The Duke Spirit 'Cuts Across The Land' album

"Liela (Moss) is a sharking,shimmying, sashaying lightning rod of passion, wielding the tambourine like a shamanistic totem that will whip her somber cool foot soldiers onto glory." NME

After a smattering of excited early press, The Duke Spirit are finally ready to release their debut album State-side. The London-based quintet have already made something of an impact in the US, seemingly without too much effort at all. One impressive CMJ performance in fall 2004. One stunning SXSW show in spring 2005. The result: a slew of fevered media coverage and enough interest to make Cuts Across The Land one of the most anticipated debuts of 06. From just those two early shows Spin were inspired to include them in their Break Out new band section, describing their sweaty mix of fuzzy riffs, smokey blues, and the band's own brand of pop-infused soul that draws on the Jesus and Mary Chain and Spiritualized. Anthem magazine were spurred to claim that "The Duke Spirit bring the soul back to Rock n Roll", V magazine waxed lyrical about their "smart, soulful, bullshit-free rock and roll music" going on to say that front woman and future superstar Liela Moss is "a pixieish blonde with a power ful howl, think a young Patti Smith or a less operatic PJ Harvey."

It's true. Lead singer /lyricist Liela Moss is an enigmatic Banshee. The band s fuzz-happy, teeth-clenching guitars, powerful drum cascades and brilliant basslines build relentless tracks that are drenched in subtleties. For this band, it's all about more sustain, less staccato. More grit, less sheen. If we re in the midst of a British Invasion, The Duke Spirit could care less. They're a world away from those dudes in designer suits.

Recorded with renowned producers Flood and Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), Cuts Across the Land runs the gamut of snarling rock n roll masterpieces to sweetly fuzzy and shimmering melancholic melodies. A rock band with all the tempestuous lyrical smarts of Blondie and the Velvet Underground as well as the gutsy blues and hypnotic stage charisma of a Let It Bleed era Rolling Stones, The Duke Spirit are a much needed shot of adrenalin. If you're compelled to see them in action (and we know you will be) check out their films section on www.dukespirit.com where the videos for "Lion Rip", "Cuts Across The Land", "Love Is An Unfamiliar Name" and "Dark Is Light Enough" go someway to conveying their live energy and excitement.

Listen up and get in line. These guys are going to be making their glorious racket all across the land this spring.

The Duke Spirit are: Liela Moss (vocals), Luke Ford (guitar), Dan Higgins (guitar), Toby Butler (bass) and Olly Betts (drums).

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The Duke Spirit - Cuts Across The Land