EP Review: Barb by Slugger

Slugger, the project of Callum Creig, released their debut EP Barb on the 25^th February. Taking inspiration from 90’s shoegaze and Grunge (Jesus and Mary Chain, Modest Mouse, Dinosaur Jr) as well as noughties lo-fi/garage rock (Best Coast, Bleached, The Babies) this is the result of a bid to end a frustrating creative block.

It’s the starting point for a project with great potential. Lo-fi and charming in equal measure you’ll find the EP bookended by two excellent tracks in the form of ‘Sleep Forever’ and ‘Robot Parts’. The latter is particularly strong, while it’ll remind you of Dinosaur Jr there’s a unique charm just below the surface that you’ll end up falling in love with.

‘Don’t Make Me Hate You’ is the strongest of the remaining tracks with an excellent instantaneous garage rock feel. Much like the rest of the EP, its imperfections lend weight to the charm. The percussion may leave a lot to be desired and at times its more than a little murky sounding, but it’s that rawness that raises a smile and hints at the potential to come with the future of Slugger.

AD Rating 7/10