It’s a rare thing to come across an album that leaves you both perplexed and exhilarated.
But such is the case with Slime City‘s debut release, Death Club. The Glasgow-based trio, comprising of the three Michaels from the now-defunct post-punk new-wave band We Are The Physics, have crafted a collection of 12 “noisy existentialist nerd rock” songs that are as bold and brash as they are infectious and witty.
Slime City’s sound is a curious brew of The Futureheads, Devo, and Dead Kennedys, but with a singularly spiky Scottish twist. From the opening notes of the Windows XP startup sound on the album’s first track, ‘Last Generation Guaranteed To Die (In a Traditional Sense)’, you’re dunked face-first into a barrel of Slime City’s trademark high-energy, anthemic punk-pop, complete with rolled rs and wonky quips. ‘Dial-Up Internet’s The Purest Internet’ and ‘Algorithm Is a Dancer‘ demonstrate the band’s skill at marrying clever, post-modern technomaniac wordplay with infectious harmonies and earworm riffs. Don’t be conned by their seemingly frivolous nature though. Songs like ‘You and Everybody That You Love Will One Day Die‘ and ‘Glasgow Is a Shitehole’ show that Slime City aren’t afraid to say the quiet bit out loud. They are also serious supporters of LGBTQ+ and other hard-fought rights and beneath the surface is a clever critique of modern hypocrisies, delivered with their own wry sense of humour.
Most of Death Club feels fuelled by Red Bull and diesel fumes, but just when you think you’ve heard everything in their repertoire, Slime City pull something else out of the bag. Take ‘If I Eat Myself Will I Double In Size Or Disappear Completely?’ It’s a wee bit less frantic on the throwing yourself around front, but your brain will be like jelly on trampoline trying to make sense of the question and lines like: “All that’s left of me is a mouth that doesn’t speak.”
It’s also worth mentioning how great the album’s production is, crystal clear with a wrap-around soundstage that really boosts heavy layered tracks like ‘IDST’ and ‘NASA T-shirt’. Closing track ‘I feel it best when I feel nothing at all’ is a rock epic whose power chord stabs and soaring vocals fill the space between you and the speakers. However, these songs are likely to truly come alive at live shows, which by most accounts are unpredictable with the band being known to use a modified size 9 gentleman’s shoe as an instrument (see video below). If you’re (un?)fortunate enough to be in Glasgow, Slime City launch their album on 19th May with a special headline show at St. Luke’s with support from Last Night From Glasgow label-mates and disco-punk legends Bis and newly signed electronic-goth duo Casual Worker. Not to be missed!
For all its existential dread and titular finality, Death Club is just a really, really fun record. Now, let’s not wait too long for the next one, eh?
‘Slime City Death Club’ is released on 19th May, via Last Night From Glasgow
Live dates
MAY
19th – Glasgow, St Lukes
27th – London, Paper Dress Vintage
