One listen to Oh Pioneer should be
enough to convince you just how special Peter Wilson is. Right from the
start the beautifully written album opener, Stargazers of the World Unite (A
Love Song for Astronomers) indicates with a somewhat delicate subtlety,
the gold plated songs and silver topped music in store from this latest studio
album. The introductory synths combine perfectly with layered piano underneath
those unique vocals fully engaging the ears while the mind is left to unpeel
the myriad layers of meaning. The looping chorus of, ‘How am I gonna get myself to
heaven?’ with answers such as, ‘Cut the ropes that keep us tethered,’ combined
with the building melody, bury themselves deep within where they will remain
resting long after the album has finished playing.
Little Black Fish offers up a thrill ride I’m not sure
is quite white knuckle but it tries hard to get there and certainly doesn’t
disappoint. Thoughtful and melancholic lyrics give the feeling of questioning
life, the universe and everything alongside the use of a hefty mix of musical
styles. The diverse underlying tones build up to a crescendo that all of a
sudden begins to settle into a quieter contemplation.
Duke reminds me a little of the US singer songwriter John Grant (who I was fortunate enough to catch at last year’s BeautifulDays festival) in the way he demonstrates such raw talents that are nevertheless passed through a huge musical car wash complete with all those big fluffy rollers, the end result sounding so polished and near perfect it should be a crime that they aren’t more well-known.
The stakes are raised tenfold by the
time Snakes
in the Grass makes its appearance. If songs could talk this one would
scream at you demanding your full attention simply because its grandeur
commands it! It begins like a futuristic nursery rhyme might do but before long
the first booming operatic interjection of ‘Wayward Child’ packs such a punch
make sure you’re holding on to something if you aren’t sitting down or you
might be blown to Timbuktu by its gale force strength. Reminiscent of Queen’s
Bohemian
Rhapsody, while it was never going to get anywhere near as epic as that
anthem this honestly doesn’t feel in any way an underachievement.
Overall this album is a tour de force
of diverse musical arrangement but whereby many out there in Popworld today
might use this strength to divert attention away from the lack of quality of
their lyrics, Peter lines up thoughtful, contemplative and reflective
songs of the highest calibre, one after another.
The lyrics for Condition reveal just how
delicate Peter can get. Appearing first as somewhat oddly written it
exemplifies how deceptive appearances often are. The clever yin-yang nature of
its message roots you to the spot. Who hasn’t experienced the cavalcade of
completely polar opposite emotions about the self? This is why it works so well
and while it remains one of the quieter tracks it is one of the most profound
in terms of scope. The concluding minute and a half pulls it all together so
tightly there’s no danger of the perfection escaping. Hearing it for just the
second time, the profundity of this track almost knocked me over even with its
much softer gentler approach. This song alone for me cements the Special[ness]
of this Duke.
The opening of Lost Chord is how I
imagine Icelandic masters Sigur Ros may sound if they ever leant
more towards indie-synth pop however the song swiftly makes a giant leap back
to familiar Duke territory. How I Learned to Love the Sun acts
as a somersaulting acrobatic exercise for Peter’s wide ranging vocal abilities.
Although immediate predecessor, Under
the Dark Cloth, came as the result of a special project with songs
based on an exhibit of photographs, in complete contrast Oh Pioneer is a deeply
personal adventure revealing much more of the artist’s personality. Music fans
should appreciate there is a talent out there producing outstanding music that
not only makes one think a little harder but who can layer it with such an
eclectic mix of diverse musical sounds, electronic and acoustic alike. For
someone with such a prolific output of work, this being his tenth album
overall, if it were a cloud it would result in a torrential downpour flooding
the world with its quality.
Perhaps what is most important is that
in the current music market, Oh Pioneer offers something that
sounds original and isn’t an attempt for the artist to tick the boxes that will
afford him fame and fortune. What remains clear is Duke Special is in this
for the outlet music affords him in expressing his creativity and that is
special all on its own.
Much more electronic and synth sounding
than predecessor I Never Thought This Day Would Come and less theatrical (but
certainly no less dramatic) than Under the dark Cloth, it
would be interesting to see how this particular material translates to a live
show. From what I’ve heard so far I don’t have a shadow of a doubt he would
pull it off in true style.
Irony can truly be a bitch sometimes
and with Duke Special putting in an appearance at Beautiful Days festival
this year it saddens me further I won’t be in attendance. This is an artist I
absolutely most certainly and definitely want to see so my eyes are peeled and
ears are open for future dates.
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