SLEAFORD MODS & FLORENCE SHAW – Force 10 From Navarone

Sleaford Mods are an English post-punk music duo, formed in 2007 in Nottingham. The band features vocalist Jason Williamson and, since 2012, musician Andrew Fearn. They are known for their abrasive, minimalist musical style and embittered explorations of austerity-era Britain, culture, and working class life, delivered in Williamson’s East Midlands accent. The duo have released several albums to critical praise.

Florence Shaw of the group Dry Cleaning is a very different kind of rock star. What is a nascent band to do, when the person decided on to be the singer doesn’t seem interested in singing – or even, really, being at the front of the stage? For the British band Dry Cleaning, whose second studio album Stumpwork was recently released, timing and persistence were key.

“I was experiencing a bit of turmoil, just in my personal life generally at the time, and I think that was really the thing that pushed me to try it,” says vocalist Florence Shaw, whose droll poetics and magnetic voice are cornerstones for the band. Once convinced, she found herself sucked in. “I think it’s nice to be listened to,” she tells Morning Edition‘s Rachel Martin with a laugh. “I thought like ‘Wow, you can just say anything into this thing’ … there’s something powerful about that.”

Shaw spoke to NPR about Stumpwork, going behind the scenes of her kaleidoscopic lyrical approach, dealing with criticism and, at last, what it was like to sing a melody here and there… [+]

[Verse 1: Jason Williamson] Faced with the smash of a wall indeed And going on about it in the Morning to me Im losing in the head and I gone to far Force ten from Navarone is a shot fired hard Cos we never aimed it In the box of isolation

[Chorus: Jason Williamson] Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke

[Verse 2: Florence Shaw] Mummy can’t reach and then a pause You look different a large green blob Allergic to your own things Get married and go on safari Fucking viral fucking batman video you fucking moron Why don’t you phone up spine bend legs sync scooter club shit smell that’s my road kill hat, don’t touch it

[Chorus: Jason Williamson & Florence Shaw] Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke

[Verse 3: Jason Williamson] Instinct is all it’s the meat to our bones So hang on to the cable car force ten from navarone Freeze if you fall so keep ya gun up round ya neck Force ten from a country, it still believes it’s not dead …but it is… Fuckin dead Fuckin dead

[Chorus: Jason Williamson & Florence Shaw] Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke Jason, why does the darkness elope? Cross sectioned. Its not a drink and I don’t fucking smoke

[Outro: Jason Williamson] Bet ya never thought it Force ten from Navarone Bet ya never used it We only to seem to use what we are told we own

[Instrumental]