Duke Special - Oh Pioneer Album Review
Everything he’s done before has had an influence on this album and the sound reaches and clutches to that, dispersing itself throughout the album for perhaps the most commercial album so far in his career.
rating: 3
WebsiteFacebook Release date: 18th June*
When youve had an upbringing like Peter Wilson aka Duke Special, it doesnt really come as a surprise that he became a musician. Saying that, you cant really say he became a musician he already was one. Born into it, then. All of us love our grannys, dont we? Unless yours is a miserable witch who only gave you one mint imperial when you visited as a kid, I think its probably safe to say that most of us love our little grandmothers. Well, however cool you think yours is, Dukes takes some beating. If it wasnt for her, he wouldnt have got his first taste of music she taught him to play the piano as a young boy, giving him a hunger and desire to play and listen to music whenever he could. This led him to play piano for Brian Houston (a Belfast musician influenced by, amongst others, Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan) and this blessed Duke with a knack of winning over audiences and the desire to perform. This gave him the confidence to front bands, although none of them really made as big an impact as he was hoping for, and eventually, in 2002, he went solo.
And hes never looked back. Adopting a new name, Duke Special, which, lets be honest, is lightyears more grabbing than Peter Wilson, he went on to release the album, Adventures in Gramophone, which was nominated for the 2006 Choice Music Prize. Then, in 2007, he was nominated for the award again, with his second album, Songs from the Deep Forest. 07 was a pretty big year for the Duke as he was also nominated for three Meteor Music Awards: best Irish male, best newcomer and best album for Deep Forest. Hes released albums every year since 06 and each one has gathered momentum for the man who currently resides in Belfast and whos also playing at Camp Bestival this year. Each one has moved his career forward and has set the tone for the next release. This album is no different. The predecessor, Under The Dark Cloth, released last year, bleeds into this album like water softening soil and dribbles through the layers of this album until it reaches where Duke began. Everything hes done before has had an influence on this album and the sound reaches and clutches to that, dispersing itself throughout the album for perhaps the most commercial album so far in his career. Little Black Fish is a laid-back, ambient affair that twinkles and unwinds in its own, inimitable way. Dukes vocals are as smooth and as deep-bowelled as ever, hooking its way into your psyche as the music saunters by as if its got all the time in the world. Cinematically: the sun crouching behind the darkness as it seeps in, a middle-aged couple strolling along the greying beach, content and not in a rush for the moment to end. Lost Chord is perhaps the most prominent song here for Dukes trademark, accented voice. The delicate, warm piano and the pattering drumbeat add a feel of a live-session - in turn, creating a sense of an enclosed, warm atmosphere. The lyrics are a strong aspect to the track, too: theres a thorn that pricks and keeps me from my sleep justone line thatll stay with you. http://youtu.be/89SgpO7JAg0 Twice Around The Island ends the album and its a sombre, jaunty affair that bobs along on its sea of melancholic reminiscence while Duke caresses his way through the song as if hes crooning to his woman as theyre finally alone and dying for each other's touch. Well, I hope the technique worked, Duke. Someone has to get lucky around here. With Oh Pioneer, Duke Special keeps the train moving. If he keeps releasing albums like hes done for the last few years then hell reach his destination and therell be no reason for him to get back on the train to the last stop.