Dukes of the Orient – Freakshow Frontiers Records – FR CD 1051
When a musical “project” provides excellent music, the listener hopes that particular project is not a one-time effort. Thankfully for fans of Dukes of the Orient, the brainchild of bassist/vocalist John Payne and keyboardist Erik Norlander, the former cohorts from Asia featuring John Payne have produced another masterful collection of songs, While still primarily a blend of prog and pop, John and Erik further expand on their prodigious songwriting talents to produce ear-opening twists and turns throughout the ten tracks. “The Dukes Return” launches the disc with a hooky power that rivals anything on radio, even with its retro vibe. “The Ice Is Thin” has a subtle Supertramp feel, perhaps because of the delectable sax blowing of Eric Tewalt, who lends his chops to several songs. There is plenty of musical intricacy for prog aficionados on songs like “Man of Machine,” “The Last Time Traveler,” and “The Great Brass Steam Engine,” the later being an amazing instrumental brimming with Erik’s passion and talents on classic synths. The avant-garde pulse of the title track is perhaps a microcosm of what is happening here; a duo of very talented song-smiths and musicians with a massive tank of capabilities and ideas to pull from to create incredible music. “Freakshow” definitely exemplifies the hope that there will be more to come from this project of music royalty in the future. – MW
http://dukesoftheorient.com
