A Song For Friday: Freak Slug

Straight out of Manchester...dream pop with a jolt of post-punk

How It Started

Record Roundup: Plugged In (Published October 16, 2021)

Freak Slug - Slow Down Babe I was introduced to the work of Xenya Genovese when HBO's audacious skater series Betty featured her cover of Joy Division's Disorder in a scene that had me hitting Shazam. Her draggy, dreamy take has no shortage of attitude as she takes on post-punk bedrock without seeming intimidated. On her latest album, she collaborates with producer Dwyer for a series of downbeat slow jams spun from looped guitar strums, lo-fi beats, pulsating synth clouds, and her airy voice. It's almost all mood as one song blends into another, but it’s a mood I'm happy to have on tap.

How It’s Going

Freak Slug has announced her debut album, I Blow Out Big Candles, which “Comes out sometime at the end of the year I can’t remember exactly when probs will get told off about that cos I should rly know the details by now lol x.” At least that’s how she put it on Facebook! It seems like organized chaos is a little bit part of the brand. Consider that the “latest album” I described above is now attributed solely to Dwyer, who produced it and co-wrote the songs. Then there’s the fact that six U.S. dates in October have now been changed to three dates in December.

But, darn, I hope to be there because the first single, Spells, is GREAT. After some distorted screams, it kicks into an insidiously catchy bass and drum rhythm, with her sweet voice set off further by scratchy guitar. In perfect dance-pop fashion, there’s a wordless chorus, a cowbell breakdown, and a massed wall of guitars that threaten to take over near the end. Get involved with what she calls “…a song for the lovers and the I don’t knowers!” by either watching the stuffed-bear-abusing video or listening on your favorite streaming service.

A little further digging reveals the album release date is November 8th and it features ten tracks produced by Alex Headford of Jadu Heart, whose 2023 album, Derealised, may provide further clues to the sound world of I Blow Out Big Candles.

I also see that Freak Slug has been busy with some guest spots and EPs since that album with Dwyer, which will help fill the time between now and November as I try not to annoy my family by playing Spells too often!

From the archive:
Best Of 2021: Rock, Folk, Etc.