“I look like the Michelin Man,” spits Jason Williamson as Live Tonight introduces 'Key Markets'. It's not quite the cry of “McFlurry!” that pocked 'Austerity Dogs', but it's still ridiculous and still unquestionably Sleaford Mods.
The band have been courting a wider audience for a while, but exploded into mainstream consciousness via The Prodigy's Ibiza earlier this year. So what do they do? Do they pander to the population at large and temper their bilious missives for radio? Of course they don’t.
Instrumentally, 'Key Markets' doesn't stray too far from the blueprint of last year's 'Divide And Exit'. It's a minimalist affair, with Andrew Fearn laying down a variety of four to the floor drum beats and basslines, while grabbing pockets of punk on No One's Bothered and threading a seething funk groove through Silly Me.
Snippets of the record are reminiscent of The Fall, John Cooper Clarke and The Streets, but it's Williamson's vitriolic delivery that gives the Mods' material a pair of iron-clad bollocks. His rants read like a word association game, flitting from one subject to another with equal parts ease and venom.
The tone changes just as fast. Bronx In A Six jumps from “I couldn’t give a fucking shit what you think about me, cunt” to “you silly billy” in a matter of seconds. It's confrontational. It’s as though Williamson is in front of you bellowing a stream of consciousness tirade because you bumped into him on the street.
He does not care who takes offence at his musings. Politicians are branded “fuckingpisstakers” during Face To Faces, toilet venue owners receive a grilling on Live Tonight and everyone else is taken down a peg or 12 across the span of 'Key Markets'.
This isn’t an album for everyone. It's a raw, unhinged take on Britain from the perspective of one very angry man from the midlands, who scatters a flurry of insults and insight over a sea of profanity and seemingly random titbits. As Williamson summarises on In Quiet Streets: “We don't want radio play, we're not fucking Cannon and Ball.” No, you're not. But people are listening and big things are afoot. This band is not going away.
Sleaford Mods Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed September 23 2015 - MANCHESTER Ritz
Thu September 24 2015 - CARLISLE Brickyard
Fri September 25 2015 - NEWCASTLE Northumbria University
Mon September 28 2015 - LEEDS Irish Centre
Tue September 29 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Institute
Thu October 01 2015 - CARDIFF Y Plas
Fri October 02 2015 - LONDON Forum
Sun October 04 2015 - BRISTOL Bierkeller
Mon October 05 2015 - BOURNEMOUTH Old Fire Station
Tue October 06 2015 - BRIGHTON Old Market
Thu October 08 2015 - CAMBRIDGE Junction
Fri October 09 2015 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
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