The Dutchess & The Duke
She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke
Hardly Art
Lately it seems that many new albums leave me feeling detached. There's little familiarity and I can't put my heart into it. So, to try and counteract this I've been turning to some more uncommon material. Garage folk; never heard of it. In fact I might be pulling the name out of thin air, but it is a fitting concept for this new find, The Dutchess & The Duke. Hardly Art, an off-shoot of Sub Pop from Seattle, and home of Arthur and Yu, a much loved release from last year, has brought forth this band in the raw. The music falls between a folksier Velvet Underground and a mellower version of The Black Lips. They make songs you want to sing a long to, and not care how hokey you may look doing it. Even with their stripped down, dual Boy/girl harmony and mainly acoustic set up, there is, just under the surface, a great swell of blusey garage rock pushing and straining to be heard. The first track, "Reservoir Park" caught me off guard, with its dark lyrics darted with hand claps and tambourines. What a bizarre mix, and yet so aurally satisfying. "Out of Time", "Strangers" and "Back to Me" capture that 60's Dylan-era twangy guitar, with howling voices reminiscent of the Mamas and the Papas. The Dutchess & The Duke know how to make simplicity 'full' sounding. Even with their starkest songs ("Mary"), there is a warmth that enriches every part. "She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke" is an overall easy listen. It doesn't warrant a breakdown of beats or samples, it just allows you to sit back and enjoy. I'd recommend "Reservoir Park", "Back to Me", and "I Am Just A Ghost".
-Elana Rintala
(Looking for something similar? Try these bands: Compulsive Gamblers, The Black Lips, and Arthur and Yu.)
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