Spare Ribs, Sleaford Mods sixth full size studio album, is a 13 observe document born out of a social commentary that varieties the very ethos of the band. Sick of Tory rule, financial coverage, inept management, capitalism and being left to really feel expendable has fuelled the most recent album from Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn.
Sleaford Mods recorded the brand new album in the course of final 12 months, over the course of three weeks, at an previous fruit and veg warehouse turned DIY music and humanities area close to Sneinton Market in Nottingham. This time across the East Midlands duo have additionally enlisted the skills of Billy Nomates on the lead single Mork n Mindy in addition to Amy Taylor, vocalist of antipodean punks, Amyl and the Sniffers, on Nudge It.
Spare Ribs comes lower than a 12 months after the discharge of the compilation album All That Glue and two years after arguably their greatest document to this point, Eton Alive. Singles taken from that album, Kebab Spider, Discourse and O.B.C.T helped increase Sleaford Mods profile to new heights and ensured way more air-play. The usually visceral, uncooked and pointed lyrics paired with an EDM or Hip-Hop soundtrack is now a well-known trademark sound that Sleaford Mods have made all their very own and on Spare Ribs they’ve enhanced it.
Jason opens the album as a “circus grasp” introducing us to the document with a spoken phrase 44s intro that acknowledges, “And we’re all so Tory drained, and overwhelmed by minds small”. The Tory thread continues on Quick Cummings, a observe underscored by a strolling bass line (akin to one in every of Jean-Jacques “JJ” Burnel’s) and a snare beat. Jason’s distinctive East Midlands accent, which I am positive he over eggs at instances, continues so as to add a snarly, agitated and usually p****d off chunk on the brand new materials.
The collaboration with the Sniffers Amy Taylor makes for an attention-grabbing hear partly due to the stark distinction within the vocals, though each Jason and Amy sound as impassioned as one another throughout their embittered duet. Elsewhere on Spare Ribs we virtually right here the Human League’s The Sound Of The Crowd on Elocution. The electro pushed soundtrack is the bottom from which Jason builds as he will get as shut as he ever does to an accepted norm of singing.
Prime Room is extra spoken phrase than tune, extra like a free flowing John Cooper Clarke imparting a stream of discontented consciousness, barely pausing to collect breathe as he struggles to comprise all of it. The title observe, Spare Ribs, nonetheless is an upbeat, virtually funky affair that may little question lend itself to a 12″ remix. Dare I say it, Spare Ribs is Sleaford Mods doing one thing approximating Pop!
Spare Ribs, the album, as soon as once more highlights Sleaford Mods capacity to attract on themes lifted from well-liked tradition, whether or not that be Motion Males, Cindy, Porn-Hub, Tesla, Complete Management Racing or BHS. Every reference brings a heightened sense of realism and reality to every tune as Jason imparts his persevering with dismay and displeasure. Throughout the 13 tracks Sleaford Mods depart you in little question as to their political leanings, or how strongly they really feel about varied topics. Jason touches on unemployment, racism, establishments, non-creatives and even acid rain over the course of your entire album, in addition to frequently exhibiting disdain and intolerance for the Tories. His heartfelt vitriol is what drives the impassioned efficiency on ‘Spare Ribs’ and it is what makes it such a compelling tour de pressure.
