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THE KING OF NUMBER 33

DeeExpus

Heavy Prog


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DeeExpus The King of Number 33 album cover
3.90 | 280 ratings | 9 reviews | 23% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2011

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Me and My Downfall (7:09)
2. Maybe September (7:39)
3. Marty and the Magic Moose (4:41)
4. The King of Number 33 (26:47) :
- i. Pauper's Parade
- ii. Accession
- iii. The Physician and the Traitor
- iv. The Hunt
- v. Never Ending Elysium
- vi. Rex Mortuus Est
5. Memo (7:28)

Total Time 53:44

Line-up / Musicians

- Tony Wright / vocals
- Andy Ditchfield / guitars, keyboards, bass (3-5), vocals, composer, production & mixing
- Steve Wright / guitar (live), vocals (4)
- Mark Kelly / keyboards (2,4,5)
- John Dawson / bass (1,2,4)
- Henry Rogers / drums

With:
- Jude Kelly / vocals (3)
- Nik Kershaw / vocals (5)
- Ainsley Wills / guitar solo (5)
- Marc Joliffe / keyboard solo (1)
- Gregg Pullen / cello (2)
- Sir Benjamin Kenneth Obe / narration (4)

Releases information

Artwork: Gavin Mayhew

CD DCP Productions ‎- DXPKNG033 (2011, Europe)
CD Ear Music ‎- 0207603ERE (2012, Europe)

Thanks to Ursa Minor for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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DEEEXPUS The King of Number 33 ratings distribution


3.90
(280 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(23%)
23%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
44%
Good, but non-essential (26%)
26%
Collectors/fans only (5%)
5%
Poor. Only for completionists (2%)
2%

DEEEXPUS The King of Number 33 reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars While emanating from the heavier, more technically-oriented side of progressive rock, I am truly impressed with the production, the never boring yet never over-the-top or in-your-face song development. The instrumentalists are all EXCELLENT, the vocals are strong, the song topic choices are interesting and engaging. My only criticism is that there isn't really anything so very new, innovative, or mind-blowing exciting here. What is here is a pretty near-flawless album of top notch prog rock. I am reminded of a heavier version of BIG BIG TRAIN. Thank you for your admirable restraint and highly enjoyable start-to-finish listening experience. Faves: the cute/clever "Marty and the Magic Moose" (8/10), the Tears for Fears-tinged "The Physician and the Traitor" (8/10), the excellent bass playing on the album's climax, "Rex Mortuus Est" (8/10), the electronica and crisp, clear drumming of "Memo" (8/10). A nice addition to any prog lover's music collection. Solid four stars.
Review by kev rowland
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Reviewer
4 stars DeeExpus were formed in 2007 when guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Andy Ditchfield met up with singer Tony Wright, and they decided to put a band together. However, they found that they worked together really well and instead of forming a complete outfit just brought in a few guests to assist and 'Halfway Home' was released in 2008. A band was formed for the live shows, and then in 2010 it was time to start on the second album. It was about this time that Mark Kelly became involved and joined the band as a full member ? of all of the Marillion guys it is Mark that has produced the least amount in terms of additional projects, so it shows that he was keen on what he had heard. His keyboards are also much more than just an added extra, as his runs and interplay on "Maybe September" reminded me why I first fell in love with his other band thirty years ago. The line-up here has been completed by John Dawson on bass and Henry Rogers on drums (while none other than Nik Kershaw provides lead vocals on 'The Memo').

This certainly doesn't sound like only the second album, as it is a hugely polished effort moving from riffs to gentle piano and through a gamut of neo-progtastic moves. There are areas of extreme delicacy such as gentle piano, fretless bass and acoustic 12-string on "Marty and the Magic Moose" before Andy let's fly with a great guitar solo and the band brings it all together. If you enjoy bands like IQ and Galahad, then this is something you need to seek out. Mark has had to take a temporary break from the band so he has been replaced for live work by Mike Varty (Credo/Landmarq/ Shadowland) as they support Marillion on their UK tour. If you have yet to come across these guys then you need to go to www.deeexpus.com to find out more.

