Sleaford Mods - UK GRIM

When it comes to Sleaford Mods, listeners generally know what they’re going to get. Over Andrew Fearn’s minimalist keyboard beats, Jason Williamson shouts about the pressing sociopolitical issues of the moment with his trademark level of snark. This has been the setup for about a decade now, and it remains effective. Their sound can, though, get a bit samey, but ‘UK GRIM’ - at least partially - mixes things up. Take closer ‘Rhythm Of Class’ as a case in point. It sounds different to anything they’ve done before, starting off almost as a pastiche of golden-age hip hop, before moving into more melodic synthpop territory. ‘Force 10 From Navarone’, already released as a single, is a highlight and the inclusion of Dry Cleaning’s Florence Shaw is an absolute masterstroke; her voice accompanying Andrew’s beats perfectly. It’s almost a shame that she doesn’t appear elsewhere on the album. Elsewhere, Sleaford Mods don’t exactly go in for subtleties; the likes of ‘Right Wing Beast’ and ‘Tory Kong’ wear their politics on their sleeves (or, should we say, on the nose). “You’re all getting mugged by the aristocracy,” sings Jason, “You’re all getting mugged by the right-wing beast.” “Levelling up like a Tory twat,” he offers on ‘Smash Each Other Up’, always one for a topical line. ‘UK GRIM’ manages to showcase a sonic evolution while staying true to classic Sleaford Mods. They aren’t going to be for everyone - and this might not be a record that converts new fans in their droves - but pre-existing fans should be happy.