The Duke Spirit, 'Neptune' (Shangri-La)

Female-fronted rockers trade bluesy scuzz for soulful fuzz.

These Brits move with purpose from girl-group-inspired pop ("My Sunken Treasure") to fully loaded Jesus and Mary Chain–fried fuzz ("Lassoo") in remarkably short steps. The connection between such potentially disparate sounds is singer Liela Moss, who brings sultry power to every surface the band scratches. She slips slightly when things inadvertently get too direct, as on the otherwise Heart-like "Send a Little Love Token." But for most of Neptune, the Duke Spirit graft sweet coatings onto a dark, swirling center.

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