Call Upon The Author

RKC formerly known as Roses Kings Castles, were first conceived in 2007 as a platform for Adam Ficek to air the songs that were thought to be too ‘odd pop’ for the Babyshambles, back before the split. Be it the cheerful gloss of his self-titled debut, or the twang of ‘Suburban Time bombs,’ Ficek has proven that he is doing fine without his former band mates, as he returns with his third and strongest album thus far ‘British Plastic. The former Bayshambles drummer is clearly the figure head of RKC, as he plays all the instruments on the record, except the lead guitar for which he drafted in the raw power and energy of former band mate Patrick Walden.
The albums big production was actually recorded in Adams makeshift home studio following the break-up of the Babyshambles. Ficek said “I wanted to make something that had the raw power of the stuff I was hearing and DJing in the clubs, yet still incorporated the ragged guitars and song writing of British beat music.” For those desperate for a new Babyshambles tune, the Kinks-like 60s’ sounding ‘People And Places’ is the closest your going to get on this album, as Mr Ficek seems to have decided to pursue more of a fresh, experimental sound.
British Plastic gets off to a rambunctious start with the spicy opening track ‘These Are The Days’, before quaintly rolling into the synth laden, drum machine driven ‘I Can’t Say’, which contains a rather cheeky little bass line. Ficek seems to have a new found confidence with this album, which really shines through on the vocals of the rowdy, in your face mantra driven ‘Here Comes The Summer’. On a completely different note ‘Tapping’ is an almost menacing, track with creepily taunting melodies. And then of course we have the most experimental track on the album ‘Cockroach’ which seems to have gunshots and grunts thrown into a repetitive mantra with the backing of a techno style beat.
‘British Plastic, is definitely a keeper, a nice change from the generic albums that seem to be filling the charts these days, and this I think is Ficek’s plan, to stick to two fingers up to the over crowded indie scene and stray away from what is considered to be the norm. This album could well be the start of big things for this wonderfully capable musician Adam Ficek.