Somebody listening for the first time to Duke Garwood would probably react by saying that he sounds a lot like Mark Lanegan. Very late night Mark Lanegan. Like, “It’s four in the morning”… that late night. Really, you think so? It so happens Garwood is actually a long-time Lanegan collaborator. And a very sought out guitar player and multi-instrumentalist. Like playing guitar for The Orba and Archie Bronson Outfit.
But back to late night. It is so true that on his own Garwood, usually backed only by his guitar, produces true late night music. I remember seeing him live at a festival a few years back. He was actually the last act on, and the crowds were rapidly dwindling. As he started playing and singing, all alone on the stage, the small hall suddenly started to fill up out of its capacity. Garwood was able to keep the people mesmerised for a solid hour with music that was absolutely great and perfectly timed.
That is what I personally expected with this new album, “Garden of Ashes”. I pressed play well beyond midnight, expecting that very late night vibe. That is absolutely what I got. His album “Heavy Love” from 2015 was some sort of a breakthrough for Garwood. “Garden of Ashes” not only continues where that album stopped but builds on it, particularly in atmosphere.
Instead of reflecting mainly on his inner feelings, this time around Garwood takes into account his surroundings and people and how they affect him. Garwood this time around touches musically and lyrically on much bigger names than Lanegan - L. Cohen, N. Cave, J. Morisson (in descending order). As usual, his guitar playing is dominant and excels - it is a definite blues line but more like Ali Farka Toure blues seen through the fingers of JJ Cale. Yes, that subdued and that good. Everything is accentuated by subtle backing instruments and vocals.
The eleven tracks on this album start with “Cooldbloded” and end with “Cooldblooded The Return”, and are the perfect showing of what you can expect - some great music with a perfect sense of atmosphere to which you cannot exactly put your finger on.
Oh, by the way, this album is a great listen even at midday with sun shining on at full strength.
