The Duke Spirit: Neptune

Label: Shangri-La Music

The spa town of Cheltenham in South West England does not seem like the ideal breeding ground for a garage-blues band, but after countless label troubles and the release of several EPs, The Duke Spirit have finally released their first long player, Neptune, produced by heavy rock maestro Chris Goss (founder of the Masters of Reality). On the ballad “Dog Roses” singer/keyboardist Liela Moss displays the full range of her powerful and sometimes androgynous voice, while the catchy “Lassoo” mixes indie rock with an uplifting chorus accompanied by a soulful horn section. The mixture of discordant guitars a la Sonic Youth, inspired songwriting, and a subtle pop sensibility make for a solid garage rock album that brings to mind the best moments of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Detroit Cobras.
(Morgane)