Writing music which, as Drowned In Sound described it, consists of ‘rough strumming, yearning, ranged vocals and with a hint of Elliot Smith delicacy’ can be a challenge for several reasons. Firstly, you don’t want to come across as ridiculous. Music which tries to be as strained as it is introspective and emotive can quite easily succeed in neither and result in something closer to a cat trying to run away with its tail caught in the door. Secondly, you need to ensure your music isn’t TOO inward, ensuring it doesn’t relegate itself to being listened to exclusively by bratty fifteen year olds. Bristol-based Trust Fund, which is largely the work of Ellis Jones, gave themselves a good start with 2013’s Don’t Let Them Begin EP, which was lo-fi and enjoyable enough to chuck in with the likes of fellow emotive pop-rock pioneers such as Radiator Hospital. Don’t Let Them Begin, however was screaming for some bite, something which was further realized with Trust Fund’s split earlier this year with Joanna Gruesome. It felt like more was coming with Jones and co. seemingly still finding their feet.
And so we have been given “Cut Me Out” ahead of Trust Fund’s debut full length, No One’s Coming For Us, due for release in February 9th through Turnstile Music. Jones’ endearingly unique vocals are little changed, though the instrumentation has taken a huge leap forward. With a particularly sharp chord progression to open the track, “Cut Me Out” evolves through various stages ranging from upbeat pop to pure garage rock. There’s a sense of uniformity and structure to the song not heard on a Trust Fund track before, and it delivers a full-fisted punch that bodes well for No One’s Coming For Us and will hopefully see Jones and co. continue to grow into the sound reflected here. As if there wasn’t already enough to look forward to in the New Year.