[slab]: Taut – Review – ALBUM OF THE WEEK 2!

[slab]: Taut

Self released

DL | Stream

Released 14 March 2025

5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

DIY Manchester trio [slab] release their debut album Taut produced by Simon ‘Ding’ Archer and it’s a lesson in cinematic moody music that soars with a shoegaze punk bite. Wayne AF Carey reviews…

Catching the attention of our John Robb here last year [slab] introduce a cracking debut full of twists and turns without trying to slide into any genre, judging by these nine tracks of ambitious power post punk that flirt between instrumentals and vocal led punk psych blasts. [slab] are Paul (vocals/bass), Tom (guitar, vocals) and Lianne (drums).

[slab] are a beautiful thing on first listen. Just check the opening track Deliverance. It’s a down tempo starter that drags you in with a great drum beat, maudlin guitars and bass with oozing lyrics and slick production from ‘Ding’ who knows his way round 6DB like a tall as fuck Gandalf like wizard, especially when the crescending guitars crash in towards the finale. One Day One Hour kicks in with a smart mix of guitars, funky drums and low slung bass with more smooth as fuck honey vocals from Paul that brings back memories of your favourite 90’s shoegaze gaze bands to give you the full shebang. It’s lovely stuff with a  crystal clear shimmering sound that builds and builds with Liannes excellent drum skills sliding into a psych as fuck guitar piece that would have Mogwai shitting themselves lurking in the shadows and Slowdive giving them a round of applause. MultiKim is what I interpret as an ode to Kim Gordon with the lyrics ‘Teenage Riot’ and ‘Drunken Butterfly’ thrown in there with a real nod to the early sound of Sonic Youth packed in a tight little bag that bursts through with their clever use of ‘sonic’ noise that thrills.

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5748 is another maudlin yet stunning piece of work from probably one of the tightest bands on the Manchester scene I need to see live soon. An instrumental that has shades of Arab Strap at their best and obviously another nod to Mogwai in their simple yet clever build up. The clever bit is the drum part that sounds like Lianne is trying to light a Zippo that’s running out of fuel before that crashing dynamic guitar explodes again towards the end. Brilliant. Next track Ruin is one minute eleven of gothic noise that threatens to explode yet peters out before they burst into the excellent punk of Defibrillator with Cass from The Sewer Cats ripping a hole into the sound of [slab]. It’s a massive twist to the whole album with a top as fuck guitar riff playing with the venom of Cass, mixed with Paul’s harmonies backing it all up, before Cass let’s out her guttural shit.

Don’t Push Your Luck keeps the beat flowing with a funky drum beat from Lianne, with Paul keeping his smooth vocals flowing over the bass before the sleazy guitar riff slides in like a psych beast playing games with your ears. I’d describe it as shoegaze goth punk but what do I know about music? Like I’ve said, it twists and turns and sounds like nothing else around at the moment. Ready For The Light has already turned heads with Andy Cairns from Therapy? and you can see why. A chunky building riff out front with the drums held back in the mix and a dirty bass threatening to let loose before Lianne goes all fucking drum n bass with THAT fast as fuck drum beat chomping at the bit. It’s like Mogwai on speed. Seriously. There’s even a hint of Floyd in there from their Pompei era if they’d discovered Ecstacy. A fucking sonic blast of fire fuelled fun. Possession is a six minute dark gothic piece about ermm being possessed. Whilst the last track was a sonic romp, this floats in with cinematic sound the trio should be proud of, and ‘Ding’ has marked his territory yet again with crystal clear production that firmly puts him into the stable of classic producers from the UK. The climax is the best noise I’ve heard for a while, giving me a proper headfuck that fades out like a bastard.

I’ll say it again, this group are doing something no one else outside of Scotland are releasing at the moment and it’s a sonic ride into a talented trio with a debut they should be proud of. A trip into the dark side of the Manchester music scene that can’t be matched this year.

Live dates:

20th March – The Ferret, Preston, supporting House of All

28th March -JT Soar, Nottingham w/Flint Moore

29th March – Snug, Atherton supporting Billy Mahonie

5th April – Puzzle Hall Inn, Halifax

11th April – Peer Hat, Manchester

24th April – Golden Lion, Todmorden supporting Suir

• Source: NEWHD MEDIA