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- October 2007
- Rating: 10/10
Re-issue of 2006’s release, now with bonus disc of a live show recorded in Belfast.
Northen Irelands very own dreadlocked Peter Wilson aka Duke Specialget a second chance to boost this excellent offering. Lead off single Freewheelhad airplay on BBC Radio 2, and he was also featured sometime ago on Later… with Jools Holland.
This alternative musician, with a hobo-chic look, has a solid musical pedigree.He and his two sisters were taught piano by their piano teacher grandmother, singingtraditional Irish songs in churches and comunity centres. It took time to getrecognition after stints in bands 65dBA (later dBA), The Booley House, then adoptingBooley as a solo artist.
In 2002 he became Duke Special, building a formidable following on the livecircuit, to the extent he supported Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, The BeautifulSouth and The Divine Comedy.
Musically he delivers a very credible and diverse repertoire thats simply dazzling,and for a change, has become one of the few artists performing from the piano,using his prowess to bring warm and romantic melodies.
Theres agrand opening on Wake Up Scarlett a la Rufus Wainwright, whichhe also sounds like vocally. Big strings and gentle ivory tinkling are messedby the crescendos.
Radio-friendly pop songs such as jaunty Last Night I Nearly Died possessa touch of Vaudeville, whereas Slip Of A Girl has a ring of early 80s Billy Joel, sounding a deadringer for Joel himself. The mood changes for SomethingMight Happen, a power ballad that brings back his fondness for Vaudeville stylings.
Jewel in the crown has to be the beautiful ballad No Cover Up that hasplenty of swirling orchestration on the emotional high points. CD 1 has thenew single Our Love Goes Deeper Than This.
On the live CD, he runs riot with musical ambitions, starting with the pompand ceremony of Overture: a great way to open a gig. Then its down tobusiness on a classical tinged Brixton Leaves. Right from the off, hes on topof his game with a reassuring vocal delivery leading the sparkling orchestraon a musical theatre piece.
Of the many delights, a moving version Ballad OfA Broken Man turns out the tops. His singing and piano playing is sublime,again backed by a superb orchestra that bring the beauty to life.
Weblink:dukespecial.com
The full list of tracks included are :
Disc 1:
1. Wake Up Scarlett
2. Everybody Wants A Little Something
3. Brixton Leaves
4. Our Love Goes Deeper Than This
5. Freewheel
6. No Cover Up
7. Portrait
8. Last Night I Nearly Died
9. Ballad Of A Broken Man
10. Salvation Tambourine
11. Something Might Happen
12. Slip Of A Girl
13. This Could Be My Last Day
Disc 2:
2. Tracks from CD 1: 3, 2, 10, 7, 1, 6, 5, plus
Overture
Regarding The Moonlight In Eastbourne
I Let You Down.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.