Northern Ireland News - Gig Preview: Aqualung

01 October 2003

Gig Preview: Aqualung

Aqualung, supported by Duke Special, are to play the Empire Music Hall on Sunday 26 October.

‘Strange and beautiful’, the first Aqualung single, was released in the UK in September 2002.

The song had more or less released itself, having been the theme of a Volkswagen Beetle TV commercial throughout the summer. This was most people’s introduction to Matt Hales. His story is being born above his parents Southampton independent record store, with a piano dominating the front room, writing songs by the age of 4, and pushing out music under several names since his early teens. Strange and beautiful was the pivotal Mmoment, becoming a UK top ten hit, and helping the album of the same name sell in excess of 100,000 copies in the UK.

Aqualung will release a new album called Still Life on B-Unique records on 27th October 2003. It features ten all-new tracks and a sound that Matt describes as “bigger, fatter and warmer” than the debut. The first single to be taken from Still Life will be Brighter than sunshine, which will be released on 13th October 2003, and is already being played at Radio 1, Radio 2, and XFM.

As a writer and a performer Duke Special cuts an interesting dash. As likely to be found alone at a piano with only a wheezing old gramophone for company as he is to be surrounded by a vaudeville orchestra of musical cohorts. One part late night poker room balladeer, the other all flying hammers and devil-may-care, Duke Special mines an historic vein of pop writing.

Tickets are £11.50.

Gavin Bell.