Album Review

Lawrence and the Slab Boys – Lo-Fi Disgrace

• 15th Jun 2012

Lo-Fi Disgrace is the debut album from the noise-pop collective, Laurence and the Slab Boys. The album was written and recorded by multi-instrumentalist Larry Reid, who was previously the lead guitarist with now defunct Glasgow rock band The Cinematics. When the band split up last year while recording an album, Reid found himself alone and broke in Berlin. His response was to write the songs that were to become this excellent album.

Musically, the album is mostly dark and atmospheric although some lovely guitar melodies provide moments of light. It has the lo fi feel from its title, and there are some interesting tape effects and sounds that pop up here and there, recorded by Reid as he captured the sounds of Berlin.

Larry Reid is clearly a talented songwriter and his songs introduce us to a variety of interesting characters. This is the type of album where you listen intently to the lyrics and come to understand the stories that they tell. Add in the fact that Reid has an expressive voice that enables him to portray all of the emotion from his songs and you have the basis for some fine music.

The album opens with a short instrumental called Introduction that sets the tone nicely. Mushroom, the lead single from the album comes next. With apocalyptic lyrics and some dark imagery, the song is driven by a steady drum beat and a repeated slow guitar chord that shimmers. This lovely track tells of finding love under a mushroom cloud in a tender fashion, and features some great guitar work at its close.

The other highlights are the tracks that use Reid’s story telling lyrics to best effect. Space Dream comes in parts #1 and #2 telling the tale of a burned out astronaut. KEO introduces us to a circus performer in a more upbeat track that has a great guitar riff and Naïve has a sales clerk straggling to see the point of going on.

The album ends strongly with Cry Wolf, which tracks a gradual loss of faith in life, and Mothers Kiss Your Children, a track that sounds has a positive feel to it, yet there is also a dark undertone that chills.

Lo-Fi Disgrace is an interesting album that leaves a good impression of Larry Reid’s talents as a writer and a performer. The fuzzy guitar and sound effects are good backing for Reid’s strong voice as he delivers his fine lyrics. It’s moody and expressive and ultimately an enjoyable debut.