IN REVIEW: Sleaford Mods back with a bang with new album ‘English Tapas’

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Sleaford Mods (Picture by Montecruz Foto, cc-by-sa-2.0)

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Some might argue that after eight studio albums, Notts’ own Sleaford Mods would’ve lost their charm, but they’re back with ‘English Tapas’ and have no intention of going anywhere quietly.

Sleaford Mods are an oxymoron – they’re spitting, rough, spouting; the noise that could easily be mistaken for a random bloke grabbing hold of a microphone and having a go at people on the street.

But if that bloke had a lovechild with an intelligent and well spoken woman, and introduced that child to music, you’d have Sleaford Mods.

‘English Tapas,’ out today (Friday March 3) on Rough Trade Records, proves to be no different.

It’s a tirade of songs punctuated by punchy beats and sharp lyrics; a sound that oozes masochism but shows how abrasiveness can be charming at the same time.

The record begins with Army Nights, which transitions easily into Just Like We Do before taking a twist, just as acutely as Jason Williamson’s lyrics are clever, throughout the rest of the album.

While you can certainly pin down the Mods’ sound, there’s no way of categorising their genre.

They expertly pull strands from other styles of music together and weave their own sound; it ranges from pop-influenced Indie beats to elements of disco and, in places, even grime.

‘English Tapas’ makes easy work of taking punk to other places which is amplified by the lyrics.

Video: Sleaford Mods’ B.H.S. from ‘English Tapas’

It’s caught somewhere between poetry and a political speech – no surprise off the back of Brexit, which does feature heavily, as does the band’s typical cynicism highlighted in tracks such as B.H.S.

And, of course, there’s a sarcastic British pride with references to Drayton Manor, Spar and Supermarket Sweep dragged in, blending humour along with some more serious messages.

But this comes as no surprise; what comes as more of a shock is the more polished nature of the album.

It’s most definitely Sleaford Mods, but not as you know it.

There’s ironically higher production value in the DIY nature of the album and although it can at times mean that the still-punky album loses its warmth and uncompromising honesty, it also gives coherence in a way that gives a new direction to their music.

As always with the Sleaford Mods, ‘English Tapas’ could be a hard pill to swallow for some.

But even though the record ends on the words ‘I feel so wrong’, this album feels right.

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