Review by tszirmay
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
5 stars I am glad my sights finally landed on this sophomore release amid a few initial bumble bee buzzes that produced no honey, then taking the leap to pursue and purchase this lovely disc after listening to the live 'Memo' clip on their website. This clicker was the presence of Henry Rogers, a stupendous drummer who first caught my attention with fellow British band Touchstone. This guy plays meaty, beefy fills that hint at past greats like Bonham and Taylor, propelling the harder-edged music with great aplomb, a very manly approach to the drums in a style that immediately grabs one's attention.

'Me and My Downfall' kicks this one right into immediate overdrive, no quarter asked or given. Stubborn, swift and solid like some of the recent PTree material where sweeping keys and menacing guitar snarls, booming bass and the Rogers steamroller elevate the tune to glorious heights, with dejected RPWL's Yogi Lang-like vocals providing the brisk doom and gloom. The dead simple mid-section has the burnt smell of oily turbo charged riffs that can only induce a smile from the most jaded listener. This rocks and rocks well. What an opening salvo!

'Maybe September' is dripping in opaque synth and cello-driven melancholia, intensely autumnal and desolately beautiful. Upon repeated listens, this piece really exudes an incredible emotional intensity, a trembling Tony Wright vocal full of pain and delicate agony with Marillion's Mark Kelly providing that special classic touch. Take notice of the synth work here, a pure ivory blitzkrieg that is only overtaken by a thrilling axe solo from Ditchfield. Rogers batters this whole into a massive orgasmic oblivion. Phew!

Jude Kelly (Mark's little daughter?) introduces this monster highlight, with initial techno-like keys evolving into a crunch-guitar riff that explodes into this unreal main melody. Some kind of instrumental multi-tasking on the sensational 'Marty and the Magic Goose' from the supremely talented Andy Ditchfield who supplies all the swirling guitar, sinuous bass and whopping keys while Rogers keeps the rock steady. The atmosphere is chaotically controlled within a tight sonic context and its just plain superb.

The bulk of this stupendous album relies on the multi-part epic suite that gives us the title, a colossal adventure that scans the entire spectrum of modern prog, littered with achingly beautiful melodies, deadly choruses, scintillating solos and tremendous vocal work from Tony and Steve Wright, together with Ditchfield all give the arrangements a profound sense of accomplishment. Needless to say once again, Rogers pummels with unabashed gusto, confirming his obvious sense of propulsion.

The classic 'Memo' finishes this one off with utter gusto, a brilliant and memorable tune that sticks in your mind long after consumption. Rogers ripples intensely, the bass burping along, content while the melody just dredges intensely into the psyche. A perfect example of why Henry Rogers is such a kick-ass drummer, just check out and contemplate in awe his work , a shivering experience to say the least! Real drumming! Moving impeccably from hard-driving to even more majestic propulsion , maintaining that solid foundation of sound is a voice to be heard on your speakers. Play it loud?. Astonishingly, the once famed pop singer Nik Kershaw handles the vocal (the man always had a definite prog tendency) and this majestic and memorable track puts an end to an entirely satisfying sonic adventure. Fans of melodic and concussive prog such as Porcupine Tree, Haken, Galahad, RPWL, Sylvan, Silhouette, Mystery, Nine Stones Close etc...will lap this stuff up with utter glee.

A do-not-miss 2012 release.

5 stunning royal messages

Review by aapatsos
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars A delightful prog rock offering, DeeExpus' "King of Number 33" continues the legacy of the band following the very interesting debut from 2008. The most important change is the addition of Mark Kelly on keyboards and his importance on the band's sound is pretty obvious on the tracks where he contributes.

Although Steve Wright appears on the line-up of that year, he only guests at the album, while the song-writing force continues to be the duo of Tony Wright and Andy Ditchfield. Half of the album is reserved for the 26+ minute, 6-part, title-track which shows some of the song-writing skills (and reveals some of the influences) of Ditchfield. With the exception of the Spock's Beard-influenced, "sweet"-sounding refrain whose melody returns from time to time, the rest of the song is a solid heavy piece with adequate variety on the mellower parts and doses of Neo-prog, resembling Haken and Dream Theater, boosted by the Marillion-esque keyboards of Kelly. The latter's high-point is definitely "Maybe September" where after a (rather long but beautiful) melodic introduction, the song is lifted to unimaginable heights with a powerful Neo-keyboard passage that carries it safely to conclusion. The follow-up from the instrumental "Marty and the Magic Moose" is simply stunning and along with the title track constitute a very strong middle section. Although not poor, the opening, Porcupine Tree-driven, rather simplistic, "Me and my Downfall" fails to impress, except for the instrumental passage following the second refrain, and the same applies to the (rather commercial-sounding) closing "Memo" with Nik Kershaw on lead vocals, who, nevertheless, gives a strong melodic performance.

