The Duke Spirit Find Their Voice The Second Time Around
UK darlings look to America for deliverance.
The Duke Spirit
Neptune
Released on Nov 30, -0001
I love being proved wrong when it comes to bands who, by nature or style, I should love but don't. Which means I probably owe The Duke Spirit a round of beers, or at least an apologetic intercontinental phone call. Cuts Across The Land delivered everything the unforgiving critics said about it. Filthy guitars, sexy female moans, brash drum sounds and everything rock n' roll has the ability to do when done properly. I just refused delivery I guess, perhaps because I didn't believe them. After hearing Neptune, I can safely say that I'm a believer. Take me to the river and wash my doubtful sins away because The Duke Spirit has invaded my soul! Hallelujah!
Neptune was recorded in the California desert around the Joshua Tree area with Kyuss/QOTSA producer Chris Goss. The opening track, "I Do Believe," is a strange old-timey schoolhouse sing-along which sets you up for an album more fit for a biker bar. The first single, "The Step And The Walk," sings of the joy in the rain, yet slithers like a rattlesnake and feels like BRMC being hijacked by PJ Harvey's bicycle gang.
"My Sunken Treasure" is pure girl-group fun that demands The Shirelles doing back up vocals on it, and "You Really Wake Up The Love In Me" is a sure fire follow-up single. The element of water again takes on a noticeable role, especially with the invigorating sea shanty "This Ship Was Built To Last." The swell of horns and growl of front-woman Liela Moss leaves me happily motion sick.
Moss explains, "Quite unexpectedly, water seeped into alot of my phrases and titles, I feel like going to the desert was the only rightful place to take these images of submersion. Sea Gods and ships, I wanted to dry out in the heat of the sun and start anew."
Neptune is the sound of a band completely invigorated. Not just by their surroundings, nor by their song writing, but by their very own potential.
High Point
Low Point
Posted by Joe Roth on Feb 19, 2008 @ 12:00 am