Released in November 2011 on the Delphi label, the total playing time of We Cut Corner’s debut album Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards comes to just about twenty-seven minutes. When one considers that during this time drums and guitar are the sole instruments employed, it is safe to assume that Conall Ó Breacháin and John Duignan are advocates of brevity and simplicity. It is through this adoption of two of the most basic principles of any kind of writing, that their approach to songwriting has allowed them to fully explore the nuances of what is actually, a diverse sound. Far from taking away from the songs, this method shines an appropriate spotlight on the duo’s strengths. That is, sheer lyrical prowess and an emotion-laden dual vocal delivery with the singers’ tender tones bouncing off each other beautifully and harmoniously akin to moonlight reflected in a river.
Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards is both insightful and personal, the title alone being testament to this. These carefully chosen words point to regret which has informed revelations and ultimately redemption. Remnants of this sentiment are present in many of the album’s slower paced songs by way of their lyrics and astutely emotive vocal performances. For instance, the gentle guitar-driven A Pirate’s Life meditates on a past relationship and how the songwriter has gained resolve from its demise ‘But I’m committed to these crimes / I’ve given up a thousand times/ But I will never quit’. There is a more than a touch of vulnerability to Yet with the vocals almost whispered throughout until the last minute of the song when the volume picks up for a powerful conclusion, complimented by the guitar coming to the fore. Unadulterated and raw passion emanates from The Male Mind as the duo hauntingly howl the line ‘But I failed / I failed / I always fail’.
The Leopard is a track which was obviously penned with the focus more so on instrumentation as the pair rock out for rock’s sake amidst frenzied and addictive drumming. Similarly, Three People kicks off with distortion and is carried by Conall’s beats. Toll Free is arguably the most intriguing song on the album in terms of its structure. The opening words stand alone before the music cascades into play and each rendition of the chorus is punctuated by short bursts of guitar between lines. As well as being musically unique it also retains the emotional integrity running throughout the album as the lyrics document the frustratingly lengthy search for a partner while time marches on ‘Call me hasty but I ain’t getting any younger clearly’.
Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards demonstrates We Cut Corners’ ability to enchant potency with vocal interplay and is undoubtedly an album which many of its listeners can identify with, owing to its sincere and creative lyrics. An assured and accomplished début which is rife with vitality. Expectations mount for album number two.