Duke Special
Album: Oh Pioneer
Label: Adventures In Gramophone
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.dukespecial.com/

One listen to Oh Pioneer should be enough to convince you just how special Peter Wilson is. Right from the start the beautifully written album opener, Stargazers of the World Unite (A Love Song for Astronomers) indicates with a somewhat delicate subtlety, the gold plated songs and silver topped music in store from this latest studio album. The introductory synths combine perfectly with layered piano underneath those unique vocals fully engaging the ears while the mind is left to unpeel the myriad layers of meaning. The looping chorus of, 'How am I gonna get myself to heaven?' combined with the building melody, bury themselves deep within where they will remain resting long after the album has finished playing.

The stakes are raised tenfold by the time Snakes in the Grass makes its appearance. If songs could talk this one would scream at you demanding your full attention simply because its grandeur commands it! It begins like a futuristic nursery rhyme might do but before long the first booming operatic interjection of 'Wayward Child' packs such a punch make sure you're holding on to something if you aren't sitting down or you might be blown to Timbuktu by its gale force strength. Reminiscent of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, while it was never going to get anywhere near as epic as that anthem this honestly doesn't feel in any way an underachievement.

Overall this album is a tour de force of diverse musical arrangement but whereby many out there in Popworld today might use this strength to divert attention away from the lack of quality of their lyrics, Peter Wilson lines up thoughtful, contemplative and reflective songs of the highest calibre, one after another.

The lyrics for Condition reveal just how delicate Peter can get. Appearing first as somewhat oddly written it exemplifies how deceptive appearances often are. The clever yin-yang nature of its message roots you to the spot. Who hasn't experienced the cavalcade of completely polar opposite emotions about the self? This is why it works so well and while it remains one of the quieter tracks it is one of the most profound in terms of scope. The concluding minute and a half pulls it all together so tightly there's no danger of the perfection escaping.

Although immediate predecessor, Under the Dark Cloth, came as the result of a special project with songs based on an exhibit of photographs, in complete contrast Oh Pioneer is a deeply personal adventure revealing much more of the artist's personality. Music fans should appreciate there is a talent out there producing outstanding music that not only makes one think a little harder but who can layer it with such an eclectic mix of diverse musical sounds, electronic and acoustic alike. For someone with such a prolific output of work, this being his tenth album overall, if it were a cloud it would result in a torrential downpour flooding the world with its quality.

Perhaps what is most important is that in the current music market, Oh Pioneer offers something that sounds original and isn't an attempt for the artist to tick the boxes that will afford him fame and fortune. What remains clear is Duke Special is in this for the outlet music affords him in expressing his creativity and that is special all on its own.

Rob Powell