Rating: NNN
There’s very little left to connect the Uncut to their early beginnings as a techno-rock duo doing their best imitation of Joy Division having a night out on the town. Of course, they’d already turned into a full-on rock quartet before their debut album (after founding member Jake Fairley relocated to Berlin), but this time there’s not a disco beat to be found, and that detached restraint has been bumped up to more of a rock snarl. Second frontman Sam Goldberg sounds like he’s channelling a bit of Morrissey at some points as well as some of that sleepy, bratty quality the Jesus and Mary Chain did so well, while Ian Worang has let more urgency creep into his deadpan vocals. Bassist Derek Tokar steps up to the mic for a couple of songs as well, adding further variety to the songwriting. Their growing palette is the album’s strength, but also its weakness very few listeners will enjoy all the tangents. I’d keep angular post-punk and the noisy takes on classic pop while ditching the big modern rock wall of chords stuff.
