Steady and smooth for Slow Pulp

Things are moving along very smoothly thank you for Chicago-based four-piece showgaze rockers Slow Pulp.

Major UK/Europe support tour completed with heavyweight US band? ✓
Debut LP still receiving glowing plaudits and continuing to release cracking singles? ✓
Newly signed to esteemed record label? ✓

Given the challenges thrown in front of them recently, these achievements of the band (Emily Massey [vocals/guitar], Alexander Leeds [bass], Theodore Mathews [drums], and Henry Stoehr [guitar]) are even more remarkable.

The dark times have passed for Slow Pulp

Before the Covid pandemic, Massey contracted both Lyme disease and chronic mono (an extremely rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus infection). Then her parents were in a serious car accident. It’s testament to the band’s kinship (all bar Massey are junior schoolfriends) that they stuck together at such a difficult time.

Certainly, they oozed confidence when I saw them supporting Death Cab for Cutie last week at London’s Roundhouse. They seemed right at home at such an iconic venue. Major grumble was that their sound was turned down so low. Will look forward to seeing them playing at such venues on their own terms.

The tour helped Slow Pulp build on the fantastic reviews received for their debut LP Moveys. The NME said: “[Moveys is] a record that is packed with a thousand deft little flourishes of texture which together add up to a deeply entrancing whole.”

Signed to ANTI- Records

As noted above, Slow Pulp also recently signed to ANTI- Records. Acts on this prestigious label’s roster include Tom Waits, Kate Bush, and many other big hitters. Another being one of your humble scribe’s favourite groups: Sparklehorse.

To mark the occasion of the signing, the group released a brilliantly woozy single ‘Cramps’. Check out the visualiser below to hear where the band are coming from.

Massey said: “The song came out of a jam at practice right after I had proclaimed that my period cramps were particularly bad that day. It is about searching for things you wish you had in other people and creating this character in your head that has all the physical and emotional attributes you feel that you are lacking.”

Conclusion

It’s fantastic to see such a young group triumphing over adversity. Their winning combination of witty lyrics and killer tunes will hopefully see them hit the big time. And get the chance to turn the sound up at their own shows.