Sleaford Mods

Eton Alive

At Sleaford Mods’ most commercially successful and culturally influential moment to date, in ‘Eton Alive’ they have delivered one of their strongest records so far; a hellfire missive thrown down by a band still very much at the peak of their powers.

While the Mods' humorous lyrics often mask the unclenching reality of their reportage, Eton Alive is a blunt album, which speaks to distorted realities.

It’s cathartic, it’s entertaining. It says: you exist. ‘Eton Alive’ makes Sleaford Mods funny again.

This is a record that expands the idea of what Sleaford Mods could be.

Taking chances while renewing and enhancing their inimitable sound, Eton Alive is a belch in the face of the architects of austerity, a cry of sheer life amid an increasingly deadening environment.

As ever, Sleaford Mods are a voice that must be heard.

‘Eton Alive’ captures the self-proclaimed “Best Band in the World” as wide-awake as ever, dolloping fun all over their music like it’s Daddies Brown Sauce.

Though it's more than a little contrary that their first album on their own label is more melodic and emotionally immediate than their work for Rough Trade, it's one of many moves on Eton Alive that are pure Sleaford Mods.

The anger is still prominent on the Nottingham duo’s first album on their own label, but it’s now tempered by a greater sense of resignation, most notably on those songs where he drops his regular sprechgesang in favour of actual singing.

Eton Alive ... doesn’t fiddle too much with a working formula while still sounding like the work of a band that have no plans to vacate their unexpected platform any time soon.

Eton Alive is the first Sleaford Mods LP to strip back its façade of snotty punk satire and portray genuine dejection at the state of things.