After a year without any new music, Chicago-based indie rock group Slow Pulp have announced their sophomore album Yard to be released on Sept. 29, along with a sizable world tour starting in October. The project’s second single “Slugs” dropped Friday, June 28th.
Although Slow Pulp has played into the loud, lo-fi guitar rock commonly embodied by the recent wave of indie startups — see Indigo De Souza, Pretty Sick, Snail Mail — their leadoff single “Cramps” from February comes out blazing unlike anything from their most recent album Moveys. “Slugs” is not as fiery, but equally as distorted, mainly in the drums and background guitar growls. Lead singer and guitar player Emily Massey delivers mellow vocals over chugging electric guitars and a straight-forward, dirty drum take. “Cramps” is the band’s electric, overstimulating comeback, and “Slugs” is the head-bobbing, nighttime jam.
Yard is Slow Pulp’s first album under the label Anti-, home to countless influential names such as Billy Bragg, Dr. Dog, Kate Bush, and Mavis Staples; it can be pre-ordered and pre-saved now. Slow Pulp departs on a world tour in October, starting in Milwaukee, WI and closing out in Chicago, followed by an EU/UK leg of the tour. New York duo Babehoven will accompany the band in the US, while Toronto’s PACKS will join for the EU/UK stint. Catch the band in Philadelphia at The Foundry on Halloween Night; details at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.