King Creosote And Jon Hopkins: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts

To immerse yourself in King Creosote and Jon Hopkins' album Diamond Mine is to be transported to the Scottish countryside. Standing in the NPR Music offices, the album's unassuming creators somehow lose little of their mystique.
Set List:
"John Taylor's Month Away"
"Bubble"
"Cockle Shell"
"And The Racket They Made"
For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts Podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

[@pauldavies8588]

My mother passed away with cancer a few years ago and she ended her days at my sisters with all of us looking after her until it was time for the wonderful nurses to step in with their lovely caring ways to help us during the days and nights. We played "Diamond Mine" always in the background hoping she could hear this lovely music and take it with her." John Taylor's Month Away" was played as the coffin was brought in. I don't need to express how terrible it is to see any loved one die from this terrible undignified disease or any other horrible terminal illness. Life is so short and cruel upon times but how comforting to know that memories survive with the help of personal memories, photographs and beautiful music like this. So sorry for anyone who has lost or losing a loved one through an illness. From a Son, Husband and a Father.❤

[@claredavies764]

My mother passed away just a few weeks ago. I had to go and spend weeks in her house, where I was never happy as I had been there years ago when my father died. I took advice from a friend and flooded the house with my favourite music. Diamond Mine and I DES on repeat... loudly... and the house came to feel more friendly to me

[@timmcdraw7568]

King Creosote is my favorite singer today - I’m an American and I don’t know how I stumbled upon him, it was an accident, like an autoplay situation, but the moment his voice came out of my speakers I stopped dead in my tracks the way I do every time since then. He’s not a singer I can put on to sing along to while I do other things, because I’m always glued to the spot. What a beautiful beautiful soul.

[@missellexox]

John Taylor's Month Away touches me deeply every time

[@tyleryoast8299]

It is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard

[@tyleryoast8299]

This man is a treasure I can't believe I'm just finding out about him His music cuts right to my center and makes me feel so sad and so warm at the same time

[@ShinRobjira]

Damn, I hope they get back together eventually and make another record. Diamond Mine was a pure masterpiece (as is most of King Creosote & Jon Hopkins' works) They work so well together & their respected sounds together meld like colors. NEED. MORE.

[@Otterysteve]

Yup!

[@dumdumboy121]

Stumbled upon KC maybe a year ago and fell in love with him and his music from there on. From Russia with love and hope for the future!

[@terjedahl4288]

My first time in Iceland and I bought this record in Reykjavik, even if its not Icelandic I will always have the assosiation of the songs and Iceland. Perfect.

[@andrewchang3821]

+Terje Dahl I purchased this album right before a trip to Iceland and listened to it on repeat all around the ring road so, oddly enough, I have similar associations. I'd say it's not too much of a stretch, volcanoes and glaciers aside, the landscape of Scotland has some apparent similarities to that of Iceland.

[@Herzfeld10]

I can totally see that !

[@frangrant7577]

Bc almost all the best things and musicians come from Iceland. Beautiful story :)

[@desertislandsurvival]

how perfect!

[@Luis-dq2xt]

King Creosotes's music helped me make it out the hood 💯 This foo underrated a'f 👌🏽💯

[@Cracktune]

give yourself credit as well. congrats and dont stop man. dont stop.

[@Luis-dq2xt]

@@Cracktune Thank you for taking the time to show love brotha. Much love & God bless you brotha wish you the best & thanks again 🙏🏽🤍

[@tiziana280275]

oh i love them so much. casually one years ago i saw the cd in a store, in Rome. the cover impress me. i listened for a few minutes. and fell in love..

[@matthewlemin5077]

Middle of a busy day... lots to do... a quick browse with a cup of tea, and this stopped me in my tracks. Just beautiful

[@stephenreader1320]

Top 10 album of the 2010s. Been listening for years but somehow missed this video, so cool!

[@martinmurchie504]

Here I am again. Keep coming to this time after time. Beautiful.

[@antonsampson4753]

Amazing. One of the best songwriters we have in the UK. Diamond mines (the while album) is one of my desert Island Discs. I noticed he can get five notes out of one short word in a lyric. Top notch.

[@ninjaassassin27]

Creosote has the rare aura of a humble and caring man. The music is a window from his soul to ours.

