Manchester’s noir indie-rock outfit The Slow Readers Club returns with their seventh studio album, Out Of A Dream. It is a journey through a modern, digital landscape reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno, though this time, the band serves as the guide instead of Virgil.
The band describes the album as “a collection of abstract visions that question reality, celebrate love, and long for connection.” True to that vision, Out Of A Dream captures the unease of rapid technological evolution, losing friends to its isolating depths, and the brighter, hopeful aspects of love and human connection.
Of the ten tracks, several stand out. The opener sets the tone by exploring the unease surrounding our increasing dependence—perhaps even obsession—with the digital world. Frontman Aaron Starkie’s evocative vocals lend an air of certainty to the lyrics, reinforcing the idea that despite technology’s encroaching grip, we need not surrender our individuality or souls to binary machines.
“Animals” brims with urgent energy, unfolding on sharp, shimmering guitars before melting into a sleek, melodic groove. Starkie’s shifting vocal tones add a sense of anticipation, capturing the electric thrill of love. Meanwhile, “Little White Lies” emerges as a highlight, its rippling harmonics and syncopated rhythms painting a luminous, dreamy soundscape steeped in longing.
On the darker end of the spectrum, “Dear Silence” channels a moody fusion of new wave and indie rock, its propulsive momentum simmering like a pressure cooker on the verge of release. “Boy So Blue,” with its atmospheric textures, hints at a U2 influence while leaning into a polished, radio-friendly appeal.
“Loved You Then” starts with a bubbling intro before flowing into a visceral, psychedelic-tinged melody carried by a galloping rhythm. Starkie’s nuanced delivery perfectly conveys the song’s themes of love lost and lingering heartache. Closing the album, the achingly beautiful “Our Song Is Sung” unfurls with a tender, slow-burning melody, Starkie’s high tenor brimming with emotion. As the instruments build in weight and resonance, the track swells to a poignant climax before gently fading away—a fittingly bittersweet farewell.
Simultaneously melancholic, euphoric, and utterly captivating, Out Of A Dream is both immediate and immersive. A record that lingers in the mind long after the final note, leaving the listener yearning for just one more spin.
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