Review Summary: Duologue is definitely the 2013 band. If a debut album like this is not how a band should start, then I really don't know how it should be done.
If you're a post-Kid A Radiohead era defender, then you are definitely going to love this album.
It's not always a good idea to start defining a band (or an album) by comparing it with another one, but in this case it's quite obvious. In fact, the first song of the record, Machine Stop, already gives you the feeling that what you're hearing is really Thom Yorke singing, but it's not, it's Tim Digby-Bell's amazing voice.
After this amazing first song, one of the best ones in my opinion, Zeros kicks in. Its powerful synths will blow your mind quite quickly, as Tim makes you fall in love with his voice again, in its catchy chorus. Then Cut & Run starts playing and "I Might Be Wrong", but it sounds familiar to me. It's still one of the most powerful songs on the record, and the guitar riffs on it are absolutely amazing.
As Gift Horse, the first ballad of the LP (and definitely not its best), comes to an end, you really should turn your headphones up, as Push It (definitely the best song on the record) kicks in. It starts with an e-bowed guitar and a bass drum, when Tim's amazing voice strikes again, and then a sweet guitar riff joins in. The song keeps playing in an incredibly surrounding crescendo, with Toby's violin and some piano arpeggios, and the atmosphere it creates is just incredible. This only song would make the album worth listening to it, but wait, there's more.
From this point, the album just keeps growing, or rather holding the epicness that Push It had just brought with it. Underworld is also one of the best songs on the album, with a quiet drum line and, again, Tim's vocals, just astounding as always.
After Endless Imitation, now, yes, the best ballad on the record with no doubt, and Talk Shop, with its totally amazing synths, its lead guitar riff, and its catchy chorus; Sinner kicks in. I still haven't found the words to describe this song, it's just what the album needs, and it arrives exactly when the album needs it. If I had to chose, I'd say this song's the one that makes this album perfect (or almost perfect), even above Push It, yes.
Then, Snap Out of It could easily be the worst song on the record, but don't get me wrong, it's still an amazing song, but remember the stakes were really high. But Duologue does it again, and surprises you with another great one: Constant. With its Radiohead-ish guitar riff and its There There-ish vocals, it's the best choice to start closing this incredible album.
And to finally close it, Escape Artist is exactly how a good album should be closed with. Only with keyboards, Tim's sweet vocals, and a dark synth at the end, this incredible song leaves you with the feeling that you really need another listen to the album.
There's no doubt: Duologue is the 2013 band, and if Sigur Rós wouldn't have released such an amazing masterpiece as Kveikur is, Song & Dance would have been the 2013 album. If a debut album like this is not how a band should start, then I really don't know how it should be done.
