Buzzin Music

The Longcut photo: Shirlaine Forrest

The Longcut are receiving high accolades from certain quarters.  Such bold statements as ‘the best band in Manchester’ come with a price.  And so, as word spreads The Longcut have much to live up to with the release of their second album, Open Hearts.

Released from the shackles of major label Sony corporate life and given the freedom to experiment The Longcut recorded Open Hearts at home and at their rehearsal room in Manchester, recording the vocals in the shower room to get a spacious echo.

Open Hearts has rough edges, but the power of emotion, depth and quality of this work pours through in all eleven songs.  Minimalism and space is explored on tracks like Mary Bloody Sunshine, while on Boom happier, pop sensibility is offered by way of a light refreshment.

The album starts with a distorted bass onslaught followed by crashing drums and pounding guitars and the force majeure continues with the finger-pointing chanted chorus “We’re going to tear this poison out at the roots” before the whole song treads a slightly different path, tinkling piano, a quieter, more accessible sound; almost early U2-esque.

Oh yes, Out At The Roots is a great start to an album that is going to make you sit up and listen.

I hear again, slight echoes of a U2 sound (New Year’s Day) in the piano riff on Something Inside.  Analogue synth sounds and a throbbing bass accompany the trademark strained vocal delivery, possible a style adopted to be heard over the loud,sometimes abrassive music.  The vocal delivery reminds me of Robbie Grey and the edginess of early Modern English songs.  Again, the song builds into a crescendo of echo, delay and distortion.

Mary Bloody Sunshine has a twisted beauty in its simple, cold and melancholic spacious sound; and in many ways reminds me of Always Now, the debut album from Blackpool band and Factory recording artists’ Section 25. The twangy bass, tight drum sounds and the controlled, distorted wall of noise guitar are all perfect accompaniment for the passion and pain of Stuart’s voice.

As I listen over and over to this album, I’m trying to think what is so absorbing about The Longcut sound.  And then it comes to me. In a world of clean cut Susan Boyle post-depression X Factor dirge, it’s the clashing ingredients of sweet-coated pop music covered with a sprinkle of sharp, jagged glass.  Delicate pop ideas that splinter and smash into powerful thunderous onslaughts.  A bit like magic space dust sherbet that tastes so sweet before exploding in your mouth like an outdoor firework display.

The new single, Repeated reshapes The Longcut sound slightly but not obtrusively, by introducing an hipnotic electronic/dance element with its hand-clapping snare drum, pumping bass drum and highlighted sequencer squiggles.  But the signature vocal delivery is still present.  And when the guitar drops in for added spice, it floods the sound with impenetrable but gentle, distorted noise.

The Longcut’s second album, Open Hearts is perfect.  A vehicle for three Mancunians who, on delivering this album can rightfully claim the crown of ‘best group in Manchester.’ The combination of Stuart’s voice, sometimes open and wounded, at times full and crazed, Jon’s throbbing and at times twangy lead bass lines and Lee’s hypnotic, distorted guitar, The Longcut are together, a very powerful combination.

The Longcut – Open Hearts tracklist:

1.Out at the Roots
2.Something Inside
3 Tell You So (free download)
4 Evil Dance
5 You Can Always Have More
6 Open Hearts
7 At Any Time
8 Mary Bloody Sunshine
9 Repeated
10 Boom
11 The Last Ones Here

Yes, I hear alt pop of Modern English, anthemic pop rock of U2 and the intensity and seriousness of Factory artists, more akin to Section 25 than Joy Division (which makes a nice change).

Sometimes downbeat, intense, dark and moody.  Then again, upbeat, happy and anthemic Open Hearts is a very powerful album, and one that I find I am drawn to more with each listen.

The Longcut have built their reputation on powerful live shows, and so set out to make Open Hearts, the so-called awkward second album, one that reflected the raw energy of their live performances – and I think they have not only succeeded, they have in the process possible produced the best album of 2009!

For more information visit The Longcut MySpace page.

The new single, Repeated by The Longcut is released on Monday 26th October and the album, Open Hearts is available now.  Both are released on the Manchester-based Melodic independent record label.