Sloy

The band came together in Béziers, France, during 1991. By year’s end the musicians had relocated northward to Rennes, whose established rock community gave them a place to develop their sound gradually. Immediately following the appearance of the EP Fuse, they began performing in larger rooms such as l’Ubu in Rennes and other prominent clubs. Momentum built quickly, prompting them to enlist Steve Albini for the recording of their forthcoming album Plug. John Peel discovered the group around this period and booked them for his radio program. That same year, while supporting Brick Layer Cake and Shellac, they caught the attention of PJ Harvey, who subsequently invited them to join her tour. Sloy resurfaced in 1996 with the album Planet of Tubes. Mainstream outlets began covering the band, resulting in television appearances and features in national magazines. For the first time a French indie rock act appeared headed toward wider acceptance. Even so, the broader recognition they might have attained never materialized, despite the stylistic shift heard on their final album, Electrelite. The new direction failed to connect: longtime followers felt let down while newcomers still found the music too abrasive. Although an extensive tour followed, the signs of dissolution were clear, and the members parted ways two years later.