by Alice Zakusilo (@GhostyShibe)
Wombo has long been accredited to its atmospheric and surreal sound, which remains experimental and almost uncanny at times. The more abstract and unique sound they maintain has made them a hidden gem within the post-punk scene. Wombo found its start in Louisville, Kentucky in 2016, comprised of Sydney Chadwick on the bass and vocals, Cameron Lowe on guitar, and Joel Taylor on drums. Their music is ambitious and engaging, almost psychedelic, yet still sharp and focused. As an EP, Slab brings a lot to the table stylistically, weaving ethereal vocals with thunderous bass to create a sound that truly sets them apart from others within the genre. Wombo have an inate ability to create and maintain a creepy, ghost-like ambiance and energy that makes Slab stand out compared to some of their previous work, Fairy Rust or Blossomlooksdownuponus. The EP has this laid-back and relaxed feel, maintaining an unmistakable allure. The sweet surrealist soundscapes Wombo weaves from this EP show an utterly transcendent beauty and a sign of growth from their previous works.
So much of the record is reminiscent of a long-forgotten childhood memory. It has a sense of nostalgia, like going up into the attic and leafing through old photo albums, the EP conjures the feeling of wandering a deep dark forest, trying to recall a memory you only have a blurry recollection of, captured by the softness and tenderness of tracks like “Wolfe Ave 40”. The soft humming and more laid-back acoustic tone gives it this gentle and fuzzy feeling. As an EP, Slab creates all of these visceral emotional works, the eerie grooves are simplistic, yet embrace oddity, taking the listener on that journey with them. Feelings of melancholy flow freely, the twinge of sadness makes these tracks sound all the more dark and mysterious. Wombo can take a psych and post-punk sound and truly create something beautiful out of it, evoking a spectral nostalgia that transports listeners to hauntingly familiar landscapes on “Thread” and the aforementioned “Wolfe Ave 40”.
“Slab” and “In Situ” bring more energy to this EP, yet they’re still able to maintain the eerie, ghost-like sentiment while incorporating harder, thumping bass lines and breezier guitars. The robust bass on “Slab” anchors the track, providing a solid foundation for the distant supernatural vocals that take the listener somewhere far away and vaguely unfamiliar. Chadwick credits that distant feeling and inspiration to a book on dissociation she had read. The way the bass lines contrast so harshly with the vocals is what makes the song such a standout on this EP as a whole. “In Situ” lets the airy and breezy guitars shine, which when paired with the sublime vocals gives it a sound unlike any other.
The Slab EP stands out as a unique testament to the band's distinctive and innovative approach within the genre. Wombo’s aptitude in creating spooky and ethereal vocals, powerful bass, and uncluttered guitars gives the EP a hauntingly atmospheric landscape that’s captivating from the very first song. Tracks like “Wolfe Ave 40” and “Thread” evoke an old haunted mansion, each creaking floorboard carrying with it a vaguely familiar memory of long ago, its eerie and captivating atmosphere enchanting anyone who listens. Slab uses its contrasting and complex elements to create something that is not only cohesive but immersive, leaving the listener wanting more. Wombo’s ability to combine sweet surrealism with haunting atmospheric undertones works to make this EP truly something special, and shows the way the band is constantly evolving their sound.