On his official full-length debut, English electronic dance producer
Duke Dumont extracts the nostalgic spirit of '90s crossover house, updating it on festival-sized anthems that are so uplifting they verge on the religious.
Duality arrived after over a decade's worth of EP and club compilation releases, featuring some of his most popular singles like the platinum-certified,
Weeknd-esque synth-funk smash "Ocean Drive" and the propulsive "The Power" with
Zak Abel. If Play-era
Moby merged with peak period
Groove Armada and
Swedish House Mafia, the results would come close to the heights
Dumont hits on
Duality. From the ecstatic and appropriately titled "Therapy" to the pulsing dystopian propaganda of "Obey" with
Roland Clark, the urgent yearning of "Love Song," and the classically inspired "Overture," the LP is a brisk and invigorating ride, a jolt of physical energy and soulful depth that doesn't wear out its welcome and provides just enough for listeners to crave even more. There isn't a wasted second on
Duality and the result is a nourishing fix that offers an emotional alternative to any ephemeral electronic dance fluff. ~ Neil Z. Yeung