Marmaduke Duke - Duke Pandemonium (Album Review)

For those not quite clued up about Maramduke Duke, it is the musical brain child of two friends both in well established Scottish rock outfits: JP Reid of Sucioperro and Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro. After years of hanging out together playing on the playstation, the duo discovered a triology of short stories that was brought to them by a friend of theres, all revolving around characted called 'The Duke'. Intridgued by these twisted and elaborate tales, the boys decided to put down their controllers and start putting these tales to music. Their first offering 'The Magnifient Duke' was a brutal affair, with shuddering guitars and pained yelps; it was clear that this was a Biffy inspired sound. But, also on the record there were gentle acoustic numbers as well as interludes that simply involved fuzzed up bass lines and fat synth noises, which provoked the thought that Marmaduke Duke had plently more up their sleeves....And boy, were we right.
Album number two 'Duke Pandemonium', is exactly what it says it is; Pandemonium. From the sparse and dark electro tones of opener 'Heartburn', you know that this going to be quite an intense yet purely bizarre affair. And then we realise what this album is all about; big, daft, electronically infused disco music; tracks like 'Everybody Dance' and 'Je Suis Un Funky Homme', are the kind of songs that will take you away to some crazy, funky land. This is an album all about escapsim, sonically and musically its just totally mental, but thats what makes it so delightful charming and powerful; tracks like the 7 mintue epic 'Pandemonium' and the drum 'n' bass vibes of 'Music Show' are the best examples of this. Although at times this record does have some really great, straight up pop moments, such as blissed out electro stylings of 'Kid Gloves', the foot stomping 'Silhouettes' and the short yet sweet disco vibes of recent single 'Rubber Lover'. I really don't know the best way to describe this album, Its an album that has to be heard to be believed, but if you like your music ridiculously up beat, insanely catchy and somewhat out there, this is for you! I think the best way to end this review is with a pun; FUNKING BRILLIANT!

Rating: 9/10
Download: Everybody Dance, Rubber Lover, Je Suis Un Funky Homme, Skin The Mofo Alive. Fuck it, its only 34 minutes long, download the whole thing!