“I think how we present this is right,” said a ‘representative’ of The Sick Man of Europe, the London-based project that bases its music on repetition and separating the songs from the faces behind it.
Surrounded by mystery, The Sick Man of Europe spoke to Erazer after the release of its eponymous debut album, which came out last month.
Chatting over Zoom (with cameras off, of course), we were told it was created as ‘a vehicle for both the songs and the sound.’ “It’s a very transient concept, but it’s also defined by a lot of very strict rules. It’s a bit of a mess of contradictions. I think anything else [other] than how we’ve presented it so far would feel a little bit dishonest.”
When asked how they would describe their music, the ‘representative’ split the answer between the studio recordings and the live sound. Calling the album’s songs ‘cold, minimal and precise,’ they said the live sound is ‘something entirely different but completely the same.’ “Heavy use of repetition is a tool we use a lot to evolve meanings. We lean further into repetition and try to create something hypnotic.”
The Sick Man of Europe’s songs first emerged in 2023, and performances began last summer. You may have caught them at Heartbreakers in Southampton as part of the Wanderlust Festival earlier this year. “[The project] was formed out of necessity. It takes different forms,” we were told when we asked how it all started. “The thing to remember is it’s never fixed for very long, it just emerges as what it is in that moment.”
Ahead of a run of festivals this summer, The Sickman of Europe’s debut album was released last month via The Leaf Label. “The album as a concept holds a bit of weight and becomes a bit of a burden. “It feels good” was the response to how they feel about the album being available to the public. “Once it’s out in the public, it stops being your own creativity. It becomes part of everyone else’s consciousness.”
If the mystery of the band didn’t intrigue you enough, the name itself might catch your eye. The Sick Man of Europe is a phrase coined during the 1800s, used originally to describe the Ottoman Empire. “The name has been applied to almost every country at some point throughout history. It’s a name which means a lot of things to a lot of different people,” the representative said. “I think it’s extremely suitable for the music. I wouldn’t say [TSMOE] is an obviously political project. That’s not the main goal.”
Earlier this year, the project hit the road supporting London-based post-punk band, and label mates, Snapped Ankles. “It was a great opportunity to tour with them. We played venues all over the UK. We got a little taste of everything, which was really nice.” They said the touring ultimately helped develop the live sound. “The more we repeat [the set] over time, the more the weight of the songs grows. It becomes louder, more direct and probably more intense.”
One thing they strive themselves on is the art of performance, not just playing the songs. “As soon as someone walks in the door to a venue, that’s when the performance starts. Every moment is a moment to nail down and hammer in the concept.”
The Sick Man of Europe will perform at festivals throughout the rest of the year, and its debut album is available now from The Leaf Label.
