Cutaways - Earth & Earthly Things

Hot on the heels of their 2008 EP ‘Start Stop Start Stop’, Cutaways’ debut full-length ‘Earth & Earthly Things’ is lathered with the quirky, eccentric intelligence that helped springboard them from anonymity to Belfast’s answer to Los Campesinos.

Leading track ‘Milo Of Kroton’ is an energetic opener which delves us head first into the dizzying deliria of Cutaways. Equipped with jumpy start/stop guitars, and a “to me, to you” boy/girl vocal juxtaposition, that ultimately becomes the focal point of the album. Grace and Paul’s vocals work ridiculously well together, with that delightful Belfast brogue making it all the more appealing.

‘Earthly Things’ is a refreshing piano piece that shoots us off course yet again. Albeit lasting for only fifty five seconds, it’s unassuming and is a tonic for the somewhat ostentatious indie scene. With this shift in tempo from manic to mellow it may seem at times the album is spiralling out of control, it’s only after a few listens that you can wholly take in the playfulness and intelligence. Each track offers a new and exciting personality, from the superb vocal arrangement on ‘A Better Paul’ to one of the biggest smile inducing synths around on ‘Lights’.

Cutaways deliver a perfect blend of infectious indie-pop, without a moody lyric in sight.