[slab]: Taut

Bands that effortlessly go against the grain often prove to be the best ones. Take Manchester trio, [slab]. An act where no surnames in public seem to be a pre-requisite to join the band, it’s the kind of inspired move that goes beyond the box ticking exercises many bands adhere to in the stakes of Arts Council funding.

Consisting of Paul (vocals/bass), Tom (guitar/vocals) and Lianne (drums), [slab] have been making a shape-shifting brand of post-rock since 2019. Having released two EPs at the book ends of 2002 (Ready for the Light and Into the Field), the three-piece return with their long-awaited debut album, Taut.

Recorded at Salford’s 6dB studios by PJ Harvey/ Pixies bassist, Simon ‘Ding’ Archer, Taut sees [slab] flourishing into the band most knew they could be. On the Into the Field EP, the band shook off the ‘post-rock by numbers’ tag that many instrumental-based acts are burdened with these days with the excellent closing track, Wheatfield with Crows. A song that proved to be a portal to the band’s next destination, with a line like, “You’ve done the work / What is there left to do?” the answer was simple: plenty, but [slab] have put in the hard yards on Taut, and the results are telling.

Take opening cut, Deliverance. A band that has grown in strength and stature, [slab] concoct a melodic, dream-laden representation of slowcore, stretching the previous boundaries set down by the likes of Australian underground favourites, Gersey and Love Outside Andromeda. And those boundaries keep shifting on the likes of One Day One Hour and Don’t Push Your Luck. Songs that build organically, as [slab] blur the lines of punk and post-hardcore through a cinematic lens.

There are more straightforward moments, too. MultiKim instantly sinks its hooks in, and by its name alone, [slab] pay a beautiful homage to Sonic Youth with some not-so-subtle-nods to the alt-rock veterans with teenage riots and express ways to the skull dotted throughout this four minutes and twenty-seven seconds of glory. There’s no hubris, just a band penning blissful alt-rock designed for the open-road and tracer bullet speeds.

And there’s more of it on Defibrillator. Featuring Cass Lily of The Sewer Cats, it’s a collaboration of gnarled noise not a world away from fellow Northern spirits, Fashion Tips; a diesel fuelled racket with civic vitality bursting from the speakers.

There’s a nod to [slab]’s embryonic stages, too. The meandering post-rock of 5748 and the brawn instrumental of Ready for the Light, both having featured on their debut EP, however dotted between newer songs, they reveal new meaning to become important parts of the puzzle.

The latter dovetails perfectly with closing track, Possession. A slice of gold to end Taut, it’s the kind of cyclical post-rock where every note glitters and lights up everything around you. Like MultiKim, it’s one of those moments that makes you realise why new music conquers all. Those moments of a modest band making music for modest people, and while the DIY faithful will hold Taut close to their hearts, [slab] are surely set to move slightly further afield. The beautiful noise in which they orchestrate, far too good not to reach new ears.

Taut is out now via slabrecords. Purchase from Bandcamp.