Bragging Rights

The Bard of Barking praises Duke Special in the New York Times

Celebrity endorsements are a double-edged sword - for every leg-up from Brad Pitt, who went through a period of telling anyone who would listen how amazing Sigur Rós are, there’s noted tastemaker David Cameron professing his undying love for The Smiths.

Well, Duke Special seems to have come up roses. In Sunday’s New York Times, legendary troubadour and leftie agitator Billy Bragg enthused about the wearer of Belfast’s most dubious barnet in an article entitled ‘Guitar Licks That Resonate and Lyrics That Linger’. Alongside The Hold Steady and Nick Cave’s Grinderman, he singles out the Duke for special praise, comparing him to Rufus Wainwright.

“He’s a very interesting-looking guy,” says Bragg. “He’s got dreadlocks, wears eye makeup and a kind of old-style army uniform — slightly Sgt. Pepper — and he has a bit of an Ulster brogue. ‘Songs From the Deep Forest’ is a lovely album. Americans might refer to his music as vaudevillian; we would say it’s got a musical twist.

“He writes beautiful songs, mostly love songs, which he sings in a plaintive voice. He’s a bit like an Irish Rufus Wainwright; he’s got that sort of vibe. He has that sense of drama, except he’s not quite as fey as Rufus, he’s a little bit more up close and personal. Being a songwriter, I get sucked into the lyrics first. The song ‘Portrait’ makes my son and me want to hoof around the kitchen, Gene Kelly style.”

All very impressive stuff, only slightly tainted by the fact Bragg goes on to describe Scots annoyances The View as “really great”. Ah well, you can’t have everything.

Issue #51 - I Told You This Would Be A Good Issue

Featuring Biffy Clyro, Of Montreal, Duke Special, Frightened Rabbit, Cold War Kids, Jay Reatard, Pat Mills, and more.