CUT_ channel MØ on shadowy synthpop jewel "Undertow"

CUT_'s strain of infectious electro pairs silky melodies with incisive ideas, treading the tightrope between triumph and disaster - it's an unstable outing that nods to the euphoria of MØ and a comprehensive despair. "Undertow" is a potent brew, swirling together crackly trap-tinted percussion, glacial synth darkness, and evocative vocals to create something with real power.

"[It] has various layers that make it more interesting for us," CUT_ say. "We need music that doesn’t just unravel itself in the first listen but brings a complexity that you can discover slowly as you hear it more often."

It's the duo's second track on new label [PIAS], following the storming debut "Tune In Tune Out". It was written in the French Alps and recorded with producer Leo Abrahams (Jon Hopkins, Brian Eno).

Describing the themes of "Undertow", CUT_ explain: "The story involves someone turning into a victim of their own success. Caught in the invisible undertow. Think about Kurt Cobain who crumbled, a David Bowie who hid behind drugs but managed to survive or Janis Joplin who didn’t and tragically died of an overdose. All were people trying to escape the immense pressure that’s been put upon them by others. As soon as they became successful they turned into public domain. When you’re vulnerable you need protection. Who will provide that? And at what cost?"