I once saw Stephen Duffy say something along the lines of, and I'll quote loosely, 'By now people must be beginning to realise I'm not doing this for the money any more but just because it's what I do'.. After being dropped by most, if not all, of the major record companies since the mid 1980s Stephen Duffy continues to plough his own path and release albums which should sell millions in an ideal world, but through some quirk of fate no one ever really hears about.
He really is one of the most diverse British artists, you just have to look at his back catalogue: 1980s electronica/pop under the names of TinTin and Dr Calculus MDMA, Nick Drake-esque folk with The Lilac Time, solo records encompassing the almost psychedelic collaboration with Nigel Kennedy (Music in Colours), the above album Duffy with its Britpop mixed with American rock influences from artists like Matthew Sweet, 1998s I Love My Friends with its Britpop and beautiful folk side by side and The Devils with his old cohort Nick Rhodes performing unrecorded early Duran Duran songs. He can also be credited with co-writing some of the best songs by the Barenaked Ladies and for helping Robbie Williams finally make a grown-up record (Intensive Care).
Duffy is a favourite album of mine. Some of the songs such as Needle Mythology, Sugar High, Rachel and Mr 20th Century Man are up there with the best Stephen has written. Listen to the slow version of Sugar High to hear Stephen at, what I believe to be his best arrangement, just him and his guitar.
This is his most upbeat and rocky album recorded with a rhythm section of the American band Velvet Crush including REM producer Mitch Easter on guitar. It is probably also his most accessible album and a good place to start if you have not heard any of Duffy’s music before.
Buy it and discover one of the best-kept secrets in music and a true artist who continues to produce diverse and beautiful music but without the recognition he deserves. Most people will probably just buy the latest Oasis album though, which is a crying shame.
5 stars, end of story.
