The Dualers - The Melting Pot Album Review

The Dualers
The Melting Pot
Album Review

Those who live in the South East of England may have already come across The Dualers without realising it, for the core siblings of Si and Tyber spent 8 years busking on the streets. But even then they were a success, and legend has it that they sold a staggering 35000 copies of their first 2 CDs during this time. More recently, they've had a couple of singles that comfortably entered the top 40 singles' chart.

Befitting of the recent lovely weather sweeping the UK (obviously by the time you read this the storms will have arrived), The Dualers have a sound produced in London but influenced by the Caribbean. A blissful fusion of reggae and ska is the heartbeat of "The Melting Pot", kicking in with the foot-tapping-tastic "Money". Choose almost any track here and the vibe is wonderfully positive, from the harmonious calls of "Stole The Show" to the call-out chorus of "Don't Go". Blaring brass adds flavour to "Won't Let You Go" and "Ain't That A Shame", while the organ of "Wake Up" sounds like it has been lifted from a baseball game. The track is fantastically relaxed, the perfect soundtrack to a lazy waking in blazing sunshine, and testament to the talent of the siblings.

It can't be emphasised enough that the entire record is a joy to listen to, but there are moments that stand out. "Take A Trip" is particularly potent at whisking the mind to warmer climates and coastal surroundings, and "What A Result" finally sees the duo let their Cockney drawl shine through. Naturally, the track is about football, and also features a guitar line that could have been played on a Libertines track – honestly! To round off proceedings, a back to basics approach is taken, with Si and Tyber soulfully performing a duet accompanied by acoustic guitars. It is the ending the album richly deserves, for the record is enriched with warmth and good times.

Alex Lai

Label: Galley