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Slaves - Take Control (Album Review)

Wednesday, 05 October 2016 Written by Alec Chillingworth

“Take control! Stick it to the man! Apples and pears! Bleaurgh!” If you’ve ever wondered what the ambient noise of an Islington branch of Wetherspoons would sound like when put to music, then Slaves’ second LP, ‘Take Control’, is most definitely for you.

The Kent duo’s full-length debut, last year’s ‘Are You Satisfied?’, contained hints of joviality and a knowing silliness amid its basic racket. Aside from Spit It Out’s initial burst, ‘Take Control’ lacks anything of the sort. It is, above all, devilishly derivative. The title track’s pounding, quasi-industrial beats and riffing evoke memories of Ministry or Killing Joke, but smothered with aimless mockney clichés and stripped of any conviction.

Hypnotised’s child-like melodies could be seen as a throwback to the Ramones, Sex Pistols or the Clash, but Isaac Holman’s shouts have none of the charm or hooks associated with those bands.

The basslines and pounding, monotonous drums are decent enough, but that’s basically it for the whole album: throwaway, repetitive instrument-bashing with little in the way of craft. Punk’s singalong classics could have been written for children, but Slaves’ latest attempt sounds more like it was written by children.

Same Again’s fuzzy bass and extended bouts of feedback add no flavour, instead lending credence to Slaves’ detractors’ claims that they are punk for people who don’t actually listen to punk. It’s the same with Consume Or Be Consumed, the latest anti-capitalism cry to be released on a major label. It’s supposed to be funny, but the song’s chainsaw soundbite is a welcome break from its soulless sloganeering.

People That You Meet’s butchery of the Toy Dolls’ formula would be the record’s low point were it not for Steer Clear, which is what you might get if the Streets covered Erasure. New wave synths pave the way for its refrain: “Please don’t kill yourself behind that steering wheel.” It might be a deeply personal confessional. It could be about a family member. But, presented as it is here, it sounds like a road safety advert from The IT Crowd.

Beastie Boys’ Mike D, who produced the record, was surprised when guitarist Laurie Vincent started name-dropping the Cramps, the Slits and the Damned, among others, in conversation. All great punk bands, but not influences that make an impact on ‘Take Control’. This record is only punk in the sense that there’s someone shouting on it. Which is fine. It’s just not good.

Slaves Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:

Thu November 10 2016 - BEXHILL ON SEA De La Warr Pavilion
Fri November 11 2016 - EXETER Great Hall
Sun November 13 2016 - CARDIFF University Great Hall
Mon November 14 2016 - CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Tue November 15 2016 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Thu November 17 2016 - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE O2 Academy Newcastle
Fri November 18 2016 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Sat November 19 2016 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Mon November 21 2016 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Tue November 22 2016 - LEICESTER O2 Academy Leicester
Wed November 23 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Fri November 25 2016 - SHEFFIELD O2 Academy Sheffield
Sat November 26 2016 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Sun November 27 2016 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Tue November 29 2016 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Wed November 30 2016 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire

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