Of A Nature Or Degree

It's not hard to see what John Dwyer liked about Manchester's Duds before signing them up to his growing Castle Face label. Duds' choppy, angular post-punk is a large reflection of Dwyer's own Thee Oh Sees lifetime project as well as other Castle Face label cohorts like Ty Segall and Flatworms. It is really the classic Castle Face tick-list; Expressive - check. Improv - check. Slacker-infected post-punk - check.

Tracklist

1. No Remark
2. Signal, Sign
3. A Different Stage
4. The Nose
5. Irregular Patterns
6. Split On Both Sides
7. Keine
8. Of Nature
9. Elastic Seal
10. Pro Tem
11. Elastic Feel
12. Reward Indifference

Listen

Press

(The words of the press release, not us)

A tight, succinct 5 piece that is centred around sharp bursts of rhythmical energy. They hail from Manchester, UK, forming in early 2015 and have made steady and assured progress towards their current sound without sacrificing a continuing developing and experimentation in their music. Their songs, kaleidoscopic in their scope, comment on the human condition and arbitrary, often strange scenarios or themes. The forthcoming debut album has managed to deftly solidify the groups taut, muscular live sound into 12 distinctive songs. Veering from angular, acidic guitar infectiousness and bulldozing bass and drums, to more reflective and spaciously delicate art rock, ‘…Of Nature Or Degree’ is also peppered with flares of free jazz skronk and ruminates with a decimating post-punk minimalism that unequivocally shows DUDS perfectly pitched clarity in their sound and their vision, managing to focus these competing sonic influences into a deadly cohesive long player.."

- David Mclean (Tombed Visions) June 2017

“When I was first told about Duds, it came with the considered opinion that the guys were far from what you’d call ‘careerists’. ‘They don’t take themselves too seriously’ was another comment. I could have taken this as a warning that they weren’t in it for the right reasons—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. From my perspective Duds simply won’t bend over backwards to ‘get on’. They do what they do and you can take it or leave it. I took it—with both hands…with a vice-like grip. They have the invention and urgency of Edinburgh legends The Fire Engines. The PostPunk ethic. Short songs, short sets = short album. “They’re one of the most thrilling bands I’ve seen in years—and the fact that they’re releasing this brilliant piece of work on the Castle Face label adds the last piece of a perfect ‘outsider’ jigsaw puzzle. Duds sitting alongside Oh Sees, Ty Segall, White Fence, Useless Eaters, et al. There is a god!” —Marc Riley, June 2017