Never has a band name been more apt. South of England blues-rockers The Greasy Slicks are drenched in a snarling sleaze, propelled forward by driving riffs and frantic drumming. There’s a cocky rock and roll bravado running through their sound, amplified by the confident rhythm and overt swagger on each of the four tracks on ‘Fool Me Twice’.
At times, the EP transports the listener to stereotypical dive bars, seemingly soundtracking a deep-rooted southern adventure. The promising instrumental mid-section of ‘Ratatouille Papadum’ suggests a sprawling desert between smoky blues haunts. ‘Fool Me Twice’ oozes with this atmosphere, not least on the more progressive closing track.
The remainder of the EP doesn’t quite follow suit. Again hinted at in their moniker, opener ‘Eyes Wide Black’ – the record’s weakest track – is overly slick. At times ‘Fool Me Twice’ feels too contrived, the sound like that of a band covering blues hits at a function. It holds on to commercial hooks, ones that heavily detract from the otherwise gritty sound. The trio are at their most exciting when they let the music flow.
Underneath its misplaced veneer, ‘Fool Me Twice’ has the foundations of something great. The future could see The Greasy Slicks turn their attention to the commercial market, risking getting lost in a sea of guitar-driven rock, yet could also witness the trio maximising on their moments of progressive musicianship to create something genuinely exciting. Fingers are firmly crossed for the latter.
BEN TIPPLE