The Duke Spirit draws out both the hot and cold

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The Duke Spirit mashes two sides of the indie rock spectrum together–the frazzled, wildly energetic grunge side, as well as the gothy, droning, and cold side, à la Velvet Underground and My Bloody Valentine.

Frontwoman Liela Moss epitomizes this hot and cold mishmash–she combines both the intensity of PJ Harvey live shows and the Nico chilling effect. For example, in The Duke Spirit’s video for the tune “Lassoo,” Moss snatches up a Nico-like black tambourine, and stands very rigidly on the set. But her vocals are throaty and raw, showing off an angry, PJ-Harvey-like aggressiveness.

The Duke Spirit has also hit upon commercial success with their single “The Step and the Walk,” which has received consistent airplay on New York-based WRXP, or 101.9, a station that bridges the gap between classic and alternative rock. A fitting setting for The Duke Spirit, don’t you think?

Here’s the video for the single “Lassoo” below: