Duke Special - Songs From The Deep Forest / Orchestral Movements In Belfast

With so many flaunting Duke Special as their next big thing over the last few years, it's hardly surprising that those down V2 way ordered a re-release of his Songs From The Deep Forest LP. Predictably completed by a bonus track featuring Neil Hannon and Romeo Stoddard, not to mention the ubiquitous live recording, Duke somehow manages to provide a twist to this old money-spinner as the live disc sees him fronting the 63-piece Ulster Orchestra. The Overture, an entire orchestral medley of …Deep Forest pieced together with Teddy Bears' Picnic, is so whimsical it almost merits the fee alone. From there on, the usual piano chords and marching beats take over, with the orchestra left to fill the breakdowns. At times, the mixture of orchestral and pop is a spectacular success; at others, the orchestra disappears all too easily. Still, this is a more worthy justification for a re-release than is often seen. [Neil Ferguson]