Electronic Sound Magazine Issue 98 Back Issue

It’s more than 30 years since The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu declared it was grim up north. These days, with food and energy prices soaring, public services ripped to shreds, and a daily diet of other depressingly bleak stuff on the news, it seems pretty grim right across “this sceptr’d isle”, as William Shakespeare poetically portrayed Britain. Nothing seems to work properly anymore. In any way. On any level. Especially our government of “cash-chomping wank rats”. That’s not another Shakespeare quote, by the way. Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson came up with that one.

We’ve lots to thank this month’s cover stars for. Sleaford Mods’ forthcoming new album is called ‘UK Grim’ and it finds Jason reaching fresh heights of rage at the world around him. And justifiably so. His cohort Andrew Fearn is on fire too, constructing an intense musical backdrop of barbed electronics and driving beats. If you’ve seen the video for the album’s title track – crafted with collage artist and political satirist Cold War Steve – you’ll know what to expect and you won’t be disappointed. ‘UK Grim’ is not only the Nottingham duo’s angriest record to date, it’s almost certainly their best.

When it came to sorting out our interview with Jason and Andrew, which they insisted took place on their home turf, we quickly realised there was only one writer for the job. Step forward Fat Roland, a man with his own axe to grind – albeit a comedy rubber one. The result is a truly fabulous read covering subjects ranging from free market capitalism to rockery mantelpieces by way of The Haçienda, Charlton Heston and TikTok. Or “dogshit” as Jason calls the social media platform. Oh yes, we’d probably better warn you that there’s a spectacular amount of swearing in the Sleaford Mods piece. Fucking loads of it. Fucking tons.