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Sleaford Mods

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Sleaford Mods
Sleaford Mods, Glastonbury Festival, 2019
Sleaford Mods, Glastonbury Festival, 2019
Background information
OriginNottingham, England
Genres
Years active2007 (2007)–present
LabelsDeadly Beefburger Records, A52 Sounds, Harbinger Sound, Ipecac, Invada, Little Teddy Recordings, Rough Trade Records
MembersJason Williamson
Andrew Fearn
Past membersSimon Parfrement
Websitesleafordmods.com

Sleaford Mods are an English electronic punk music duo formed in 2007 in Nottingham. The band features vocalist Jason Williamson and, since 2012, musician Andrew Fearn.[6] They are known for their abrasive, minimalist musical style and embittered explorations of austerity-era Britain, culture, and working class life, delivered in Williamson's East Midlands accent.[1] The duo have released several albums to critical praise.[2][7][8]

History

Jason Williamson, Sleaford Mods, Glastonbury Festival, 2019

Williamson (born 10 November 1970 in Grantham, Lincolnshire) grew up in Grantham.[6] Inspired by the mod subculture and musical sources like the Wu-Tang Clan, he spent several years pursuing music unsuccessfully both with various groups and as a solo singer-songwriter. He had also worked as a session musician with local artists as well as Spiritualized and Bent.[9][10] Fearn (born 1971 in Burton upon Trent) grew up on a farm in Saxilby, Lincolnshire.[6][11]

Williamson first met Fearn in 2009 after hearing him DJ at a small Nottingham club called the Chameleon, where he was playing his own rough edged and minimal grime inspired tracks.[12] Sleaford Mods began when Williamson's friend suggested that he combine his vocals with a music sample from a Roni Size album.[6] Originally the project was called "That's Shit, Try Harder",[6] later changed in reference to Sleaford, a town in Lincolnshire not far from Grantham.

Williamson formed the band with Simon Parfrement, who he worked with alongside a studio engineer at Rubber Biscuit Studio in Nottingham on their first four albums. Parfrement left the music production to Andrew Fearn after the release of the 2012 album Wank, the first album to feature Andrew Fearn, but continues to play an important role in the band as their photographer and media producer.[13][14]

Sleaford Mods, live in 2013; Fearn (left), Williamson (right)

On December 10, 2014, Jason Williamson published the lyrics collection[15] Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007-2014,[16] followed by Jason Williamson's House Party: Sleaford Mods 2014-2019[17] in 2019.

A collaboration between Sleaford Mods and The Prodigy was announced at the end of 2014.[18] They recorded a track "Ibiza" together which appears on The Prodigy album The Day Is My Enemy, released in March 2015.

The Leftfield album Alternative Light Source, released on 8 June 2015, also features a collaboration with Sleaford Mods, a track called "Head and Shoulders".[19] The video for 'Head and Shoulders' is a stop-motion and animation hybrid that debuted on August 2015.[20] In July 2015, the band released a new album, Key Markets. It was one of the 19 records nominated for the IMPALA Album of the Year Award.[21]

The band featured in two documentary films, Bunch of Kunst. A Film About Sleaford Mods, released in 2017 and Sleaford Mods: Invisible Britain, released in 2015.

In 2016, an important turning point took place after many years, as Sleaford Mods left Harbinger Sound and signed with Rough Trade Records. Their first release on the new label was the T.C.R. EP in 2016.

In 2017, following the release of English Tapas Sleaford Mods embarked on their first North American tour.

One year later, Sleaford Mods surprisingly left Rough Trade, which eventually led to the dismissal of their long-time manager (and owner of Harbinger Records) Steve Underwood.[22]

After releasing Eton Alive on their own label Extreme Eating Records in 2019, the band returned to Rough Trade. This renewed cooperation resulted in the release of the compilation All That Glue in 2020 and Spare Ribs in 2021 (including the single Mork n Mindy, which was released on October 30, 2020 and reached the top of the UK vinyl singles chart).

In 2019, Williamson lent his vocals to the track "Talk Whiff" by Scorn.

