Kindest Cuts - Keeping Distance

Kindest Cuts have been around for a while. Their first release came out 7 years ago. They have a cassette/CD S/T release from 2013 and split cassette with Ghost Twin from 2015, all of which is most-likely out of print. In addition, over the years a song here and there was released digitally. I could never understand why we didn't hear more from this artist. With all the labels out there, surely one of them would discover Kindest Cuts would be a great signing. Years went by, and nothing. The music would pop up on playlists, DJ sets and random people posting videos on social media. Bandcamp and Facebook had nothing but praise for Kindest Cuts in the comments section. I could not get enough of "Handsome Killer". I must have played that song 100's of times over the years. I also enjoyed the all covers split cassette with Ghost Twin. Kindest Cuts delivered a killer version of The Screamers classic "122 Hours Of Fear" which I also played 100's of times. It became very quiet after 2015. I began to think that the future of Kindest Cuts did not exist. I was wrong. We finally get to 2020 and there are some signs of life with a few new tracks, and then Oraculo Records announces the pre-order for Kindest Cuts Keeping Distance. My friend and I placed a joint order to secure our copies. The release includes not only the album but also a bonus 7". Only 200 were made, and it sold out in pre-order. Oraculo scored!!!!! We are all happy to finally see Kindest Cuts on vinyl. 


The good news is....... that we finally have the proper release of all Kindest Cuts' original material. The bad news is that it is more anthology based than a new album. Those of us that are familiar with the artist already know these tracks quite well. Yes, it has been remastered for vinyl and that's a good thing, but it's a bit of bummer that nothing previously unreleased was included on this LP. I'm good with it, and I guess the fans are as well since it sold rather quick in pre-order.

What exactly do you get from Kindest Cuts? You get Patrick Short showing the world how to make top notch synthpop with aggressive basslines joined by well-constructed synths and pristine programming.  From the self-deprecating, cynical and sometimes fatalistic lyrics of "Public Hell", "Cold Eyes" and "All You Need Is Money (Feat. New Haunts)" to the intricate sonic landscapes of "Keeping Distance" and "Handsome Killer", the delivery becomes a sensory overload as you digest which songs resonate more than others, which bassline burrows further into your soul, or how the hell does he make all of these songs so damn addicting. They become stuck in your head instantly. The vocals push out plenty of melodies with catchy choruses. Everything is executed brilliantly, and you again wonder why you never heard more than you did from Kindest Cuts. At times the synths in certain tracks can lean slightly towards a synthwave vibe, but not enough to call it synthwave. There are some hints of Depeche Mode in the delivery but not enough to catch every ear. Kindest Cuts can do no wrong. The work speaks for itself.


Kindest Cuts contributed and bolstered the 2020 compilation dedicated to Absolute Body Control tributes also on Oraculo, also which sold out almost immediately. You can find a nice cover of the iconic "Is There An Exit?". As I mentioned earlier, Kindest Cuts covered The Screamers' intense classic "122 Hours Of Fear" as well as Soft Cell's "L.O.V.E. Feelings". Those tracks can be found on Bandcamp by searching Kindest Cuts or Ghost Twin. Maybe Oraculo can release the cover tunes eventually? 

This is a must have. If you did not order yet, you can at least purchase it digitally. If you need the vinyl, have fun in the secondary markets. 




KINDEST CUTS IS: 
Nov 27 2020