Fans of Paul B. Cutler, a legend from the Los Angeles underground scene in the late 1970s and 1980s, will feel their ears ringing with delight over Cutler’s latest album, Les Fleurs released on April 28th off In the Red Records.
Those familiar with Paul Cutler’s work will find elements of previously cherished sounds found in bands like 45 Grave, The Consumers, Vox Pop, and The Dream Syndicate. Cutler’s propelling, unrelenting, and prompt guitar sound (long ago established as his signature) is as poignant as ever.
Paul B. Cutler retired from music in the 1990s, though he continued to write and record music for his personal satisfaction. Eventually recatching what is often referred to as “the bug” when fan and musician Ryan Adams reached out to Paul in 2014 asking to collaborate, Cutler decided to plunge back into music. During this time, Cutler wrote a collection of songs that would lead to Les Fleurs.
Fellow vet of the early underground scene, Brad Laner (Medicine, Savage Republic) co-produced the album. Laner’s participation resulted in a symphony encompassing Cutler’s grinding guitar, synchronizing beautifully with his vocals, alternating between enigmatic whispering and full-bodied declarations.
Cutler says of the album, “Philosophically I consider this [album] punk rock, made in its original spirit, although nobody would recognize it as such. I am a punk to this day.”
*Cover photo & album art cover, courtesy of Jo Murray.
**Purchase Les Fleurs at In the Red Records.