Style 43

Andy, Dizzy and Young Einstein deliver another musically different, total independent, 12 tracks counting, boundaries pushing record. This time the trio got a bit more personal, but U.D. wouldn’t be themselves if they did not inject the listener with some funny shit, laugh is the message and humour is the way, it’s the same old Duckling package but the roughness got a shave. The productions are better, the hooks are way better and the overall package brings the future expectations of them to a higher standard. I am no Ugly Duckling fan at all but even I must admit these guys got balls and just keep doing what they love whether it pays or not. The music genre is not clear, some things just can not be put in boxes. The only resembling sound I can come up with is DJ Format in collaboration with Abdominal. The samples used on the record are just amazing, it must have been a massive search to find some of the used characteristic, soulfull sounds. The best thing about Audacity are the love for the music and the shitload of trumpets !!!

ALBUM IN STORES 19^th OF JANUARY 2009

The artwork of the CD scared the hell out of me, let’s just say it’s not my taste. I chose to let the music speak for itself and just tried to forget about the cover as fast as I could by focussing on every illuminating object around me. Pressed play and wow! The perfect energertic intro got me in the right mood immediatly, the production of I Won’t Let It Die is awesome and I was amazed by the convincing chorus. The Takedown switched the sound to a mix between clubbangers and the Neptunes, luckely the trumpets come back in the chorus to keep the track in line with the first song. ‘Audacity that’s the word of the day / Pertaining to the way a type of person behaves / A description, hmmmm, how would you word it? / Maybe it’s guts or just being assertive’. The title track explains what’s been driving the guys since Ugly Duckling was founded in 1993. Falling Again is somewhat more laid back, more personal, and my personal favourite on this record. It’s Gone serves you the usual U.D. humour to keep the loyal fans happy and because these guys just love to lighten it all up a bit. I Want To Believe takes on faith, but not in a loaded way, it’s more like a sing along with a message and some nice cuts in the end which are a nice interlude for the Einstein Do It track where this skilled DJ uses over a hundred different cuts, the selection of samples is just mind blowing for everyone who ever made sample based music and hell yeah! the trumpets are back again! On The Lonely Ones the band explores isolation on a very nicely produced haunting groove. The sample based Pay Or Quit skit sounded like it lacks out on any usefull input to the cd, but it seems to be an interlude to Right Now, a track about taking responsibility for your actions. This is followed up by another important message namely It Never Mattered at all, just let things go, live, no spang, enjoy. The magical number twelve brings us to the last track again, and I feel kind of said. Over the last fortyfive and a half minutes I really started to enjoy the sound and whoever expected after my first impression judgement that Oh Yeah convinced me to put the record on repeat for a while.

If you loved Ugly Duckling before, you will love Ugly Duckling again. If you were skeptic about this gimmick like band, you might just like me change your mind. I honestly think this is a great record and wish all three guys all the best. They are touring through the UK as I am writing this so I will go to their show in Nottingham to check em out live, expecting lots of energy!

Upcomming UK tour dates for January 2009:
19 – Norwich Arts Centre
20 – Plymouth Ride Bar
22 – London Scala
23 – Barrow in Furness Canteen
24 – Swansea Sin City
25 – Manchester Ruby Lounge
26 – Nottingham Bodega
27 – Sheffield Uni Tues Club

Ugly Duckling official website
Ugly Duckling on myspace

review by JERE

Tags: album, audacity, ugly duckling