L.A.-based Cuffed UP are a charismatic new rock band whose sound revolves around the traded confessions and barbs of duel vocalists Sapphire Jewell and Ralph Torrefranca.
The band’s pillar members first developed a friendship over a shared love of loud and erasable, contemporary, U.K. punk bands like IDLES and Shame, and their infatuation with heart-pumping riffs and highly rhythmic grooves eventually became the basis of their new band.
You can get a sense of their inspirations from their early singles like “Mother/Father,” which have a distinctive, feathery texture and obtuse, fall-esque vibe, as well as their cover of Detriot prop-punks Death’s song “Politicians in My Eyes” released as a stand-alone single. While Cuffed Up’s sound has become more polished and practiced over time, you can still feel the grit of their early work and inspirations in the spaces between your gums and teeth on their new EP Asymmetry.
Asymmetry dropped on October 22 of this year, and while the band still has a discernable post-punk edge, you can also hear them cycling closer to the orbit of ’00s garage revival and indie rock acts like Silversun Pickups, early Snow Patrol, and the Bravery. What’s really fun is how both Sapphire and Ralph have become more confident as vocalists, allowing themselves to open up more and sprawl out over the mix.
What’s really interesting is the quality that their vocals have taken through this transformation, with Sapphire sounding like a pensive Emily Haines and Ralph acquiring the quality of a bitter and sardonic Ben Gibbard—giving you an impression of what a team-up between these giants of indie rock might sound like if they ever joined forces. Asymmetry sounds like all the best parts and wroth salvaging aspects of the previous two decades of history indie rock encapsulated in a single, four-course serving of ripping, off-kilter rock ‘n’ roll. Don’t let the name full you—Asymmetry is perfectly balanced and solid as hell!
Buy and stream Asymmetry via Bandcamp below:
Asymmetry is out via Royal Mountain Records.
Follow Cuffed Up on Instagram. and Twitter.
