Album review

Duels

The Barbarians Move In

added: 5 May 2008 // release date: 28 Apr 2008 // label: This Is Fake DIY Records
reviewer: Max G

Duels are a Leeds based five-piece indie outfit, three of which are family members. They debuted in 2006 and have since been likened to Pulp, Bowie, The Automatic, Arcade Fire. This, their second album has been described as a 'dramatic sinister pop album from the masters of the genre’. On first listen, I couldn’t decide which of the aforementioned boxes to put them into, which I figure to be a complement. However, the album did catch my attention enough to demand a second listen.

The general mood is dark and brooding, mingled with some uplifting synth and vocal melodies, and occasional ballsy guitar. 'Regeneration’ is certainly a worthy single, but it is in the moments of near haunting creativity that ebb and flow, underpining this album with a growing maturity and a luring curiosity, that make listening to this worthwhile. It does have it’s weaker moments, but tracks like the swaggering 'Wolvesland’ or the enticing 'The First Time/The Last Time’ - to pick just two out of the hat – are what showcase Duels’ budding song writing abilities.

Nothing here is ground breaking in its’ originality. However, Duels do sound distinctive and have produced a second album of depth and emotion that is well worth investigating. 
Hopefully, this bodes well for the future.

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