Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

'Broken Fingers', from Brighton noise merchants Offcuts, is a dirty way to start a demo and one of the best ways to piss off your bastard neighbours. It's a shame the recording is so messy, production wise, as it loses a lot of its heavy bulk in the static.

Second track 'Like Wow' has got an inventive playfulness to it showcasing Offcuts potential for something more than quickly recorded horror punk. There are some really great ideas happening with nice vocal interplay call and response type stuff and crafty little guitar lines leading into a massive power riff finish that is again let down by the quality of the production.

It's just a personal preference but I think things are more interesting when the vocals are kept clean - not a view shared by the band judging from the overall showing on this demo but it might be something they take a look at as they develop and evolve. Alec has a unique voice that sounds at the same time laconic and mightily fucked off but they do it no favours in burying it with distorted screams.

The third and final offering here is called 'Sad Unicorn' and again displays some nice touches with Offcuts not happy with simply hitting the listener with a barrage of noise, they entertain as well with sparking, sparring lead guitar parts and some furious beats.

It all sounds a bit chaotic at the moment but with a bit of tool sharpening and a better Producer these South Coast noiseniks could get the chance to cause some real trouble.

Re: Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

Theanks for the review, really appreciate it. Only thing is, we kept the vocals completely clean. Absolutely NO effects on them at all!

Re: Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

And why would you do that? When Chris said clean I think he meant sounds clean, and not literally the direct microphone source playing back. No vocal track should ever be left clean as the sound of the vocals is one of the most important things in a mix and one of the hardest to pull off correctly. Maybe you should look at adding subtle compression, reverbs or delays to your vocals without going over board on any of them. From a music producers perspective I think leaving vocals clean is a big mistake so maybe that was the issue?

Either way sounds like a good effort so well done.

Re: Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

But as I said, too much and it ruins it. It's all about balance.

Re: Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

Oh yeah, when I said clean I wasn't referring to an absence of effects but a clarity of delivery. The alternative is, for example, the shouty bits Enter Shikari enjoy so much where you can't hear anything for roaring screams. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Like I say, it's a personal preference but I just like hearing the lyrics.
If you guys play East London let me know, I'd love to come along.

Re: Offcuts - White Horses and the Unicorn [EP]
 

Email them man, get an interview too!