Colin Hunter: The King Of Rats

The King Of Rats is a deeply personal and cathartic album from Colin Hunter, an Ayrshire songwriter & poet, and member of the enigmatic music collective Mellow Party.

The King Of Rats feels autobiographical. Lyric that deal with mental health, self-worth & your place in the world, some of them brutally honest, and others delivered with humour. The thing that holds it altogether is Hunter’s obvious ear for writing a catchy tune. For all the darkness in the lyrics, it actually feels and sounds like a really joyous record.

The album opens with the short Self-Loathing At It’s Best. A title that isn’t misplaced given the lyrics, but they are at odds with the beautiful anthemic quality of this intro into Hunter’s world. First Aid Kit, The Trouble With Me & No Fucking Good all deal with the struggles of mental health and the demons of depression and not seeing yourself in the same way others do. There is a selflessness, a bravery, to the honesty, and the way he lays himself open.

In a world where admitting your weaknesses can be seen as just that, a weakness, it is refreshing, and vital, to voices that say ‘It is okay to not be okay’. Windswept Yet Uninteresting is about finding your own place in the world. The wee corner where you feel comfortable. Close enough to be part of the crowd, but far enough away to protect yourself from your own self-doubt. Someone Else’s Memories is about the changes that depression can have on how you view yourself, and how disconnected you can become from the happy times.

The glorious Loudon Hill is a beautiful rolling finger-style driven ballad about the vulnerability of opening yourself up to someone else, and is a real highlight of a magical album.

For all the subject matter tackled here, this is a record that feels joyous and life affirming. There is no doubt that Hunter is a great songwriter, and a great aerator, and he has created something rather beautiful.