Hmm.I wondered. A Cd that gives nothing away in terms of aesthetics is always an interesting proposition. The cover choosing not to disclose even a hint of the hidden gems it may or may not contain, the girl with the phone keeping very quiet about the noughts and zeroes burned right under her feet. A very relevant image showing modern self contained life in suburbia is the front piece to The Cut's latest offering to the public domain.
Things kick off with a very funky "Forever", and boy can these lads play. Drums and bass play as tight as fook to back up the barrage of wah wah guitars and sampled filter sweeps. The whole thing relentlessly pummels me into the ground before letting up for that one split second where I think it's safe to come out, only to be pinned back against the wall with a mighty stab.
Things get much rockier with 'Waste of Life' and 'Special', the latter having one of the most "sing all day 'cos I heard it on the radio this morning" catchy choruses I have heard in a long time. Intricate guitar melodies are woven around the steam roller rhythm section intent on crushing the 'retro rock' crowd and Doherty lovers in its wake.
Now, it would be easy to pass this band off as a funk rock outfit if not for the Fourth and final track, "The Late Room". I must admit that I was surprised to hear a drum and bass tune at the end of this EP, but it fits the bill and seems to give The Cut that edge, allowing them to become more than this 3 piece band and really push the boundaries of genre and style. A hard hitting, rolling song with absolutely kick ass drums, synthesized bass and airy guitar set to psychedelic samples. It has the cut outs, the drum breaks, everything you could want (I'm thinking a Roni Size remix!) The scope here is amazing and I think there is something really special to be nurtured.
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The songs as they are, are good enough to put all but the best of the unsigned to shame. The Cut certainly don't adhere to the current trends when it comes to their music, something which could potentially be their downfall. Personally, I always love the underdog and it came as a breath of fresh air.
www.thecut-theband.com
thecut_theband@hotmail.com
(review originally from 'Wavelength' fanzine)
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