The influence from Marillion is more than welcome in an album that balances very successfully on the heavy prog side (mostly influenced by later Porcupine Tree) and the Neo-prog injected by Kelly. The production is powerful and the whole package rather professional. Despite the small deviations from quality, the album as a whole leaves a feeling of satisfaction to the listener and flows freely, deserving not less than 3.5 stars (rounded upwards in this case).

Best moments: Maybe September, Marty and the Magic Moose, Accession

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I was pleasantly surprised with the debut "Half-Way Home" from this band in 2008 especially admiring the PORCUPINE TREE references circa "Deadwing". A nice heavy album with lots of synths giving a Symphonic feel and the vocals sounded like they were from a Crossover band. The band is the duo of Andy Ditchfield the multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, song writer and on and on while Tony Wright is our vocalist. Several guests added solos on their debut but here on the follow-up "The King Of Number 33" from 2011 they have added a drummer and lots more guests including MARILLION's Mark Kelly playing keyboards on three of the five tracks.

And speaking of songs the title track is almost 27 minutes long covering half of the album's time and is divided into six parts. Nik Kershaw sings on the closer which is a top three along with the opener and title track. This sounds a lot like their debut, they didn't vary far from that formula which is good but I do like the debut better. I think the band were more inspired and as I mentioned those PT references are cool. Ditchfield is so good at contrasting the heavy and lighter moments and as I said the synths really are prominent at times.

I was surprised at how sad that second track is "Maybe September" with the melancholy dripping from it. Violin and morose vocals along with the piano. Then it kicks in surprisingly around 4 minutes in. Again the contrasts are great and this one out of nowhere. A nice clean guitar solo 6 minutes in before the outro of piano and reserved vocals. I'm not big on the "Marty And The Magic Moose" track, those synths. The closer "Memo" like the opener is over 7 minutes and has some awesome sounding heavy sections but again contrasts abound and some interesting sounding synths too. The long title track has it all but the heavy synths and sound to start "The Hunt" might be my favourite part. So much though over the almost 27 minutes. Lots to digest and tied with the vocalist singing the title here and there.

Another solid record from these Brits. I am surprised they aren't more well known or that I didn't even remember hearing about them back then.

Latest members reviews

4 stars My Highlights: - Me and my downfall - Marty and the magic moose - King of number 33 (I thru VI) This is the follow up album for the band's (project...) acclaimed debut Half Way Home (2008). Make no mistake, this is heavy prog with lots of power riffs and galloping drumming, however for this ... (read more)

Report this review (#2594116) | Posted by ElChanclas | Sunday, September 12, 2021 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Since I went to my first prog fest outside Pittsburgh a few years ago, I've gone back and forth about whether to try and get up to speed on bands playing at a festival before I actually go. I've both gone in completely cold and completely prepared and both approaches have their plusses and minuse ... (read more)

Report this review (#1453703) | Posted by RaelWV | Sunday, August 16, 2015 | Review Permanlink

5 stars What a suprise! After two heavy prog cuts, we come to a great song: 'Marty and the Magic Moose' seems like a Mike Oldfield 80's instrumental song with some heavy influences (Perhaps, 'Shadow on the Wall' of album Crises). This Oldfield style can be appreciated in clean guitar work. The epic ... (read more)

Report this review (#600359) | Posted by Popovych | Saturday, December 31, 2011 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is DeeExpus' second studio album, following on from 2008's well received "Half Way Home". Since then the band have had a change of bass player with John Dawson replacing Ian Raine and Marillion's Mark Kelly replacing Marc Joliffe on keyboards. "The King Of Number 33" seems to have been a ... (read more)

Report this review (#588854) | Posted by Ursa Minor | Thursday, December 15, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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