Musical style

Sleaford Mods have described their work as "electronic munt minimalist punk-hop rants for the working class."[1] Williamson is responsible for the words, Fearn for the music. Sleaford Mods songs have been described as embittered rants about such topics as unemployment, modern working life, celebrities and pop culture, capitalism and society in general.[23] The lyrics usually contain profanity, which is, according to Williamson, the way in which he speaks and "not just fucking swearing".[23] Fearn's music has been described as "purgatorial loop[s]" of "pugilistic post-punk-style bass; functional but unprepossessing beats; occasional cheap keyboard riffs and listless wafts of guitar."[24]

Williamson's voice on Sleaford Mods songs is sprechgesang, rapped with an East Midlands dialect.[25] His vocal and lyrical style has variously been compared to Shaun Ryder,[26] John Cooper Clarke,[27] Mark E. Smith,[28] Ian Dury,[29] The Streets[30] and Half Man Half Biscuit[31] as well as various punk and oi! artists. Williamson has cited influences including the mod subculture, the Wu-Tang Clan, Stone Roses, Nas, Red Snapper, Trim, Two Lone Swordsmen, rave and black metal.[23]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[32] 		AUS
[33] 		BEL
(FL)
[34] 		BEL
(WA)
[35] 		FRA
[36] 		GER
[37] 		IRE
[38] 		SWI
[39]
Sleaford Mods
  • Released: 2007
  • Labels: A52 Sounds
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
The Mekon
  • Released: 2007
  • Labels: A52 Sounds
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
The Originator
  • Released: 2009
  • Labels: A52 Sounds
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
  • Released: 2011
  • Labels: Deadly Beefburger Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
Wank
  • Released: 2012
  • Labels: Deadly Beefburger Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
Austerity Dogs
  • Released: 3 January 2013
  • Labels: Harbinger Sound
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
Divide and Exit
  • Released: 19 May 2014
  • Labels: Harbinger Sound
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 — — — — — — — —
Key Markets
  • Released: 24 July 2015[40][41]
  • Labels: Harbinger Sound
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 11 — 90 — — 74 — —
English Tapas
  • Released: 3 March 2017
  • Labels: Rough Trade
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 12 — 93 — 164 60 91 87
Eton Alive
  • Released: 22 February 2019
  • Labels: Extreme Eating
  • Format: Digital download, CD
 9 — — 191 — 58 — —
Spare Ribs
  • Released: 15 January 2021
  • Labels: Rough Trade
  • Format: Digital download, CD, LP, Cassette
 4 47 30 112 — 10 30
[42]		 19
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[32]
Chubbed Up – The Singles Collection
  • Released: 14 February 2014
  • Labels: Self-release
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Retweeted – 2006–2012
  • Released: 10 May 2014
  • Labels: Salon Alter Hammer
  • Format: LP
 —
Chubbed Up +
(With additional tracks) 		—
All That Glue 10

Live albums

Title Details
Live At SO36
  • Released: 4 November 2016[43]
  • Labels: Harbinger Sound
  • Format: Digital download, CD

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[32]
Fizzy
  • Released: 27 October 2014
  • Labels: A Records
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Tiswas
  • Released: 24 November 2014
  • Labels: Invada
  • Format: Digital download
 —
T.C.R.
  • Released: 14 October 2016
  • Labels: Rough Trade
  • Format: Digital download
 —
Sleaford Mods
  • Released: 14 September 2018[44]
  • Labels: Rough Trade
  • Format: Digital download
 42

Singles

Title Year Album
"Kebab Spider" 2019 Eton Alive
"O.B.C.T."
"Discourse"
"Mork n Mindy" 2020 Spare Ribs