[@roblexapropst6930]

This album is still top 10 all time for me. I listen to it still, particularly during the winter months

[@wxbybxtn]

My favorite Artists. Absolutely gorgeous. Reminds me of home!

[@momomalea6633]

This guy is so unbelievably great. and please please please work with jon again !

[@dencairns2228]

Absolute privilege to be alive witnessing that.

[@johnlittle7908]

How come I’ve only just found this video? As soon as it was released I realised Diamond Mine was an extraordinary album. Was lucky enough to catch Kenny and Jon touring I guess within a year or so of the albums release. Loving this little video ❤

[@Akeela1]

Can't help to keep coming back here and hear those two wonderful guys. So beautiful...

[@AdrianKuipers]

Mannnnnnnn, crying my heart out here. So beautiful. Thank you for making this.

[@rnadata]

How much goodness can this Man become? My God! My respectometer is gonna blow up!

[@lordcjim]

Just the most wonderful singing coupled with the most lovely keys. Floating about the guitar work. Journeys.

[@valeriomastio3702]

La cosa più bella che ho scoperto in questa quarantena

[@megadrop321]

King Creosote. Such a real person. I'd love to have a pint with him in the Highlands ha

[@scunert]

You are more likely to have a pint with him in Fife. That is where he is from but I know exactly what you mean. Beautiful and fascinating song

[@CelticFan]

Anstruther, I know, a tad pedantic (:

[@owen9157]

nah crail

[@bruceaisher]

This is really beautiful. Thanks so much for uploading NPR!

[@joseespinoza6283]

And the Racket they made shows a finely crafted intimate poetry.

[@booooyah12345]

I can watch it over and over again

[@sqgl]

Good audio recording by Kevin Wait, thanks to everyone for organising and capturing this.

[@Bruchag]

Simply beautiful...

[@casandrathewitch]

Like many of the best things in life, this set comes in, completes envelopes you and leaves without a racket!!

[@jejesus]

I love his voice! Thanks NPR!

[@AzlanCollective]

nourishment for the soul

[@markbirkin9024]

Brilliant, great memories of Eye 'o' The Doog festival in St Andrews, KC & JH performed Diamond Mine in full, one of the best gigs I've witnessed. For those wanting more- there is an extended version of Diamond Mine called the Jubilee Edition. With 6 extra tracks, Honest Words, Third Swan, Missionary (all great tracks), plus the 'Unravelled' version of Bats In The Attic and a couple of others.

[@OhWarrenful]

This was a wonderful set to listen to before bed.

[@tompicker]

Really good, soft, musical, peaceful, I like it very much !

[@ghostly606]

I love the album. But this still managed to blow me away. Beautiful!

[@Foresthexomega]

cockle shell is just amazing

[@amandaloebner8169]

Wow ❤️ so simple and beautiful

[@m.s.g1890]

Mr Creosote looks just like a guy you'd see creosoting his fence on a Sunday afternoon. Very self aware

[@Greenockianx]

Wonderful. Touches parts other music can't get near. 😢

[@jillesoom3305]

crazy how versatile jon is

[@ThePickledOnions]

beautiful

[@sbirrell]

So pleased to see/hear this - heading off to see them tomorrow in Glasgow. Tremendous.

[@claredavies764]

Love this song....Hoping to hear it live at Findhorn later this month

[@HeseQ]

For those still wondering..... it's called a Harmonium (an old Indian instrument)

[@Requiredfields2]

I'm still wandering but thanks.

[@HeseQ]

Heheh...

[@hello_storm]

This is my new favorite video of all time

[@briandickson6747]

Love this, what a subtle and great racket!

[@annettekearney9798]

King creosote is SO underrated. Check out his music.

[@AlSedge]

stunning combo

[@simpeable]

Beautiful music..

[@KarlHamilton]

Still sounds amazing

[@cynthiamchurch]

I listen to this at least once a day...the covers don't match his voice...I love his voice, and the harmonium, had never seen one. I'm so glad these two paired up!

[@vladimiraturzova7465]

Prekrásne...éterické💝💘❤

[@vAbsolution]

Heard Diamond Mine for the first time the other day - somehow I knew they were going to have a tiny desk concert. haha. Awesome job.

[@Limubi1]

Very beautiful.

[@artespopular]

KC and Jon should have grabbed that Mercury tonight. I hope you guys make another trek to the US. Sorry the first swing through wasn't successful.

