Yeah, So had been dipped in that folk flavour which was all the rage at the end of the last decade but Paradise was a step into something smoother, that couldn't be played with kitchen utensils. Although it had some real craftsmanship in songwriting it lacked the fun that Slow Club swooned me with the first time round, the personality had been sucked out in production but they still stood out from the crowd.
Sunday afternoon, Tramlines last year, after three days of great music there was a set that really won my weekend, it was Slow Club's who triumphantly owned the main stage with new material. Nobody wins with new songs live, I rarely enjoy hearing tunes for the first time in a live setting but there was something special here. Suffering You, Suffering Me was in my head for days, the only disappointment was having to rely on shaking Youtube footage for a year before getting to hear what other tricks this band had up their sleeves.
It didn't take long to realize that Rebecca, Charles and co had upped the game several gears with Complete Surrender and they didn't just get lucky with Suffering You, Suffering Me which is just one of eleven gems that is sprinkled with melodies to smile along to and tales full of tears. It will be criminal if the mainstream don't pick up on what Slow Club offer this time round.
With opening track titled Tears Of Joy you know that you aren't in for laughs and giggles but when it comes to songwriting Rebecca and Charles can paint emotions clearer than anybody. They turn those sad times into uplifting pop brought to life with soulful strings which work seamlessly alongside delicate moments where tenderness is at the forefront.
Individually Rebecca and Charles are very different characters, Rebecca offers pop star sparkle whilst Charles is the poet but when they work together they create something unique, special as they bring influences to the table that you wouldn't really expect to hear on one album. This is the first time they have really collaborated in terms of songwriting and it has paid off, in the past they used to stick to their own stories, now they are finishing each others sentences! Suffering You, Suffering Me is a blatant, no holds barred pop with a stonking beat and killer chorus that sees Rebecca in her element whilst influences of Jenny Lewis come through on the angelic Not Mine To Love. The pair collide brilliantly on Tears Of Joy where they compliment each other like best friends pulling their way through tricky situations and the lush melody on The Pieces see them tread new territories with layers showing a fresh approach.
The Slow Club I first fell for is unrecognisable on the glorious, triumphant, brass fuelled The Queen's Nose as they reach new levels in songwriting, structure and ambition, a wonderful moment to witness from a band who dared and who won. Although Paraguay and Panama is the most sombre moment on the record it is Charles' intimacy and heartfelt lyrics that aren't to be taken lightly, this is followed by Dependable People and Things That I'm Sure Of where Rebecca gushes with sadness.
The album concludes with everything that is Slow Club 3.0 I'm talking brass, duets and daft song titles but also everything Slow Club have always been about, misery and heartbreak!
Complete Surrender was high up in albums to get excited for 2014 and it has not disappointed. At all. Beautiful. Fun. Sad. Perfect.
The album is out on Monday but you can listen here. (Go buy it!)