The world of underground international pop is filled with the sort of strange, sometimes preposterous stories like that in which an obscure Filipino band, who released one mini-album on a Swedish label in 2007, become truly legendary.
"Cut the World" is a wonderful collection of pop songs crafted from the finest sonic materials, from Factory to Slumberland. From the first track, it evokes the dark and melancholic force of the 1980s and bands such as early New Order and The Wake; from the second track, we hear the vibrant, loud pop anthems that defined 90's American noisy-pop sound, bands like The Ropers and Lorelei, one of the most exciting sounds of that era.
Remastered and with three extra tracks taken from three singles that the band has released since, "Cut the World" takes us on a beautiful journey through time, occasionally nostalgic, but also infectiously catchy and immediate. Listening to "Cut the World" in 2021 is like diving into a sound that hasn't aged in nearly five decades. It is a musical genre that has never vanished from the lives of its loyal followers, but has been embraced by new generations of fans, labels and musicians. Moscow Olympics are the perfect symbol of this transgenerational spirit and the way that international pop has spread around the globe. It shows the possibility music offers to anyone, even in a country not particularly famous for its indie culture: as long as a band has impeccable musical taste and the ability to write wonderful songs, they can seduce listeners on the other side of the world, in Sweden, in Brittany, and, through them, reach a new audience of faithful devotees.
