The Duke, Detroit return after a brief hiatus since the release of debut album Small Town Minded in 2015. Now relocated to London, the Scottish band are again working with dextrous producer Flooze to deliver this slightly more brooding sound.
Whilst still recognisably them, ‘True Romance‘ has a more introverted take on themselves. Early monsters like ‘Iconic‘ had an outward-looking and gleeful vibe, this latest release, whilst not quite being melancholic, definitely feels like the work of someone older. Which I guess they are, given the inevitability of time and all that.
Still a shiny way with synths and head-nodding beats, however, as well as a louche lounge-bar vocal and moody twang. It bears some resemblance to the Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner project, Electronic with its air of pop precision. Highly accomplished and stylish with a sadness behind its big-city, starstruck eyes.
‘True Romance’ is out now.
