DVDfever.co.uk - Charts, News and Reviews of Blu-rays, DVDs, Games, CDs, Hardware, Laserdiscs, Cinema Films & more
DVDfever.co.uk - Charts, News and Reviews of DVDs, Games, Hardware, Laserdiscs, Cinema Films & more

This Week's Highlights
The King's Speech
Thor 3D
Crysis 2
Music chart
analysis w/e 14.5.11
New Blu-ray &
DVDs out 9.5.11
David Tennant
@ DVDfever Youtube

Last updated
May 11 2011

Xbox Gamertag:
DVDfever co uk

Why films on TV
in their original
widescreen ratio
is good for you

News & Views
News Archive
Announcements
All About Us
Email Dom
Write 4 DVDfever
Competitions
Music Charts
Music Chart Archive
Games Chart Archive
Cinema Chart Archive
Cinema Releases
Cinema Reviews
Press Releases
TV Issues

Frank Sidebottom's World Wide Shed

R2 DVD Reviews
Blu-ray Reviews
HD-DVD Reviews
R1 DVD Reviews
R3-6 DVD Reviews
DVD List
Xbox 360 Reviews
CD Reviews
Audiobook Reviews
PS2 Reviews
PSP Reviews
Xbox Reviews
Gamecube Revs
GBA Reviews
PC Reviews
Hardware Revs
Concert Reviews
Video Reviews
Comedy Reviews
Book Reviews
Screenplay Reviews
Movie Downloads
Interviews
TV Shows
PSX Reviews
N64 Reviews
Dreamcast Revs
Laserdisc Revs
Short Stories
DVDs In Brief

Right To Reply
Why Widescreen?
DVD Links
Music Links
WS Video List
WS PAL LD List

Me and my
Aortic Valve!

Latest News ...... DVD Reviews ...... Blu-ray Reviews ...... Xbox 360 Reviews ...... PSP Reviews ...... CD Reviews

Elly Roberts reviews

Duke Special: Song From The Deep Forest – Special Edition LP

Distributed by
V2 Records

Cover

  • October 2007
  • Rating: 10/10


Re-issue of 2006's release, now with bonus disc of a live show recorded in Belfast.

Northen Ireland’s very own dreadlocked Peter Wilson aka Duke Special get a second chance to boost this excellent offering. Lead off single Freewheel had airplay on BBC Radio 2, and he was also featured sometime ago on Later... with Jools Holland.

This alternative musician, with a hobo-chic look, has a solid musical pedigree. He and his two sisters were taught piano by their piano teacher grandmother, singing traditional Irish songs in churches and comunity centres. It took time to get recognition after stints in bands 65dBA (later dBA), The Booley House, then adopting Booley as a solo artist.

In 2002 he became Duke Special, building a formidable following on the live circuit, to the extent he supported Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, The Beautiful South and The Divine Comedy.


Musically he delivers a very credible and diverse repertoire that’s simply dazzling, and for a change, has become one of the few artists performing from the piano, using his prowess to bring warm and romantic melodies.

There’s agrand opening on Wake Up Scarlett a la Rufus Wainwright, which he also sounds like vocally. Big strings and gentle ivory tinkling are messed by the crescendos.

Radio-friendly pop songs such as jaunty Last Night I Nearly Died possess a touch of Vaudeville, whereas Slip Of A Girl has a ring of early ‘80s Billy Joel, sounding a deadringer for Joel himself. The mood changes for Something Might Happen, a power ballad that brings back his fondness for Vaudeville stylings.


Jewel in the crown has to be the beautiful ballad No Cover Up that has plenty of swirling orchestration on the emotional high points. CD 1 has the new single Our Love Goes Deeper Than This.

On the live CD, he runs riot with musical ambitions, starting with the pomp and ceremony of Overture: a great way to open a gig. Then it’s down to business on a classical tinged Brixton Leaves. Right from the off, he’s on top of his game with a reassuring vocal delivery leading the sparkling orchestra on a musical theatre piece.

Of the many delights, a moving version Ballad Of A Broken Man turns out the tops. His singing and piano playing is sublime, again backed by a superb orchestra that bring the beauty to life.

Weblink: dukespecial.com


The full list of tracks included are :

Disc 1:

1. Wake Up Scarlett
2. Everybody Wants A Little Something
3. Brixton Leaves
4. Our Love Goes Deeper Than This
5. Freewheel
6. No Cover Up
7. Portrait
8. Last Night I Nearly Died
9. Ballad Of A Broken Man
10. Salvation Tambourine
11. Something Might Happen
12. Slip Of A Girl
13. This Could Be My Last Day

Disc 2:

2. Tracks – from CD 1: 3, 2, 10, 7, 1, 6, 5, plus
Overture
Regarding The Moonlight In Eastbourne
I Let You Down.

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

[Up to the top of this page]

DVDfever.co.uk - Est. February 25th 2000

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

PC games reviewed by the editor are on:

  • Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
  • Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
  • Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
  • Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
  • Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
  • Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP