Sleaford Mods – Divide and Exit
Released in April 2014 by two seasoned lads from Nottingham, Divide and Exit, as the title alone suggests, is akin to musical Marmite – love it or hate it – this will divide the audio marketplace. It is not something you play when Great aunt Maud or the Vicar call around for tea. On the other hand I cannot remember reacting so strongly or positively to anything else since the day I first heard “Neat, Neat, Neat” by the Damned tearing out of a cheap transistor radio back in 1977.
On that occasion my musical world imploded, like that of so many others, and this exciting new music we called Punk caused an essential musical appraisal – the rest we say is history.
The Sleaford Mods have the same effect when you hear them for the first time. Here instead of 3 chords on a guitar Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn use simple drum and bass beats with the same Punk attitude that excited us in the tail end of the 70s.
Savvy, streetwise, visceral and edge of the seat exciting this music illicits a response. The vocals are direct and explode from the speakers like ricocheting bullets and demand that you pay attention. Music this smile inducing and riveting comes along very rarely. When it does, it should be received and embraced with open arms.
This album is more relevant to our political times than anything else I have heard all through 2014. This comes highly recommended if exciting and vital music is important to you. You really do deserve to hear this.
Islwyn Paul Mainwaring
