Duct Tape is the musical duo of Wynton Kelly Stevenson and Batsauce. Although both are born on Hyperion, one of Saturn's many moons, the two met in post-millennium Berlin, Germany. Although recorded on planet Earth, the music clearly invokes their intergalactic travels. The album was put together over four years in Berlin, using cheap keyboards from the 1980's, guitar pedals, a beat machine, a bass guitar, and a cheap microphone. Over a hundred jams were made during this time, culling the most intriguing ones into source material for the album...

Duct Tape's new album, Less We Can contains 16 tracks (36 min, 35 sec). Two of the songs ('It's Bad' and 'I Don't Care') feature the lyrics of Wynton's father, the late great Rudy Stevenson.

It's an upbeat album with a lot of energy. The opening track appears to be a wry, sideways look at performing at venues when no one knows who you are. The horrors that await build as you stand in the wings. A poor, and apathetic introduction can destroy you before you've even set foot on the stage. It's the perfect start to the album.

There's a naive, sing-song vibe throwing through some of the tracks (most notably 'Don't Stop' and 'I Don't Care'). This intentional childish element is at first annoying, but grows on you the more you listen to it.

There are so many interesting tracks vying for your attention, and so many musical avenues explored, that there will be at least a couple of tracks to suit everyone's tastes. Personal favourites include 'Times Are Changing', 'Above the Clouds' and the trippy 'Adhesive' - are all worthy of your time.

It's an interesting album that won't suit everyone. But if you get what the duo set out to achieve, then you'll have a lot of fun with it.

7

Nick Smithson