Slow Club

June 3, 2009

I’ve come across the Sheffield band, Slow Club a few times recently, from friend recommendations, blog posts, and snack ads, so I jumped at the chance to hear their debut album Yeah So? this week. I was, quite frankly, blown away by the band’s sound. From the little I had heard from them, I pigeonholed the band in the burgeoning UK anti-folk scene (among Noah and the Whale and Emmy The Great), but this album has a much more campire sing-a-long, rockabilly feel that places them much closer to The Avett Brothers or more acoustic White Stripes tracks (think “Hotel Yorba”). What’s certain is that these songs are rollickin’, good-natured celebrations, played with enthusiasm and a good dose of youthful vigour. If this band don’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will.

The first single from the album is a freewheelin’, playful romp called “It Doesn’t Have To Be Beautiful”. Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor call-and-response vocals play off each other perfectly and the chorus of this song is one of the most infectious things I’ve heard all year. By the end of the song, the band is in full out old-fashioned hoe-down mode (complete with a choir of yelping vocals) and it’s damn-near impossible not to be caught up in the pure jubilance of their sound. “Because We’re Dead” is another whimsical, Southern-fried folk-pop tune that starts with a softly picked guitar, but builds up to a lively climax with the two vocalist repeating the title line over pounding drums and furiously strummed acoustic guitars.  I can imagine this band absolutely erupts in a live setting (hopefully they’ll soon have enough fans to launch a full-scale U.S. tour). Very highly recommended stuff.

MP3 It Doesn’t Have To Be Beautiful
MP3 Because We’re Dead

You can pick up Slow Club’s fantastic 2008 EP, Let’s Fall Back In Love at emusic. Yeah So? is set for a UK release this week on Moshi Moshi Records.

Posted by Taylor in Artist Spotlight