Capitol K

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Release 14th November 2025

Capitol K unveils 10th Album Artichoke A Return to Unfiltered Vocal Electronica

For his milestone 10th album, Capitol K—aka Kristian Craig Robinson— presents a return to off-kilter vocal electronica he ruled in the pre-to-post-millennial era. Produced at his home studio on the island of Malta, with a choice selection of synthesisers and drum machines.

A noted recording engineer. The bulk of his collection remains in situ at London's Total Refreshment Centre’s recording facility from which K took an extended hiatus in 2024 after an epic 13 year stint. (see: Alabaster DePlume, Dry Cleaning, Bas Jan, Bo Ningen Thurston Moore, LOOSE MEAT)

Allegorically the album is artichoke: gestated in winter, bloomed in spring—a multi-layered blossom, prickly yet vital, best taken with a generous pinch of salt. Themes covered are requisite eulogies to love, the urbane, our digital age, and visiting the kiosk with your friends.

It started with a live request for an archive set of tracks like classic Pillow (2000) and insider gem ‘Love in Slow Motion’, from Happy Happy. After a decade-plus in mostly instrumental territory Capitol K set out to reclaim and reinvent writing a new set of vocal tracks. The result is the album you hold now.

To the misfits who stuck around and the new ears ready to listen.This is K—fresh, bold, and unapologetically his.

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Local Popular Song Vol.1 is out now on all platforms

https://linktr.ee/capitolk

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Lots of records released since I last checked in.

Ursa Major Moving Group by Ursa Major Moving Group, Come with Fierce Grace by Alabaster Deplume, Bongo by Cabbages, Kriller by seas of Mirth, Bird Brain Gang by Pigeons and Back to the Swamp by BAS JAN.

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Whilst I still occasionaly release digital singles and the odd album as Capitol K, current focus leads me to my extensive recording, mixing and production porfolio. The recording studio i established at TRC now being over a decade in activity.

Do check out the label I run Faith And Industry, focus here on long term foundational work for new artists.

Kristian (Sept 2023)

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ERB

ERB by Capitol K

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Super Dhramas by Capitol K

Super Dhramas. Triple tracker Inspired by Italo electronica, the (allegedly) ‘worst drum machine ever made’ : Korg Super Drums and the Davoli Davolissient, a rare and eccentric Italian mono synth. released April 1, 2022 All titles written and produced by Capitol K. Art by Chris Bianchi. Instruments: Korg Super Drums, Davoli Davolisint, Nord Lead, Eventide H3000, Arp Oddyssey, Korg Ms-10, Abelton & Shruti Box.

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The Practice of Love by Capitol K

Capitol K — The Practice of Love Digital single / virtual 12" 1. The Practice of Love 8:20 2. Organise Love 4:24 Harp on The Practise of Love by Serafina Steer. Words on The Practice of Love and Organise Love adapted from Errico Malatesta. Production and mix by Capitol K Mastering by Jacques Beloeil Art by Chris Bianchi Instruments: Dr220, Korg Micro Preset, Nord Lead, SPD20, Roland 201, Freebass, Lexicon PCM60, Lyon & Healy Harp. LISTEN HERE

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Capitol K - Birdtrapper

Releases on the 10th April 2020 on Faith & Industry, catalogue number FAI019. A lacquer cut, Ltd edition of 150 numbered transparent vinyl 12" in black reverse board disco sleeve are now on pre-order: https://capitolk.bandcamp.com/album/birdtrapper

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Vinyl mix. Lenco 75 turntable to RME soundcard.

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John Johanna — Seven Metal Mountains

Cat# FAI018 Format: 12” Vinyl / Digital Release: July / Aug 2019

Seven Metal Mountains by John Johanna

Seven Metal Mountains is the second album from rural Norfolk (UK) musician John Johanna, a unique artist whose inspiration is drawn from studies in borderless folkways, mystical scripture, psychedelia and gospel blues. The album takes its title from the Ethiopian Church’s Book of Enoch, where seven metal mountains represent the world-empires that have successively oppressed and controlled humankind. Built on the bones of recent reel to reel tape sessions in his woodland IMZIM studio, Johanna’s signature drum machine, pure guitar tone and polyphonic synth is then worked up in London alongside producer Capitol K at Total Refreshment Centre. Additional drums by Betamax (The Comet is Coming) and backing vocals by Karina Zakri (Seafoxes). The album’s cover art is from artist Chris Bianchi.

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GOATHERDER by Capitol K

Releases: 13th July 2018 Goatherder is the seventh album from underground London producer Kristian Craig Robinson, AKA Capitol K. This ace manipulator of audio and punk warlord of groove has crossed a tapestry of styles and approaches with his own secret compass since 1998. This latest work was developed and recorded in his native Malta, where he built a studio in a cave (a former goat stable). K gathered bamboo instruments collected around the world, including an ancient Quecha reeded pipe (his new-found lead instrument), and various resonating vessels and percussive objects including dry fennel storks collected from Punic troglodyte sites, and atonal flutes built from fresh cut farmland reed. Ritualistic improvisations took place over a series of seasonal visits, awakening genetic memory and plant communication. Back in London the tracks were interfaced and expanded with post-industrial machine beat and bass guitar lock down. Homage is paid to New Age synthscapes, while a Spirit Jazz overtone arrives from K's recent years as the sonic muscle behind a plethora of luminous albums born in his Total Refreshment Studio. Goatherder follows on from the 2016 collaborative incarnation LOOSE MEAT and sonically abridges 2012's Capitol K album Andean Dub. "I’ve been collecting bamboo flutes, horns, pipes and percussion around the world for over a decade. Gathering together these naturally resonant forms I took them to my native Malta and built a temporary studio in a five hundred year old carved rock cave basement which was the former goat shelter of a farm dwelling. Some elements of all six of my Capitol K albums to date have been created in Malta and, wishing to expand on that rhythm, I chose to make a solitary concept album in Malta, drawing on my individual imagination of place and history. The idea was to create in the present a personalised and fictional re-imagining of a Mediterranean, particularly Maltese, diasporic music that fuses ancient and modern techniques. During days spent exploring ritualistic process and practice, field work and location experiences developed to awaken genetic memory, reaching back far beyond my present time and allowing me to freely interpret the opaquely resonant vibrations of the Maltese land and experience". Recorded on location in Malta. Mixed in London. All titles written by Capitol K. All instruments and programing by Capitol K. Additional synth on Fennel Dance by Dan Leavers. Mastered by Peter Fletcher at Black Bay Studio. Vinyl lacquer cut by Leon at Music House. Artwork by Chris Bianchi. Ltd 12" hand screen printed by Heretic.

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Capitol K - Cumbia Millipedes

From the album 'Andean Dub'  c+p Faith & Industry June 2012 #fai008  

Film by: Rebecca Salvadori

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