Dukes of Windsor - Minus (2008)

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After enlisting the help of esteemed Swedish producers Pelle Henriccson and Eskil Lövström, Melbourne quintet Dukes of Windsor have returned to our shores with their sophomore album "Minus" in hand.

Aptly named it seems, as the lads had to withstand below-zero temperatures of the Nordic winter to work in the Tonteknik Studios, a reformed lunatic asylum no less.

With this second effort the Dukes of Windsor are out to forge a name for themselves, as it was the handy work of TV Rock's remix of their track The Others two years earlier that earned them overnight recognition.

While this albums release was intended to closely follow the debut of lead single It’s A War in May, the boys held off for several months to "let it build up for a while".

So the question now is : was it worth the wait?

"Minus" kicks off on the right note, so to speak. Opener to the album No Disguise is haunting in both its lyrical imagery of destitution and desolation and high-pitched vocal histrionics. Weaving employs his earlier operatic training to dramatically deliver verse and chorus to the listener.

Second up, the radio-friendly Evil Woman is evidence of the pop sensibility inherent in this album. The edgy disco feel is a favourable mix of dancey drumbeats and simplistic guitar riffs.

The Dukes combined with Henriccson and Lövström for the writing of Runaway, so one would presume this would have to be the stand out number for "Minus". Aside from the funk heavy bass, I found it to be rather bland both musically and vocally. 

It's an under-the-radar track that is far too commercial for my liking.

Just as well the boys reassert their strength with the anthemic lead single It's a War, follow up to their over-popularised The Others. This one is eerily reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, of "a boot stomping on a human face – forever".

The military-like march is juxtaposed with Weaver's confronting lyrics and monotonous verses. It seems like the Dukes are building up to what could possibly be a powerful album.

Sadly, it's the contrary - as this is where "Minus" reaches its full potential.

Land of Strangers and Snowlights are more down-tempo numbers, diverging from the Dukes' characteristic incessant beats that punctuate the record with meandering guitar effects and wispy words.

Crystals Getting High is three minutes and twenty-four seconds of fluff obviously intended to fill out the album. It reminds me of something you would be likely to find on a soundtrack for The OC.

The lads attempt to make a comeback with the persuasive bass and effects and catchy stuck-in-your-head-all-day lyrics of Refuse, but it's just a bit too little, too late.

Weaving's voice is both his strength and his downfall it seems, as its distinctive urgency leaves a repetitive feel to this record. 

RATING: 1 out of 5

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