THE SLOW READERS CLUB - KNOWLEDGE FREEDOM POWER
It seems nothing, not despots, pandemics, self destruction or the rise of the machine, can keep The Slow Readers Club down. Time in the studio in 2022, with producer Joe Cross (who has worked with the likes of Hurts and The Courteeners), results in Knowledge Freedom Power - 10 sizzling synth tracks which still maintain the Mancunian indie outfit’s alternative rock roots but with a much more uplifting and positive feel.
Opening track ‘Modernise’ sets the tone for the album as a whole, a rousing synth-heavy track which challenges the expectations society places on people, through the repeated lyrics “Get a job, find a girl, hurry up, don’t be late. Pressure’s on to belong, taken all I can take.”
The next thirty-five minutes of the album prove to be a showcase of a band who are comfortable in their sound whilst also being eager to push the boundaries. The remaining nine tracks are anthemic without them sounding overly similar, take the softer tones of ‘Afterlife’ against the uptempo sounds of the album’s addictive title track.
Against the fun synth beats that underpin the album, you find ‘Sacred Song’ - a stunning, unadulterated love song which proves that sometimes the best songs on an album are the simple, stripped down tracks.
‘What Might Have Been’ is a typical track from the band, a high octane track ready and waiting for live crowds to hear it. ‘No You Never’ is a soft, cathartic song which touches on inner demons through the lyrics “I cannot escape the fool I am. Sweet, sweet sorrow”.
Whilst it does maintain the darkness of the band’s previous records, there are little flecks of light in Knowledge Freedom Power - an album bursting with dazzling instrumentals, polished production and captivating vocals. The pandemic hit The Slow Readers Club hard but there is a real sense of them dusting themselves off and re-emerging bigger and better than ever with this record.
Jennifer Rose
★★★★☆