A review of the new album from Herman Düne will follow shortly, meanwhile here's the one I did of the last, for Is This Music?

Herman Düne - Giant

I knew little about Herman Düne before last summers' 'Hey You, Get Off My Pavement'(other than having heard the sublime 'Not on Top') but their performance, led by the endearingly goofy David-Ivar, convinced me right away that they were something special.  David-Ivar's songs are effortlessly, instantly memorable. From the first single, 'I Wish That I Could See You Soon' onwards, their new album (or in David Ivar's Swedish-Chef-from-The-Muppets-accent "alboom") alternates between songs penned by he and his brother Andre (who sadly no longer tours with the band). Whilst David-Ivar's songs are lyrically playful, melodically simple and wear his heart on their sleeves, Andre's songs are a stranger, more exotic breed which makes this an uneven but fascinating listen. The album's varied instrumentation, including a brass section and girl group the Woo-Woos on backing vocals, reflect the family's multinational background. But it's that other, more accessible and humorous side of Bob Dylan that comes to mind with David-Ivar's songs, as well as nods to Leonard Cohen with use of a jew's harp and a mention of his famous blue raincoat. There is a noticeable theme of long-distance relationships running through songs such as 'Take Him Back To New York City' and 'When the Water Gets Cold and Freezes on the Lake', songs that cheer the heart but also leave a sense of sadness and loss.