Do you want some existentialist fun? Then come on and join the Death Club! The membership benefits are second to none. Don’t worry death isn’t a pre-requisite, although Slime City are here to remind you of the fact that you and everybody that you love will one day die…
On that note it should be pointed out that gallows humour is a matter of course, but just forms a small part of what you get with your membership of this singularly unorthodox exclusive, naw make that inclusive, club. Slime City has something for everyone in their repertoire. Rising from the ashes of the legendary We Are The Physics, Glasgow’s Slime City has been on the go for what seems like aeons now, after a series of audaciously sublime singles, we are finally being treated to the debut album from this sardonically anarchic band. When I say treated, I really mean treated. Everything about Slime City Death Club is an aural smorgasbord to rouse & awaken the body and agitate & delight the eardrums in equal measure. Michael, Michael, Michael and The Shoe have unleashed upon an unsuspecting public a gallimaufry of weird and wonderful auditory delights in the dozen tracks on their extraordinary debut. Prepare to be flabbergasted, this one’s a doozy.
Expect nothing “normal” about this album, from the subject matter of the songs – death, the internet, existential thoughts and the state of Glasgow (…less than complimentary) amongst others, through extra long or punny song titles, take If I Eat Myself Will I Double in Size or Disappear Completely, Last Generation Guaranteed to Die (in a Traditional Sense) or how about Algorithm is a Dancer and Ennui Go. All these songs soundtracked by their own uniquely distinct blend of jagged hard-rocking spiky post-punk with a highly energetic pop sensibility factor, complex arrangements and harmonies, supplemented by a liberal smattering of samples and electro beats, all delivered in their own riotously rowdy inimitable style.
Slime City don’t take life too seriously, as if you hadn’t guessed by now, but that doesn’t make them a frivolous comedy act, far from it, the lyrics are often a work of comedic genius, delivered with tongue firmly in cheek (hard to sing like that…) but (maybe its just me overthinking things as usual) dig beneath the surface humour and there is plenty of 21st century social commentary going on here…a world run by algorithms, the state of society, death… acute observations turned into three minute flashes of musical and lyrical genius. Even taking the cliched & blinkered cynical judgemental and joyless music fans to task ridiculing them in NASA T-Shirt “I see you’re wearing your Metallica t-shirt, well name five animals James Hetfield has killed”.
From the cacophonous melee of computer noise that opens the album, a distorted voice mutating into “I’m going to delete the fuck out of your computer” there is no let up in the brazen chutzpah, the band producing a seemingly endless stream of zealous in yer face nerd rock energy from the off and never letting up on that boundless turbulence until the closing of the album, the final song I Feel It Best When I Feel Nothing At All, probably the most serious, melancholy and dare I say it emotionally affecting song on the album. Having said that, there is a certain sassy irreverence for almost everything you could think off on this record, from the aforementioned subject of death, tackled more than once including on the classic single You and Everybody That You Love Will One Day Die, the biggest death sing a long song since Malcolm Middleton’s We’re All Gonna Die, to the state of the bands home city on the now legendary Glasgow is a Shitehole (only previously available on flexi disc) calling out the, well, shite things about Glasgow, including that social commentary I was talking about “its easy to admire the architecture of a cage when you have the key to unlock it”, with the kicker in the outro, “Glasgow is a Shitehole – but its mine”. I think I once said Sister John’s Glasgow is a Rainbow was my favourite song written about Glasgow. Maybe not…
If you aren’t a fully signed up member of the Slime City Death Club yet, why the fuck not? Order the album now (link below) and join in the fun, and while your at it get a ticket and haul your arses along to St Lukes on Friday 19th May for the album launch party, including sets from the mighty bis and up and coming Southsiders Casual Worker.
Slime City – Death Club LP, CD, DL (lastnightfromglasgow.com)
