Filthy Dukes // Nonsense In The Dark
Filthy Dukes - Nonsense In The Dark
When the information given about this, the debut album from London electro outfit Filthy Dukes says that the album was made on the very mixing desk of Krautrock producer Conny Plank that was famously used to make the inimitable Kraftwerk sound, you expect something electronically progressive. On initial listen, what I actually detect is that although they’ve worked from the desk of Kraftwerk, they also seem to have sipped from the same coffee cup as video pioneers of the eighties, A-Ha, shared a bed with Justice and used the old bathwater of Spank Rock. We are in danger of being over saturated with vocal-electro groups, so this melee of influences may seem like a bit of re-hash, but there are some real gems on this album. Guest vocalists Samuel Dust (Late of the Pier) and Orlando Weeks (The Maccabees) provide weight to the record, with title track, Nonsense in the Dark featuring Mr. Weeks being the standout track – confidently slow-paced and simply arranged, I hope it is a sound they develop. Tupac Robot Club Rock is a complete contrast with fierce hip hop vocals mixed with a sound not unfamiliar to the products of Daft Punk, Justice and the like and has received big plaudits from industry figures on the radio and in the press. Filthy Dukes may improve upon their predecessors if they concentrate on their strong points – the thoughtful electronic laments – and steer away from some of the fillers.
7/10 Emu Robot
