Notorious

About

Duran Duran found themselves in an unfamiliar situation as they approached their fourth studio album, <i>Notorious</i>: unsteady musical ground. Drummer Roger Taylor had stepped away from the band, trading a hectic life on the road for a quieter existence in the English countryside, while guitarist Andy Taylor only contributed to a few songs before also departing. Luckily, the remaining members of the band—co-founders John Taylor and Nick Rhode, and vocalist Simon Le Bon—were resilient. They enlisted guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, a ’70s Frank Zappa collaborator who had recently performed with synth-pop act Missing Person, and Average White Band drummer Steve Ferrone. And onboard to produce and perform on the album was a familiar, grounding presence: guitarist and frequent collaborator Nile Rodger. The end result is that Duran Duran paired their long-standing rock and disco influences with inspirations from vintage funk, classic R&B, and contemporary dance music. This new approach was evident right away on the title track, a sophisticated slice of funk-rock propelled by peppy horn, snappy harmonie, and an elastic bassline, and the equally sizzling “Meet El Presidente.” The single “Skin Trade,” meanwhile, is a frothy slow jam that gives Le Bon a chance to show off a delicate falsetto croon, while Rhodes’ strident keyboard-work drives the slinky “Vertigo (Do the Demolition).” .

via Apple Music

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