So what happened to Duels?

This time last year all of the smart money would have been placed on this lot hitching a ride on the Kaiser Chiefs’ coat tails to stardom, yet despite a couple of well-received singles and several high-profile tours, little progress seems to have been made.

They’re definitely not lacking in the tunes department, as ‘Animal’ proves quite adamantly, so it must be something else. My guess is that they’re trying to sound a little too quirky and anachronistic for their own good, as where most bands would fit a middle eight Duels seem to have the sound of a talking – or should that be mumbling? – Stephen Hawking doll.

Still, bonus points for the “Me animal, you animal” vocal interplay between Jon Fuller and Katherine Botterill, even if it is more reminiscent of a playground spat between the two head prefects than any_ ‘Je T’Aime’ _style sexual innuendo smooch fest.