Review: Slow Club

February 2, 2012
Sam Briggs

Artist: Slow Club
Date: 20th December
Venue: Union Chapel
****

Despite the release of critically acclaimed second album, Paradise, Slow Club’s 2011 is again brought to a close with their traditional show in Islington’s beautiful Union Chapel. However, the effervescent charm of the duo and their impressive songcraft stops the show ever being a case of stepping backwards. The dub-tinged soul of Psychologist served to open proceedings, who brought the tender emotional heart of his darkest tracks to the fore with a haunting piano-led set. Even the comedy in the bizarre dance moves and mistiming of the man on “electronics” failed to detract from the impressive vocals of Iain Woods, as his tender howl reverberated around the pews.

Paying tribute to their Sheffield roots they open with a stripped back take on the Pulp classic ‘Disco 2000’, Slow Club which immediately conjures the intimacy and fun that make their live shows so endearing. “One day we’ll be a serious band Charles”, teases Rebecca Taylor, as the start of a song clunks to a halt. “We need to believe we’ll be the Kings of Bloody Leon.”
Marking the end of 2011 that could have boosted Slow Club into a new strata of popularity and exposure, with the tradition that they have ended the last few years on, might suggest a band waning. However, the night’s focus proves it to be anything but – a celebration of new material, with a set consisting mostly of newly released, or yet to be released tracks, that are consistently promising. Their self-ironising even extends to the merchandise, and their “Happy Christmas Again” t-shirts. The greatest irony of the evening, however, is the real ambition, irresistible charm and sequence of polished pop gems that underpin the band’s deprecations.

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