The result is an often joyously multi-hued meeting of minds, mixing the duo’s initial no-nonsense nods to The Troggs/Stooges with glitter-band swagger, splashes of psychedelia and the subconscious eruptions of Haines’ ingenious lyrics. The description on R.E.M.’s website – “Kinda poppy too” – also fits neatly, as opener The Pink Floyd Research Group imagines unwanted calls from the titular institute, over an arrangement that feels instinctive and richly layered simultaneously.

(Record Collector)

(…) and Going Down to the River … matches form and content very well, with Buck's psychedelic garage experimentalism making for a most satisfying counterpart to Haines' lyrics. It also helps that Buck, McCaughey, and Pitmon have spent enough time together that they've matured into a first-rate studio band, hitting their marks with easy authority and appearing to have plenty of fun doing it, and former Mott the Hoople keyboard man Morgan Fisher adds some lovely piano fills to the project. If Luke Haines is a cynic of the first order, he's smart, witty, and adds just enough humanity to make the medicine go down as he shakes his head at the abuses of 21st century culture and a variety of forms of commonplace madness. With Buck, he's making some of the most entertaining work of his long career, and Going Down To The River … To Blow My Mind works well enough that one hopes they'll change their minds about this being the end of their trilogy.

(All Music)

Before I Hit the Floor kicks off the album with an energetic start, led by the whirring guitars of Ryan Breslin and Dexter Baker, which instantly set the tone. The track symbolises an emotional breakdown, an overarching theme that threads throughout the record. Nathan Peers on drums makes a bold entrance, while Jamie Boyle’s vocals channel vulnerability into empowerment. As an opener, it not only grabs your attention but sets the emotional groundwork for what’s to come, highlighting that this is The K’s at their most honest and personal yet.

The album journey resumes in Breakdown In My Bedroom, where The K’s seem to succeed in creating the perfect contrast between an upbeat indie tune and the deeper message behind the lyrics. As the first single to be released off the album, it was a suitable introduction to the Pretty On The Internet era, showing fans what they can look forward to on the new album. (…)

Pretty On The Internet signifies a contrast in The K’s music, compared to their debut album. While still creating an indie vibe, it incorporates orchestral instruments, adding a unique touch. This album not only showcases The K’s musical versatility, but it also explores their meaningful lyricism and artistic evolution. 

Picking Up the Pieces carries a similar upbeat vibe to the opening track- Before I Hit the Floor. The single captures a powerful blend of pain and the process of moving on, making it a standout release that resonates with listeners.

(At The Barrier)

The resulting album is, predictably, a devastating listen. A seamless blend of its creators’ sensibilities, these eight tracks fuse Arnalds’ gentle pianos and crisp soundscapes with French’s poignant electronica and singular voice. It’s the remarkable textural synchronicity of these artistic polarities that gives the album its heart-clasping power. On “Signs,” one of A Dawning’s most soaring tracks (though still as gentle as a snowflake falling on the tip of your nose), beautiful vocals and intricate piano follow a heartbeat-like pulse, as if the two musicians’ souls are colliding. “west cork, 12 feb” takes a far different route to the same destination, abstracting French’s voice atop some of Arnalds’ most simple piano lines, dissipating into the ether like two souls heading in different directions. (…)

What’s perhaps most incredible about A Dawning is that, despite the circumstances of its creation, it never feels just plain sad. The emotions being explored here are so much richer, more complicated, and more transcendent than that. A top-to-bottom success and one of the most emotionally resonant albums you’ll hear this year, A Dawning will set your soul soaring.

(Flood Magazine)

Tired Eyes, Waking Hearts is a tight, immersive ride through ambient orchestral layers and folktronica beats, with the spotlight track ‘Capsize’ delivering a raw snapshot of emotional tug-of-war—think swelling strings and soft piano clashing with glitchy electronics and field recordings. The album’s got roots in the moody intensity of Explosions In the Sky and the soul-baring simplicity of José González, making it a perfect fit for fans of Sufjan Stevens or Ry X. It’s all about capturing that shift from chaos to calm, with every note meticulously placed to pull you into its world. (…)

Whether you’re a longtime follower or just diving in, this album’s a standout in the Message To Bears catalog, proof that Alexander’s still got plenty to say through his music.

(Indie Music)