What does it sound like?:
When Mark Lanegan, the voice of god, describes someone as “a musical genius” I pay attention. Duke has worked with him on many occasions, writing songs, playing guitar, rattling some drums, blowing some brass. He’s a genuine multi-instrumentalist. It turns out his voice is a bluesy growl that sounds as though it has crawled out of a swamp near New Orleans, not unlike Lanegan’s. Heavy Love was recorded in some studio spare time while the two of them made Black Pudding. As a result, Alain Johannes from Queens Of The New Stone Age produces while Lanegan mixes.
Heavy Love, as a whole, is an intense, atmospheric piece. The guitar shimmers and gleams, the rhythm section provides texture rather than drive and the lyrics add intrigue rather than clarity. There may be few actual tunes, no real riffs and no grooves, yet it is very pleasant on the ear. Duke’s voice is authoritative and engrossing, especially when counterpointed by a female (Jehnny Beth on the title track and Petra Phillipson on Disco Lights). There is an undercurrent of restrained anger.
The album evokes the outdoors; sometimes a stifling desert, at others a relentless downpour, a muggy fog or a shivering night. It is an otherworldly listen, the kind of album that has to be surrendered to. Once you are in its world, there are many pleasures to enjoy in this, a thoroughly modern blues LP.
What does it all *mean*?
The world is an amazing place. With his big beard, his voice and his moody guitar, Duke Garwood is convincingly deep South. However, this boy is from Kent.
Goes well with…
Darkness, Jack Daniels and top quality weed. Not that I’ve actually tried this combination. Under headphones, there are plenty of details to reverberate around your brain.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
A Friday night supper with Vulpes Vulpes, Remember those?
Duke Garwood – Heavy Love
It’s on heavy rotation here at The Cajun Brothel. Not entirely surprising given our love of Lanegan.
Another excellent choice Tiggs.
I’ve been enjoying this too over the past week. We’ve got tickets to see him do his thing at St Pancras Old Church in April, and I’m hoping for a special evening.
I’m seriously jealous. Make sure you report back with a Nights In.
So, Tiggs, instead of joining FB you’ve used all this downtime to write detailed and beautifully constructed record views? How many more do you have?
Incidentally, why did you stay away from FB? I hate the damn thing but in the end felt compelled to join in.
Thank you. I don’t have any up my sleeve but there are a couple more I plan to do.
Facebook is frowned upon by my employer! I was contemplating joining under my assumed name but time ticked by. Minibreakfast’s Beatles game demanded a lot of my attention. And here we are!
And just in case you think things changed in your absence…
Pink Floyd – dreadful, truly dreadful
Natalie Prass – oh, that grating voice!
Duke – ok, I suppose
And you’ve changed your nom de plume!
Ah, so THAT’S who it is!
Damn, my cunning switching round of the letters failed!
Great review – you have convinced me. I love the Black Pudding album so this sounds straight up my street. I have the Lanegan remixes album on order which also sounds interesting.
I’m sure it’s right up your street, Steve, especially since you love Black Pudding. Please report back.