Dutch Uncles

Cadenza

Memphis Industries

You could fill umpty pages with the provenance of Dutch Uncles song titles, which isn’t necessarily a good thing given how many newsagents have told Chimp that their customers “don’t read” since we first ventured out, shortly after the release of first DU LP, “Face In”.  So many geeks, so much time and nipping the ‘pretentious’ tag in the bud by naming a song after a beer, “Orval”, would be a better idea if it was one of their stronger efforts. Likewise the tease of naming a tune “Sting” when it’s definitely a bee Duncan is on about. Piano, triangle and the joint jolts of Duncan’s shirt and voice remain. What has changed, however, is a landscape now patrolled day and night by Everything Everything, complete with big, ugly security and scary dogs. Literate bordering on goofy pop? It’s sewn up, Gov – we’ve got it covered, thanks.

Has their thunder been stolen all in one go then? An emphatic No. As if Steve Reich and Pat Methany had elbowed their way into 10,000 Maniacs to potentially transcendent effect, there are also compelling glimpses of Associates, or that strange nineties band Subcircus...

Given that a Dutch uncle is no stranger to a dose of admonishment we feel justified in having a constructive dig in insisting that winsomely repeating “You know I’m a bird” (“Dolli”) and “always/only takes my breath”(“X-O”) does not a “Later with Jools” appearance guarantee... Highlights being “Dressage”, “Fragrant” and “The Ink” as well as the masterfully-paced, concluding “Zalo” – a Latvian name, so save yourself a search, fellow geeks – this album risks slipping through a lot of nets unless the boys grab more industry types, Gallagher-style, by the scruff of their necks. And that’s not going to happen.

Alex Griffiths