For anyone who reads FemaleFirst regularly, you’ll know I have a bit of thing for Scottish bands (mainly Biffy Clyro) at the moment, so when Marmaduke Duke’s latest album landed on my desk, I couldn’t wait to crack it open.

Marmaduke Duke - Duke Pandemonium

Marmaduke Duke - Duke Pandemonium

Delivered by the enigmatic Atmosphere and The Dragon, this is the second offering from their Marmaduke Duke trilogy of albums, and it truly doesn’t disappoint anyone who has an appreciation for honest and individual music.

It’s driving me crazy how Radio One play the same songs over and over again, but when you hear the debut single, Rubber Lover getting shedloads of airplay, it finally makes the millionth play of Flo Rida or Lady Gaga worthwhile!

Kicking off with Heartburn, the pair (Simon Neil and JP Reid) don’t hold back as they let their bizarre take on music shine though with a sound you just won’t find anywhere else on the shelves of your local HMV.

Everybody Dance is your regular summertime anthem that is pretty much guaranteed to have you cracking open that two litre bottle of cherry Lambrini in no time, whilst the brief Silhouettes is probably better suited for vodka shots, but I mean, don’t get me wrong, just because it’s short and sweet, doesn’t make it rubbish… obviously you can only apply that claim to music though, so don’t get any ideas boys.

Marmaduke Duke - Duke Pandemonium

I just love the opening riff to the seven minute Pandemonium, but I’m ashamed to say I had to skip at bit when we got to 3.50 min because this high-pitched sequel made me feel like my ears were going to fall off… and if it does that to me, I hate to think what would happen if I played it within 50ft of a dog. Not good.

Kids Gloves and Rubber Lover have to be the standout tracks for me, with the former having a dark electronica feel to it, making it the most sexual of all the tracks, whilst Rubber Lover is probably the orgasmic conclusion with it’s infectious pop hooks and safe sex title.

Je Suis Un Funky Homme is a little swish-tastic though, it has a cracking bass line that the Mighty Boosh’s Howard Moon would go crazy for; in fact, if you took all the songs from that show, shoved them in a giant bowl and mixed with a wooden spoon, this would probably be what you ended up pouring out.

The closer, Skin The Mofo isn’t exactly the most upbeat of all the lyrics, but then again, cannibal craziness from these two isn’t surprising in the slightest, not that I think their into eating people or murder obviously; but with the steel drums providing a weird background to the song before it ends in a barrage of laughter, I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about Simon Neil ripping your skin off… but if it was clothes… well, that’s another story.

Rating: 4/5

Skip To: Je Suis Un Funky Homme

Find out what happened when we caught up with Marmaduke Duke here.

Read the single review for Kids Gloves

FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison