The Sleaford Mods complete the dozen with »UK Grim«. Twelve albums since 2007 is a lot, and inevitably one cannot help but wonder: is another one really necessary? Do we need any more angry verses from the grumbling Jason Williamson about the misery called British society? Do we need any more cheap lo-fi beats from the likes of Andrew Fearn? Yes, we do! »Unfortunately«, one might add, because the world hasn’t exactly become a friendlier place since the band’s début release and breakthrough shortly after Brexit. Quite the opposite, in fact: Society seems more divided than ever; issues we thought had long since been overcome like war and inflation are back; despair, anger and alienation are omnipresent, and not only in the UK. With his unmistakable East Midlands accent, Williamson spits all this out at the audience and, especially, the establishment in the 14 new songs on the album. Angry and disillusioned as ever, he also rails against today’s self-proclaimed heirs of punk: In »D.I.Why?« it says »Not another white bloke aggro band! Oh yeah, we’re all the fucking same«. The Mods prefer to bring the more exciting guests into their own studio: Florence Shaw from Dry Cleaning for »Force 10 From Navarone«, for example, or Perry Farrell from Jane’s Addiction, who actually raps on »So Trendy«! Musically, the Sleaford Mods remain true to themselves. Fearn just subtly but effectively expands the usual electro-punk-hip-hop mix. If only every 12th album by a band was as important, relevant and as necessary as »UK Grim«…
Klein
Star In The Hood
Parkwuud Entertainment