Search - Bucks Fizz :: Hand Cut

Consolidation

T. Kavanagh | Ireland | 07/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With "Hand Cut," it sounds as though Bucks Fizz were building on and consolidating the success of their excellent "Are You Ready" album. While they were still clearly keen to develop and evolve, they also knew to continue doing what they did best. First single, "If You Can't Stand The Heat," a slinky dance number with dubby bass notes and funkified brass, set a sassy high standard. Second single "Run For Your Life" (with slight echoes of "My Camera Never Lies"), was trademark Bucks Fizz pop, dominated by a thundering drum sound. Where their second album was energetic and determinedly upbeat, "Hand Cut" was a more measured and mature affair. Hints of reggae flavoured the rhythms of tracks like "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4" and even "If You Can't Stand The Heat." More intricate musical structures dominated generally. It is odd that the album spawned only two singles - not counting the posthumous release of "You Love Love." Tracks like "I Do It All For You" and the album highlight "I'd Like To Say I Love You" sound, even now, like they could have done the business. On the other hand, "Surrender Your Heart" and "Shot Me Through The Heart" sail rather too close to filler territory, while Jay Aston's hammy, stage-school sob at the end of "Where The Ending Starts" puts melodrama where emotion should be.The bonus tracks are particularly strong this time around. "Stepping Out," the B-side of "If You Can't Stand The Heat," might have added a little upbeat bite to the original album. For me, the very best track on this disc is "When The Love Has Gone." Squandered as a bonus cut on the 12" of "When We Were Young" some months later, it could have made a successful raid on the singles chart in its own right. The moodily elegant "When We Were At War" is an absolute gem which, had it been ready in time, could have successfully displaced something on the original album. These bonus tracks show that, clearly, Bucks Fizz were not resting on their laurels. "Hand Cut" may not be perfect but it certainly is strong."