelDomino
Producer
King Creosote chronology
Astronaut Meets Appleman
(2016)
I Des
(2023)

Background

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The album is King Creosote's first release in seven years, following Astronaut Meets Appleman (2016). The title is a reference to Anderson's co-producer Derek O'Neill, also known as Des Lawson.[1] I Des contains a 13-minute suite titled "Please Come Back I Will Listen, I Will Behave, I Will Toe the Line", and the 36-minute "Drone in B♯", with B♯ being an enharmonic equivalent to the key of C. [2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Mojo     [4]
MusicOMH     [1]
The Skinny     [5]
Uncut8/10[6]

I Des received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[3] Uncut felt that "the manic, galloping 'Susie Mullen' proves Anderson's still got a nose for fun",[6] while Mojo remarked, "if life's what you make it, here Anderson makes it sound very beautiful indeed".[4] The Skinny's Mia Boffey described it as "a largely jubilant and life-affirming meditation on life and mortality. A triumph for Anderson, it's a more than worthy addition to his extensive and revered body of work".[5]

Timothy Monger of AllMusic stated that the album "feels a bit like a composite of Anderson's various attributes, a wild mid-career overview imbued with the veteran presence of an artist who has always sounded like an old soul" as well as "an appropriately ambitious celebration of his first 25 years".[2] Reviewing the album for MusicOMH, Steven Johnson summarised I Des as a "slowburning set of songs full of delicate beauty and affecting, idiosyncratic warmth".[1]

Track listing

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All tracks are produced by Kenny Anderson and Derek O'Neill; all tracks are mixed by Derek O'Neill.

I Des track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's Sin That's Got Its Hold Upon Us"Kenny Anderson3:51
2."Blue Marbled Elm Trees"Anderson5:03
3."Burial Bleak"Anderson5:48
4."Dust"Anderson4:09
5."Walter de la Nightmare"
  • Anderson
  • Derek O'Neill
4:11
6."Susie Mullen"
4:49
7."Love Is a Curse"Anderson1:59
8."Ides"
  • Anderson
  • O'Neill
4:05
9."Please Come Back I Will Listen, I Will Behave, I Will Toe the Line"
  • Anderson
  • O'Neill
13:16
10."Drone in B♯"
  • Anderson
  • Brown
  • Campbell
  • Hannah Fisher
  • Mairearad Green
  • Gordon MacLean
  • Sorren MacLean
  • Andy Robinson
36:34
Total length:83:45

Charts

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Chart performance for I Des
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] 3
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 61
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[9] 19
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[10] 4

References

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  1. ^ a b c Johnson, Steven (3 November 2023). "King Creosote – I Des | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Monger, Timothy (3 November 2023). "King Creosote – I Des Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b "I Des by King Creosote Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b "King Creosote – I Des". Mojo. December 2023. p. 92.
  5. ^ a b Boffey, Mia (30 October 2023). "King Creosote – I Des | Album Reviews". The Skinny. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b "King Creosote – I Des". Uncut. December 2023. p. 31.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.