Cut Chord - Demolition Music

 

Released: July 29

In their debut EP, NY-based indie duo Cut Chord brings us a small collection of soft and dreamy ambient folk songs that balance the two major influences elegantly. With guitar, bass, and percussion provided by Connor Klein and vocals with synth backing from Kristen Lembo,  the five songs take on surreal and relaxing tone with a knack for creative repetitions. “Unfurling” uses this technique heavily, with a simple guitar piece that keeps a sense of familiarity for the track and a vocal layering that has Lembo singing the main line while a stack of the repeated name of the track gradually increases in frequency until it takes over the entirety of the vocal. The layering here is incredible, drawing the listener into a bit of a trance as it almost evened a mantra that grows in intensity with the guitar following suit. Just a rather incredible moment of this album. 

Some of the other tracks feel a bit stripped down in comparison. “Undone Things,” the album’s closing track is quite raw in this respect. The vocal here is solitary and commands more presence than Lembo’s naturally soft voice would be expected of. But as the vocal disappears, the synth comes into more focus with a gentle emulated wind-like instrument that carries the tune wonderfully into the end. 

There is something slightly uncomfortable about this album, either despite or because of the relaxing tone in which it presents its stories. While it is a bit easy to simply listen to the soft vocal, hearing what is actually being sang is quite different. “Sailing Into the Void” expresses this dichotomy beautifully as the tender voice express a story of slowly entering the void hand in hand with the one you love. It’s both dark and beautiful in word and music as those soft pads and gently plucked guitar keep things moving towards that void. Just a serene and powerful piece in the midst of a solid EP from this new duo.