Customer Reviews

Songs from the Deep Forest

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Duke Special is an Irish Singer-Songwriter with a difference. He comes with an almost Vaudaville-like flavour to song structure..Songs like 'Last Night I Almost Died' are pure piano-pop, whilst 'Portrait', 'Slip of a Girl' and 'Brixton Leaves' are beautiful carnival-like airs of melancholy..Instruments used include pots and pans and everything but the kitchen sink, which add to it's uniqueness and rich flavour...But the songs are great and the playing impeccable...If you are open-minded and love a 'good song'...buy this album...Enjoy

My daughter brought this album back after a stint in N. Ireland where she had an opportunity to see Duke play live in Belfast. I heard the music going on in the background of our home for a couple months and decided to give it a listen myself. A year later or so later Duke Special is at the top of my playlist and not going away any time soon.

Pigeon-holing Duke is a tough task. Take one part punk, a shot of vaudeville, a dram or two of pop, blend together with lush lyrics and the Belfast Symphony, top with some scary dreads and you start to get the idea.

If you'd like something edgy, yet very listenable, something rich, yet outside the box and won't get old in a week (or a month), buy this album. Songs from the Deep Forest

I am have only very recently discovered Duke Special, but I love his distinctive sound and beautiful voice. If you want something different, and far better, than what you are likely to hear on most radio stations, give this one a go.

I bought this album on the back of the wonderful track Freewheel which is quite excellent. The danger with this strategem is that you can be disapointed if you expect another 9 "Freewheels" on the album. What I got was a selection of ragtime songs, which is not a favourite genre of mine. I only listened to the album twice, so these impressions are just my initial ones, it reminded me in part of early Split Enz, but as with all albums I dont initially like, I will spin it every 6 months or so and see if it will grow on me. The world would be a very dull place if we all liked the same things, wouldnt it now?

Originally saw Duke Special on the Later with Jools Holland show from the BBC. His beautiful performance of No Cover Up caught my attention and made me realize I must have this CD. From the first listening, I can honestly say there is not one bad song. Great pop craftsmanship with interesting instrument choices. Now he needs to get USA distribution with a tour and I am sure he will enjoy much success here. Buy This! You will not be dissapointed.