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I’ve now got to talk about opening track Brothers & Sisters without using the word “anthemic” cos Time Out said that. And the bloody Guardian.
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I’ve now got to talk about opening track Brothers & Sisters without using the word “anthemic” cos Time Out said that. And the bloody Guardian.
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I’ve got the flu, so I’m in a bad mood and I’m not going to take any nonsense. OK?
Let’s start at the beginning, staunch traditionalist that I am. Title’s a bit long, don’t you think? I worry about stupid shit like this. When they came up with the name, did they honestly think that anyone would be arsed to say the name in it’s entirety? I’ve had to type the bloody thing. My apologies for inadvertently making you read it. It was never on my agenda.
Was it secretly their intention for everyone to refer to it as Bright Lights? Or TBLAWISHL? It’s all a little bit promiscuous, if you ask me. I know that’s not the right word, it’ll come to me. Don’t interrupt. I guess I should let it go. After all when was the last time anyone bought an album just because of it’s title, except for perhaps Buy This Record and I’ll Give you Thirty Quid by Flaccid Willy.
Yes, I should let it go.
One of the first things I notice is that singer, Jon Foulger, has such excellent pronunciation – his mother must be so proud. It’s a veritable lesson in elocution and enunciation. Who says the English education system is in tatters? Anyway it’s either a refreshing change or a bit namby-pamby, the choice is yours. It doesn’t scare me any, so I decide to carry on regardless.
I checked the website, and it has the predictable list of kudos from all corners of the press. Nearly everybody does it – obvious really. If you haven’t got a few complimentary quotes then you’ve probably either got quotes saying you’re shit, or even worse, no quotes at all. It’s not important, I just thought I’d mention it.
Wish I hadn’t. I’ve now got to talk about opening track Brothers & Sisters without using the word “anthemic” cos Time Out said that. And the bloody Guardian.
Where was I?
Oh yes. Brothers & Sisters – a great opener with it’s hint of praise, devotion and patriotism, one can almost imagine it being sung before a major sporting event. Or at a military funeral. (How did I do?) A festival rocker if ever there was one.
I like it, I cannot deny. It’s both worryingly and pleasantly like so many things we all know and love, Bowie, Blur, Pulp, Franz Ferdinand, the list goes on but I, for one, like this sort of natural progression. Charles Darwin may have known fuck all about shaving, or Grecian 2000, but he sure knew a thing or two about evolution. As me dear old Gran used to say.
Pretentious!! – I said it would come to me. Don’t interrupt.
The Slow Build is another cracking tune, Bowie all over it, don’t give a shit! It’s evocative and, of course, beautifully enunciated. Sorry to go on, but the pinnacle of pronunciation comes in the next track Animal. 999 out of 1000 bands would have defaulted to a “yeah, yeah” backing vocal. Not our Duels!! It’s “yes, yes” – I was half expecting a “please” at the end, top stuff.
I don’t think Duels are quite there. They haven’t quite found their own space. Don’t get me wrong, I like the album. Well written songs, tidy arrangements, a few great hooks. Listen to it, buy it, I wouldn’t advise against it, but at the moment I just get the feeling that you’d be as well listening to their influences. They’ve got all the right ingredients but not the recipe. They’ve got the sausages, bacon, eggs, fried bread, beans, mushrooms, toast and tea but they are still not quite making a full English Breakfast.
Something for the future.
Words: MONO