It’s not easy to listen to Squid without becoming delightfully entangled in their abstract melodies and industrial syncopated clanks. Visit “Sludge” for five minutes of sincere introversion that ventures away from their recent character-driven material and delves into something deeper, more sensitive and ultimately, exciting.
'Sludge' artwork
Having just been welcomed to the Warp Records family with artists like Aphex Twin, Stereolab and Brian Eno amongst others to venerate, Brighton-born Squid aren’t by any means the runts of the litter. Their release of “Sludge” has already made its mark, and the DIY community are lapping up their first taste of Squid’s anticipated next chapter.
The song itself is a noisy argument of lyrical introspection shrouded in a chaos of serrated synth sounds, industrial percussion and angular guitar effects. Ollie Judge’s spoken commentary walks us through an interesting reflection of a weird yet somehow relatable mental warfare. Wrapped in a cacophony of cinematic turbulence, Judge’s distressed whining evokes an explosive and jarring soundscape, that meticulously reinforces the lyrical narrative.
With “Sludge”, Squid has taken another step in refining a new sound, all the while still referencing their previous works: shaping their original twang into a sound more mature in its jagged performance. Although they have yet to announce a larger collection of work, “Sludge” has rendered me hungry for their forthcoming instalments. The playfulness with which this song dances around more serious subject matters alludes to the band’s endeavours for a more revealing writing approach. At the forefront stands their adored familiar musical style, yet now spearheaded by a refreshing display of deeper and more socially relevant topics in their lyricism.
You know that giddy feeling you get when your favourite band releases a new track? Well I am ecstatic to share with you this song, and this band. Leeds, if you haven’t heard of Squid by the time you see this, a word of warning: inform and prepare yourselves. It is in your best interest that you experience every second of Squid’s glorious portfolio, and prepare yourself for everything they have to offer. And if you can’t handle the heat, at least give “Sludge” a bump.
Writing by Luc Gibbons