Wombo
Slab
FIRE TALK
There’s a never-ending debate that music journalists invariably engage in at some point during their career: Is there really such a thing as a “great” EP? Naturally, devout fans of any band will insist that there is. A completist will never admit halfway through collecting a band’s catalog that said band just went in a crappy new direction with their sound. And, sure, major labels have no shortage of blood on their hands for forcing commercially successful artists to churn out filler stopgap releases between full-lengths, especially if there’s a delay in the artistic process.
But for those who perceive all EPs as esoteric, get real. Would we have the same Pixies were it not for Come on Pilgrim? What would Aphex Twin be without Come to Daddy? Or Pavement without Watery, Domestic? While time will tell whether Wombo’s Slab may ever belong in the same company as those three releases, it’s a fine listen that effectively serves the main purpose of an EP: to tide over fans until the next full-fledged go-’round.
This release finds the young band from Louisville, Kentucky, more toned-down than ever. The first two tracks, “Slab” and “In Situ,” show a lighter side of the trio’s post-punk spirit, while “Thread” features no distortion and the closing “Wolfe Ave 40” is all-acoustic. Nowhere on the EP is there a trace of Wombo’s penchant for psych-rock; whether that’s an indication of where they’re going is anyone’s guess.
Whatever the case, following last year’s whimsical Fairy Rust LP, Slab is a necessary palate cleanser before whatever Wombo decide to do next. Surely, their next special delivery will be anchored once again by Sydney Chadwick’s vocals, which are maturing quicker than blackberries on the vine. At just 10 minutes, Slab will annoy some fans looking for more meat on the bone. But the wispiness of the release should win Wombo some new converts: After all, it’s easier to chew a wafer in one bite than a loaf of bread.
