EP REVIEW: Handcuff – Handcuff

South London’s newest punk export HANDCUFF‘s self-titled debut EP is full of tracks self-described as “short songs for bored people”. It couldn’t be more accurate; the EP only spans just over five minutes, the musical equivalent of an in and out jewel heist. The four-piece all hail from different musical tastes, making this a melting pot of fast indie rock and punk with a side of hardcore in there for good measure. Releasing on Church Road Records, it seems to be nothing but a recipe for success, but will the blurring lines around the eclectic genres hold up?

Snappy track times can result in a brief disorientation, but once you find your footing within this whirlwind of an EP you can let yourself be swept away in its frivolous adolescence. Opening track Holiday embodies everything that is just needing a break and to take a breather from life. For the first time showing what they have to offer, this quartet proves to be as fun as a multicoloured cowboy. El Ganso is packed full of wiry and elastic riffs; imagine what a slinky would sound like through an amp, that’s what we’ve got going on here. It does much the same as what Holiday does, in combination though they drive home this feeling of suspense for summer. Loose and carefree vocals carry a happy go lucky personality through them, as if nothing could ever go wrong.

It doesn’t take long for some of the hardcore elements to be leant on; The Judge — as intimidating as it sounds — packs the well-needed punch to the chest to change the atmosphere. Yelling “So sick of being wrecked / I’m not the one” amongst grunge-infused stormy sonics is something to be taken to the chest in contrast to the previous tracks, while still remaining enthralling whilst surrounded by nothing but rapid tracks. Snapping back to frivolous and fleeting thoughts in final track Nice Guy with a big middle finger to dating deadbeats, the finale reprises the fun found in Handcuff‘s first two songs. 

Releasing a debut body of work, whether it be an EP or full-length album, is like the first impression at a job interview — people will remember you by it for a while. HANDCUFF don’t try too hard; they’re chill enough to be able to slip song subjects into their music that are just something that has pissed them off in passing, or what you say when you let out a big sigh. They’re full of confident reassurance to make you feel at ease just enough, when you’re fed up.

Rating: 7/10

Handcuff is set for release on April 14th via Church Road Records.

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