(Photo by Chad Codgill)
Flood is Slum Party’s second LP released in six month’s time. Whenever a band puts out music at that clip, you have to wonder if you have an outfit content with putting out just about anything they’ve got lying around or if they really are on a streak of vast creativity. Fortunately, Flood is a case of the latter. Slum Party has tightened and evolved their groovy, dream pop sound to new heights on this eight-song LP.
The album is deliciously lo-fi, creaking and cracking in just the right ways like an old Tascam four-track in the hands of someone not afraid of the red light. The arrangements are lush and well-sculpted. It is nice to hear the care that went into the peripherals of production and mixing, while at the same time somehow still maintaining a gorgeous and honest lo-fi glaze.
The guitar work and vocals are handled by the duo of Riley Kurtenbach and Scott Chaffin (here’s our Artist on Trial with Chaffin). Together they spin a web of distortion and reverb that hectically caroms from side to side above the often overpowered drums and bass of Jen Chaffin and Brittney Smith. Having listened to Chaffin’s work for over a decade, this is definitely the best usage of his falsetto vocal stylings I have heard. They are paired with great effectiveness with Kurtenbach’s clean voice, almost at times difficult to discern who’s singing what. It is truly an impactful dynamic trick that serves as a strong point all throughout the record.
The album opens with a somewhat confused personality in “Like It.” Kurtenbach and Chaffin establish a soothing back and forth over the resonant jam beneath, the distorted bass and chill drums slowly rocking the cradle side to side, only to completely break down and reform with a vastly different and more aggressive closing strain.
“Surprise” is a standout track for me, driven by a Gnarls Barkley-esque groove, Chaffin’s trademark trash pop guitar work, and Kurtenbach’s tight self-harmonization on the chorus.
“Tracks” is a tidy stripped down glass of lemonade in the middle of the sweltering behemoths surrounding it, the familiar fuzzy riffs replaced by a delicately strummed ukulele.
“Batwing Beauty (Surprise Reprise)” takes a stroll more on the psychedelic or jam band side streets. I’m not sure which of the guitar players is featured here, but he or she manages to bring at least a sliver of a welcomed focal point over the looped madness beneath.
The album’s closer “There’s Something Wrong w/Everyone” is like intoxicated math rock, a time signature that stayed on the Ferris wheel for one too many rides and is offering back up the corndog and cotton candy.
Slum Party has shown a consistent and dynamic evolution of their sound with this record. Sure, it’s loose at times and overall heavily medicated, but it is done with purpose and care. Flood is an exercise in sonic exploration above and beyond all past crutches. Bring on Slum Party #3.
Slum Party’s next appearance will be at Club 906 in Liberty on Saturday, June 15. Go check them out and pick up Flood.
–Zach Hodson
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Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production.
He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects.
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