This successor to 2006's lush Songs From The Deep Forest sees the grandiose, yet endearingly humble, Duke Special (a.k.a. Peter Wilson) continuing with his eccentrically romantic and irrepressibly melodic invitation to the jaded grey world all around to get up and join him in a sing-along. An engaging live performer in the music hall tradition, when stripped of the obvious visuals of dreadlocks, eyeliner and velvety hobo-chic apparel, his most recognisable personal characteristic set amidst the rich orchestral instrumentation on record is his unashamed Irish intonation. Annually collecting awards in his home country, and despite slow-burning platinum sales, his particular brand of piano-rooted pop-balladry has so far remained of subdued appeal - perhaps confusing the superficial majority with the mix of punk image and Gershwin/Bacharach sensibility.Recorded in three locations (Champaign Illinois, Culleybacky N.I., and London) and with several co-writers (including some of his talented crew of usual live collaborators), there is a creeping sense that Wilson has been finding it harder to tap into sustained inspiration after shooting his artistic load so forcefully with Songs From The Deep Forest. Songs are less strident, based on thinner forms and emotions: many find him hesitant. The very opening couplet "I'm so unsure of myself / I doubt my very heartbeat" is describing sentiments certainly, but adds to the idea of a creative struggle to fill the blank page expressed overtly elsewhere: "Wipe another recording / There's just nothing here that moves me". A handful of tracks have been triggered by Duke's recent reading: thoughtful and artistically valid sure, but maybe lacking the biting spark of real life catalysts. Another incremental contribution to the lasting impression.Two more songs are almost novelty pieces that could be straight out of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Despite the inventive graveyard jolly japery and macabre wordplay, they don't have the power to sustain more than a couple of listens shorn of the context of a film or stage visual. A live performance should no doubt see them reanimated, but give me 'The Monster Mash' every time. The mild electro-beat of 'Nothing Comes Easy' sounds like an over earnest time traveling interloper into Duke's usual gas lit world, and the song is fatally damned by a rag tag bunch of phrases sewn together as lyrics: "The red light is a warning / Don't reveal the beast inside". Elsewhere, 'By The Skin Of My Teeth’ is far too Ronnie Hazlehurst, and the album slips quietly away like a pensioner at a Swiss clinic - following a similarly tuneful but repetitive and forgettable middle of the road route: 'Nothin' You Could Do Could Bring Me Round'. Err, quite.Well, perhaps there are some things. The title track is plain glorious. Here the Duke is at his indie Lionel Bart best. The gently swaying verses down at The Old Bull and Bush yield to a chorus with the heartbroken Little Match Girl dueting vocals (Maykay from Fight Like Apes): "I just have to feel something". Exactly. The following 'Why Does Anybody Love?' creates an interlude to the standard of Songs From The Deep Forest. With 'If I Don't Feel It' later they have exactly the kind of heart and conviction lacking elsewhere, and melodies that clutch at you like sheep ticks. Final mention for the probable singles 'Sweet Sweet Kisses' and 'Let Me Go (Please Please Please)': a shiny Motown beat and brassy pop appeal, respectively, perk up proceedings for a spell without being classics.I like what Duke Special attempts to do - his particular twisted musical slant on the world of popular song. But I Never Though This Day Would Come does not do it consistently enough ”“ and its predecessor being such a very unforgiving mirror does not help. Support him though: go see him. The earthy honesty and 'seat of the pants' exuberance of the Duke Special road show is to be celebrated. There the emotion will be more tangible and his magic should win you over - ready for the next album.62%Duke Special on MySpace