Artist: Duke Special
Genre(s):
Rock
Indie
Discography:
Songs From The Deep Forest
Year: 2006
Tracks: 12
Adventures in Gramophone
Year: 2005
Tracks: 12
Your Vandal
Year:
Tracks: 7
Northern Ireland would look an unlikely location to consecrate birth to a vaudeville-obsessed rommany vocalist poet, just try telling that to Lisburn (approximate Belfast) native Peter Wilson, better known by his stage name Duke Special. The self-proclaimed creator of "tramp chicness" -- a mention both to his distinctive dress style and his outstandingly refined spin on traditional music student residence and music hall forms -- cuts a hitting figure onstage, often playacting lone with only his pianoforte and old, screechy gramophone for complement. When he does choose to perform with a full circle, the scene stern more intimately resemble a full of life kitchen than a pop concert, with egg beaters and cheese graters among the less traditional instruments on offer.Undermentioned a number of low profile stints with local bands in Swindon, England, and Belfast, Wilson began his solo life history proper in 2002, taking on the name Duke Special -- "Duke" a peculiarly popular leg name for male music hall performers and "Special" a concession to the "glam" aspect of his case. His first gear two EPs, 2002's Lucky Me and 2004's My Villain Heart, were combined in 2005 into Adventures in Gramophone, his first gear uncut release, and a third EP, Your Vandal, followed later that year. Special barb from local hero to nationwide cult favourite following his performance on the fourth season of RTÉ television's Former Voices in 2006. His two-song set was deemed sufficiently impressive to be elect above the likes of Rufus Wainwright, Trashcan Sinatras, and Bell X1 as the viewers' to the highest degree requested performance during the end-of-series clip evidence.Duke Special released his sec album, and his first-class honours degree album proper, Songs from the Deep Forest in May 2006 as a set of six 7" singles on Izumi Records. The same month, he signed a recording contract with V2 Music. A CD release of Songs from the Deep Forest followed in October, and a opulent edition, including a ten-track bouncy disc recorded with the Ulster Philharmonic Orchestra, was packaged for freeing in September 2007.
