Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

His style has been described as vaudeville pop and who am I to disagree? It does seem that Duke Special (known to his mum as Peter Wilson) has settled on his distinctive style and the latest release only consolidates the excellence of his previous release 'Songs From The Deep Forrest'. Certainly he pours his pop sensibilities into creating catchy melodies, interesting arrangements and his own unmistakable vibe. He's like a British Sufjan Stevens in that respect and this album is packed with interesting moments from the bittersweet opener "Mockingbird Wish Me Luck" to the '40s tea dance of a title track and the Van Morrison channelled "Let Me Go (Please, Please, Please)". Ultimately Duke Special continues to make music that is moving and interesting. Overall, this feels a little downbeat compared to previous releases and yet it has little bursts of energy like on "Flesh And Blood Dance" that help to keep this from sinking below the surface of melancholy.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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