[@ryanjaeckel6492]

i see that Love Garden Records slipmat in the background, nicely done NPR!

[@ninjaflytipper]

Makes me smile :)

[@llifeform]

Beautiful :-)

[@r3dux]

That was just terrific! =D

[@Otterysteve]

Beautiful. I love Diamond Mine, wonderful album, and enjoyed hearing a couple of extra songs on this video. Hopefully they will collaborate on a few more albums very soon! Any chance, does anyone know?

[@kalayaskitchen]

Just heard "Running on Fumes" used in BBC's "Our Girl" army drama - why didn't I hear this before made me feel very good, stuck 5500 miles east of skye in a constant, almsot unbearable 35C, thanks :-)

[@jamesbrownisdeadcom]

Really down to earth, lovely to see.

[@turntableable]

King Creosote’s voice though! It just shows you that you can just sing with a traditional Irish tremolo (I don’t know his ethnicity, I’m American so I don’t know the difference, but I know I hear it in a lot of old Irish music) and it still touches those deep parts of the soul.

[@kevinhouston3715]

He’s from Anstruther in Scotland near where I live. Was a big part of the the Fence Record scene here in Fife. Some amazing music. Folk indie electronic. Check it out

[@DrB81]

Supported him at a gig years ago in Dundee. Had to borrow his guitar cause mine was gubbed. Cheers Kenny!

[@richyinnes]

Song is class!

[@eggbirdtherooster]

so beautiful

[@JAMk1011]

Great Song

[@neonfear]

i love this very much

[@fryxo]

Beautiful

[@cynthiamchurch]

I love his voice live! this is the first track I heard from them...I am glad they are a team but I don't think that they lose any of their mystique...I'd never seen a harmonium...and I like to see the sensibilities it takes to do what jon does...it's a little more raw thatn the album, and I love the writing, especially the words to Cockle shell.

[@hippyskin6490]

Great sounds😁😬

[@popnoisebish]

AMAZING......

[@vulcanicspice]

Amazing.

[@brucemorton245]

Glosss. Class.

[@christinemurray7032]

Beauty!

[@tdisen]

@Woyzeck Pilat It's a harmonium.

[@jaelsilk]

Egads I love his voice so much!!!

[@walt4670]

It's great. I love the way he can not just immediately arrive at a note but hold it long enough to milk every last bit of emotion out of it. It's really effective minimalism. The fact that this song is just a C chord and a G chord over and over is impressive :).

[@bridgeynet]

talent will out

[@optimusprimevil1646]

i'm re writing john taylor's month at sea as a skynet resistance song it's called "john connor's final siege" and so far i've got... "today john connor starts his final siege from a hole one ten miles east of skynet mainframe" and "and i'd rather be kyle reeeeece..." any help would be appreciated

[@aguungdh]

Didnt know this gem existed

[@davidgaian4789]

Precious!

[@novifilms]

Vocals sound amazing considering it's only a shotgun mic on him. Great job, Kevin.

[@jencurtis4627]

incomparable

[@black__bread]

this is why the made the word 'sublime'

[@지안-p6m]

good

[@sahandn9]

Jon Hopkins the Doppler effect!

[@OkInsanity]

Wow, unexpected for me, but great!

[@hanerun]

love

[@aimsyo1570]

Does anyone, ANYONE, have some lovely piano sheet music for this. An adaption of it even. Jon Hopkins, are you about mate? Can you help me out?

[@HyDeph0]

unplugged..

[@davidconuecar2580]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@steveg59]

Some people say that there arent any musicians nowadays......Hmmm

[@andytennant3829]

Just genius.....

[@georgemurray2901]

❤️

[@johnparke9210]

Fair doors neebur.

[@NickScott86]

@errosmusic Bubble looks like standard CAGED chords. And looking at Jon's hands, it looks like he's only using the white keys which means it's definitely A Minor (which is the relative Minor to C Major, which also uses all the white keys. I'm not a pianist, but I know that much.) Really it's very simple. Just get the chord changes and the fingerpicking pattern and you're set. Next you have to perfect the fragile Scottish brogue. :)

[@jamesnicoll8415]

Saw you live in Glasgow last summer. Any Scottish tour dates Kenny? 👍

[@nonatsu]

Meravellós