Music can be a funny thing. You can go years not knowing that a song you heard way back happens to be the same band that you are currently digging. For me, the track was “Lassoo” off 2008’s “Neptune”. I probably heard it at some party held by someone more musically inclined than me at the time. Fast forward to the November 2011 release of “Bruiser”. I’m listening to this fantastic new offering from a band I’m having trouble placing. The sound is strangely familiar, but the two or three brain cells I might still have left just can’t put two and two together. At some point it finally clicked. It just goes to show how sometimes, new music can truly be the biggest “word of mouth” commodity out there.
Chances are, you probably have heard of The Duke Spirit. Chances are also pretty good that you might have seen them at Coachella or any number of other festivals in the last few years. On the other hand, it’s possible you have no idea who the hell I’m talking about. No harm, no foul. Meet: The Duke Spirit.
Based in London, these guys have unfortunately flown under the radar in most of America. Compound this with a folding label early on, and it’s easy to why they haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. Make no mistake, they will be heard. “Bruiser” is a musical endeavour that is meant to be embarked upon by listeners. Yes, their sound is diverse, but it isn’t disconnected. In fact, the farthest from it. Their musical contrasts work together to form a rich musical tapestry. This album is to be taken in as a whole.
There isn’t one bad track. Sure, there are stand-outs – “Bodies” is one of my personal favorites because of its stylistic push and pull. Appearing almost as a “Post”-era Björk B-side, or a track left off A Camp’s first album. Their current single “Don’t Wait” is a little more reserved than most of the tracks, giving listeners a refreshing change of pace. Other offerings like “Surrender” are more straight ahead, but equally enjoyable. Leila Moss’s vocals are piercing, a memorable complement to the edgy undertone that makes up their core sound.
Drawing parallels from artists such as The Kills and Metric, The Duke Spirit are poised for success. If anyone has a good shot at breaking into the American market, it’s these guys. 2011 saw them supporting White Lies, and playing energetic sets at both Leeds and SXSW. Touring for 2012 will kick off in March, starting with a headlining UK leg, and hopefully will gravitate them closer to the USA as the weather starts to play nice. Head over to The Duke Spirit’s Soundcloud to stream six tracks off “Bruiser”, including the new single “Don’t Wait”.
Connect with The Duke Spirit – Facebook | Twitter | Website | Soundcloud
