Songs From the Deep Forest

Posted on October 31, 2006 by Contributor

Artist: Duke Special
Author: Scott Edgar

DUKE SPECIAL

SONGS FROM THE DEEP FOREST

V2 RECORDS

Already one of the most talked about albums of the year" Duke Special's 'Songs From The Deep Forest' has finally been released to the public on CD and download. The selection of songs will not be surprising to the thousands of fans old and new who have been attracted to the music of the dreadlocked songster over the last number of years and in particular through the latest support slots with The Beautiful South and The Divine Comedy. 'Wake Up Scarlet' has one of the most powerful intros to any Duke Special song and has often opened up one of the many memorable live sets and so it is no surprise when those familiar cymbal crashes and semi"orchestral piano chords kick in at the start of the album.

These songs have been hyped up and talked about for many months and can be recited word for word by many people the length and breadth of Ireland. The stories of the songs are familiar not just because of the number of times we've been exposed to them but because they touch a little part within each of us. Songs of love" struggles through faith" pining for those who are far away and the fragility of humanity are what people like to hear. We need to know that our music heroes are just as fallible as we are. There is no celebrity bullshit on here. In fact songwriter Peter Wilson alludes to this in his attack on celebrity and fame 'Everybody Wants A Little Something'.

The real beauty of this album lies in how many varying genres and styles caress and collide together within the twelve tracks" ranging from the marching band pomp of 'Salvation Tambourine' through to the ragtime bluesy piano of 'Portrait'. Current single 'Last Night I Nearly Died' doesn't even stand out in particular as every song on the album is of such a high caliber.

Duke Special is at his best when alone behind the piano exposing his heart and soul in beautiful emotion"laden ballads. Everything Peter Wilson stands for and believes in can be traced to an extent in the vulnerable final track of the album entitled 'This Could Be My Last Day'. As long as it isn't his last day" this will not be his last great collection of songs.

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