Slowcoaches – THINKERS

That ‘THINKERS’ is not being released on cassette is, well, unthinkable. Almost. Slowcoaches’ latest may see the light of day via a limited run of 7” via Manchester-based “micro-label” Icecapades, but its fuzzy indie-rock is an almost perfect specimen of the sounds that have returned in tandem with, and are those most committed to that lo-fi retromaniac format.

The band, post line-up re-shuffle (Mazes’ Neil Robinson now performs drumming duties), continue mostly where previous release ‘We’re So Heavy’ left off: it’s unabashedly 90s in influence, there’s distortion all over the shop, and below those many layers of unintelligible fuzz, there are a few bright, almost jolly melodies (closer ‘Nightlife’ a case in point). Vocal duties are split half and half throughout, leaving ‘THINKERS’ with a light/dark mentality – Heather’s grrrl-ish tones providing the former in ‘Thinkers’ and ‘Total Block’, then Matty taking over for the deeper ‘Biennial Drool’ and ‘Nightlife’.

Throwaway in the best kind of DIY spirit – these are, of course, songs better suited to the sweaty basement than computer speakers – ‘THINKERS’ wasn’t ever going to be as deep as its title suggested, but that’s the point. Isn’t it?