Slift
{{mfn|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{short description|French rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Slift
| image = File:Slift Antipode Rennes 2025.jpg
| caption = Slift on stage in 2025
| origin = Toulouse, France
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = {{start date|2016}}–present
| label = {{plainlist|
- Sub Pop
- Rough Trade
- Vicious Circle}}
| associated_acts =
| current_members = {{plainlist|
- Jean Fossat
- Rémi Fossat
- Canek Flores}}
| past_members =
| website = {{URL|sliftrock.com}}
}}
Slift (stylised as SLIFT) is a French rock band from Toulouse. The band consists of brothers Jean (guitar, vocals, synthesizers) and Rémi Fossat (bass), and their high school friend Canek Flores (drums). Since forming in 2016, the band has released three LPs, one EP, and multiple live sessions, in addition to touring internationally in Europe and North America.
History
= 2016–2017: Early years and initial releases =
Slift formed after brothers Jean and Rémi Fossat met drummer Canek Flores at a classical music school. The trio began performing together in various groups before forming Slift in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Pehling |first1=Dave |title=CBS SF Talks To Guitarist Jean Fossat Of French Psych Band Slift |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/cbs-sf-talks-to-guitarist-jean-fossat-of-french-psych-band-slift/ |website=CBS News |publisher=CBS Broadcasting, Inc. |access-date=5 January 2023}} Their debut EP, Space Is the Key, was released two years later and features a garage rock sound. In 2018, Slift released their debut album, La Planète Inexplorée, on Howlin Banana Records.
= 2020–present: ''Ummon'' and breakthrough success =
On 28 February 2020, the band released their second studio album, Ummon, which was met with positive critical reviews.{{cite web |title=Album Review: Slift – Ummon |url=https://theeliteextremophile.com/2020/03/23/album-review-slift-ummon/ |website=The Elite Extremophile |access-date=21 February 2022 |date=23 March 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Whittle |first1=Nathan |title=Slift: Ummon – album review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/slift-ummon-album-review/ |website=Louder Than War |access-date=21 February 2022 |date=18 February 2020}}{{cite magazine |last=Kendall |first=Jo |date=1 April 2020|title=Slift: Ummon |url=https://www.yumpu.com/news/en/issue/10250-classic-rock-issue-042020/read?page=87 |magazine=Classic Rock |page=87 |location=London |publisher=Future plc |access-date=21 February 2022}}{{cite web |title=Review: Slift - Ummon |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/81315/Slift-Ummon/ |website=Sputnikmusic |access-date=21 February 2022 |date=27 April 2020}} The album showcases a stylistic transition towards a heavier, metal-inspired sound. The band was initially unable to tour in support of Ummon due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. The band garnered international attention during the pandemic through widespread sharing of their debut KEXP session.{{cite web |title=SLIFT - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knzsyZWbN7g |website=YouTube |publisher=KEXP |access-date=5 January 2023 |date=7 December 2019}} In late 2022, the band embarked on their first North American tour, including performances at the Levitation and Desert Daze festivals. On 19 January 2024, Slift released their third studio album, Ilion, through Sub Pop Records.
Discography
= Studio albums =
- La Planète Inexplorée (2018)
- Ummon (2020)
- Ilion (2024)
= Extended plays =
- Spacetrip for Everyone (2016)
- Space Is the Key (2017)
= Live albums =
- Levitation Sessions (2021)
= Singles =
- "The Sword" (2017)
- "Fearless Eye" (2018)
- "Ummon" (2019)
- "Hyperion" (2020)
- "Unseen" (2022)
- "Ilion" (2023)
- “Nimh” (2023)
- “Weavers’ Weft” (2024)
= Music videos =
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op4QXhUCtOA&ab_channel=SLIFT Dominator (2017)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6-yYxIuxE4&ab_channel=SLIFT The Sword (2017)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwKLNT_JtxA&ab_channel=SLIFT Fearless Eye (2018)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yjuu0tbSBI&ab_channel=SLIFT Heavy Road (2018)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxyQmgla400&ab_channel=SLIFT Hyperion (2020)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o17rPzDSWSY&ab_channel=SLIFTSLIFTOfficialArtistChannel Altitude Lake (2020)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L81GvZLdVXw&ab_channel=SLIFTSLIFTOfficialArtistChannel Thousand Helmets of Gold (2021)]
References
{{Reflist}}
=Further reading=
- https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/88070/Slift-Ilion/
- https://bigtakeover.com/concerts/slift-meatbodies-brighton-music-hall-boston-oct-23-2024
- https://www.loudersound.com/features/slift-interview-ilion-2024
- [https://ghostcultmag.com/arctangent-festival-2025-books-new-headliners-wardruna-tesseract-with-clown-core-leprous-mew-slift-arab-strap-green-lung-pelican-emma-ruth-rundle-and-more/ playing festival]
- https://www.brooklynvegan.com/french-psych-band-slift-touring-north-america-with-meatbodies-ahead-of-levitation-fest/
- https://www.invisibleoranges.com/slift-ummon-video-premiere/
- https://www.kerrang.com/desertfest-have-announced-day-splits-and-a-bunch-of-new-bands
- https://www.loudersound.com/features/best-new-metal-bands-alterium-el-moono-slift-fulci
- https://www.altpress.com/slift-ilion-interview/
External links
- {{Official website|http://sliftrock.com/}}
Category:2016 establishments in France
Category:English-language musical groups from France
Category:French heavy metal musical groups
Category:French progressive rock groups
Category:French space rock musical groups
Category:French stoner rock musical groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2016
Category:Musicians from Toulouse