One of the wonders of the internet these days is that every once in a while you stumble on some music which once again affirms why you love it so much. Like finding a diamond in all the rough that is floating out there in cyberspace, it can be a wonderful experience. Dare Dukes Thugs and China Dolls is one of those diamonds.
Hailing from Savannah, Georgia Dare Dukes is a singer songwriter who chronicles the oddities of everyday life. This immediately sounds whimsical and in the wrong hands it very well could be. What sets Dare Dukes apart is the band that backs him. An ever-changing line-up of people contribute to a sound that in parts evokes the more eccentric side of REM (circa Out Of Time) but never knowingly imitates. A mixture of the usual instruments plus accordions, trombones and mandolins amongst others create an almost minimalistic sound which rather belies what you may believe would be created.
It is through repeated listens that the music starts to reveal hidden textures. Mariachi style brass steals the show whilst on the slower songs it is the mandolin that creates a whispering sound. All this is augmented by the vocals and in particular the lyrics. Dare Dukes lyrics focus on characters who are slightly odd or different. Imagine Rivers Cuomo fronting a redneck acoustic band or a countrified They Might Be Giants. It all seems a bit quirky at times but with a mix of fast and slow songs the album becomes much more cohesive.
Thugs and China Dolls has to be treated as a genuine contender for album of the year. It will make you smile, laugh and cry and really, what more could you ask from music? It will also be the starting point for the Mariachi style revolution which will take place in 2012…you heard it here first!
Available now through Bandcamp
Posted by Martyn Coppack
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