References

  1. ^ a b c Sherwin, Andy (25 June 2015). "Sleaford Mods: Boris Johnson, David Gandy and Russell Brand come under attack in post-punk duo's new album Key Markets". The Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Monger, Timothy. "Sleaford Mods: Biography: AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  3. ^ Bryan, Beverly. "Sleaford Mods: English Tapas Review". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ Bell, John. "Sleaford Mods - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham 27/01/15". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ^ "extnddntwrk". Extnddntwrk.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e Harris, John (17 July 2014). "Sleaford Mods: 'Most days I'd only have enough money for a Mars bar and a can of Special Brew'". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  7. ^ Neyland, Nick (8 May 2014). "Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit: Album Reviews". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  8. ^ "The Norman Records Top 50s of 2013". Norman Records.
  9. ^ "SoundClick artist: Unity Crescent". SoundClick.
  10. ^ "Unity Crescent @ BandSpace". 5.bandspace.com.
  11. ^ Ellis, Amelia (9 September 2014). ""I swear too much but I can't help it" – the Sleaford Mods interview". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014.
  12. ^ O'Hagan, Sean (5 July 2015). "Sleaford Mods: 'The thing is, there really is no future for a lot of people out there'". The Guardian.
  13. ^ "Wank – Sleaford Mods". Sleaford Mods. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015.
  14. ^ Stanley, Carl (16 September 2014). "Don't Suffer The Bullshit: Here's Sleaford Mods". Sabotage Times. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  15. ^ Harris, John (18 March 2015). "Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007‑2014 by Jason Williamson – review'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  16. ^ Williamson, Jason (2014). Grammar Wanker: Sleaford Mods 2007-2014. Bracketpress. ISBN 978-0-95661-844-3.
  17. ^ Williamson, Jason (2019). Jason Williamson's House Party: Sleaford Mods 2014-2019. Bracketpress. ISBN 978-1-99967-406-9.
  18. ^ Wright, Lisa (13 October 2014). "The Prodigy and Sleaford Mods record new track 'Ibiza'". NME. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  19. ^ Drake, Mandy (25 March 2015). "Leftfield are releasing a new record, their first in 16 years". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  20. ^ Sklinar Green, Kimberley-Marie (6 August 2015). "Leftfield and Sleaford Mods share new video for 'Head And Shoulders'". Never Enough Notes. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Young labels featured in shortlist for IMPALA Album of the Year Award". Impalamusic.org.
  22. ^ Hiller, Joachim (April–May 2019). "All mod cons". Ox-Fanzine. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  23. ^ a b c Harrison, Ian (26 February 2014). "Sleaford Mods: Notts Duo Make Incensed English Rap Murk". Mojo magazine. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  24. ^ Fisher, Mark (2014). "Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit". The Wire.
  25. ^ Balzer, Jens (11 May 2014). "Sleaford Mods Sie haben sehr schlechte Laune". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Luke Haines (the Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) Talks Sleaford Mods' Divide and Exit". The Talkhouse Music. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  27. ^ Pattison, Louis (3 May 2013). ""The song? Fuck off": lo-fi punk poets Sleaford Mods big up Wu-Tang and savage the system". FACT Magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  28. ^ Turner, Luke (2 May 2014). "Reviews – Sleaford Mods". The Quietus. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  29. ^ McCall, Chris (3 November 2014). ""Anything to get away from the Conservatives. Anything" – An interview with Sleaford Mods". The Skinny. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  30. ^ Pattison, Louis (25 April 2014). "Sleaford Mods – 'Divide And Exit'". NME. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  31. ^ Bell, David (26 November 2013). "Reviews – Sleaford Mods". The Quietus. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  32. ^ a b c "Sleaford Mods | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Discography Sleaford Mods". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Discografie Sleaford Mods". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Discographie Sleaford Mods". Ultratop. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Discographie Sleaford Mods". lescharts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  37. ^ "Discographie von Sleaford Mods". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  38. ^ "Discography Sleaford Mods". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Discographie Sleaford Mods". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  40. ^ "New Sleaford Mods album 'Key Markets' announced – Stream "No One's Bothered" NOW!". LouderThanWar.com. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  41. ^ Coughlan, Jamie. "Sleaford Mods Stream 'No One's Bothered', Announce 3rd LP 'Key Markets'". Overblown Webzine. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  42. ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Sleaford Mods - Live at S036. LP". Harbingersound.bigcartel.com.
  44. ^ "Sleaford Mods Announce New, Self-Titled EP And Share First Track "Stick In A Five And Go"". Rough Trade Records. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
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