Review | Sleaford Mods still have a lot of vitriol to share on ninth album
English Tapas is the Nottingham duo’s ninth studio outing and the blunt social commentary shows no sign of abating
English Tapas
Rough Trade
“P***head knocking out half-cut ideas, pretentious little b*****d on social medias,” spits Sleaford Mods vocalist Jason Williamson, at his detractors, with typical venom. “Given half the chance you’d walk around like a t**t, just like we do.” The man certainly has a way with words, which is rather fortunate considering the Nottingham duo’s ninth studio album, English Tapas, is built around his abrasive, stream-of-consciousness poetry about life in modern Britain. That’s not to say the minimalist electronic punk beats produced by Andrew Fearn aren’t important, but Williamson’s astute lyrics always steal the show. The fact that the first 1,000 copies of the album came with a packet of king-size cigarette papers and a beer mat should give you an idea of the social commentary on offer. “Let’s spend another hundred quid getting out of our trees,” sings Williamson on Messy Anywhere, a humorous look at Britain’s booze culture, and while the ranting and raving can get a little grating, Sleaford Mods still have plenty to say.