The Slow Readers Club - Knowledge Freedom Power

Die Veröffentlichung ihres vierten Albums „The Joy Of The Return“ ereignete sich parallel zum Lockdown im März 2020. Im Oktober des gleichen Jahres schoben The Slow Readers Club das in Eigenregie herausgebrachte und unter den COVID-19-Restriktionen aufgenommene, düstere „91 Days In Isolation“ nach.

„Knowledge Freedom Power“, das sechste Album des Quartetts aus Manchester, entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Produzenten Joe Cruss (Hurts, The Courteeners) und könnte eigentlich auch gut „The Joy Of Return“ heißen, denn Aaron Starkie & Co. knüpfen klanglich wieder bei diesem Album an und werden den geneigten Hörern mit ihrer Rückkehr viel Vergnügen bereiten. Die 10 Songs bieten Indie-Synth-Rock, der auf Tempo, Melodien und packende Refrains setzt, die 80er fest im Blick hat und Bands wie White Lies, The Killers, Foals oder Editors starke Konkurenz bietet.

„Knowledge Freedom Power“ ist als CD, Kassette ind LP erhältlich und bietet drei unterschiedliche Schallplatten-Varianten: transparent blue Vinyl, transparent yellow Vinyl (flipped Edition, bei der auch die Farben des Albumcovers getauscht wurden) und gold Vinyl (in der so genannten Black-Out Version mit schwarz-grauem Cover).

The Slow Readers Club in Deutschland:

23.03.23 Berlin, Hole44

24.04.23 Hamburg, Uebel & Gefärlich

 

Opening track Modernise acts as a statement of intent for the band themselves, musically at least. Lyrically it challenges the expectation society places on people – “Get a job, find a girl, hurry up, don’t be late. Pressure’s on to belong, taken all I can take,” setting down the marker for the rest of the album.

The next thirty-five minutes of Knowledge Freedom Power is the sound of a band comfortable in their own skin yet pushing their boundaries. Each of the remaining nine tracks are anthemic yet possess a personality all of their own. Any of them could be released as a single without the quality dropping. The two singles so far – Lay Your Troubles On Me and the title track – give an indication of what to expect, but by no means the high watermark of the record. (…)

Knowledge, Freedom, Power is the finest Slow Readers Club album to date. For a band in its second decade who could have been derailed by the pandemic, this is no mean achievement. They’ve regrouped, reassessed and come back stronger. Knowledge Freedom Power will delight their hardcore fans and win over new ones.

(Louder Than War)

 

“Afterlife” is another great track, full of affecting emotion in the chorus and pulsing rhythm, whilst. “Sacred Song” sounds like one of their happiest tunes with a fluid guitar frenzy. ‘We’re born again like children of the golden age’, it’s uplifting, hopeful for the future, and quite spiritual, to be honest.

“Lay Your Troubles On Me” has a gentle guitar chord reminiscent of Velvet Underground and a feverish drum beat. Starkie’s vocals retain that eloquent expression in this laid-bare song about friendship and community. But then, 2.15 minutes in, the song does a complete about-turn with a surge of electronic energy and sizzling synth. It becomes anthemic with a buzzsaw guitar and layers of melody. One of my favourites on the album. I just want to keep playing this one!

The title track “Knowledge Freedom and Power” is dance-y and energetic. It’s a joyous call to arms, a kind of Manics, Design for Life. Remember that line ‘Libraries gave us power’, it reminds me of that lyrically. As frontman Aaron says, ‘It is an exercise in positive sloganeering, a mantra for education as a means of a way out from social and psychological confinement.’

Other songs worthy of merit are “What Might Have Been” and the science-fiction air of “Forget About Me.” They are all accomplished songs, that still retain The Slow Readers Club’s indie-electro-pop melodies. They still have that desolate sound to them, but now interlaced with a renewed enthusiasm and delight at life.

(XS Noize)