In Ghost Colours announces itself, calmly but majestically, with a wash of hazy voices and fluttering keyboards giving way to crystal-clear acoustic strums, languid indie pop vocals, a sturdy dance-rock groove, pulsating electro-disco synths, swirling Caribou-style psychedelics, and an ethereal, vocoded chorus melody. Squeezing all of that into one song -- the effervescent "Feel the Love" -- is an ambitious move: in most hands it would come out sounding like a bewildering mess, or at least a hammy, hyperactive pastiche, but Cut Copy manage to keep it light, breezy, and utterly ebullient. Even more impressive is that they're able to replicate the trick repeatedly across this remarkably assured sophomore album. Colours boasts at least a half-dozen potential summer anthems for dancefloors and headphones alike, seamlessly strung together with subdued interstitial mood pieces that help make it more of a nuanced work than a straightforward collection of relentlessly upbeat dance jams. Undeniably, though, the dance jams are at the throbbing heart of the album, from the unstoppably glittery opening trio (leading up to the anthemic slow-burn disco of single "Lights and Music") to the rough-edged ock drive of "So Haunted" to the pure synth pop bliss of "Far Away." Indeed, this is in many ways a perfect summation of the dynamic, multifaceted, hipster-associated independent dance music of the 2000s, a motley interweaving of pop, ock, and electronic dance elements into a kaleidoscopic array of interconnected styles, some strands of which have been summarily, imprecisely tagged ("disco-punk," "electro-house," "new rave,") but which as a whole remain resolutely, gloriously nebulous and undefined. (Though nevertheless undeniably prevalent, and never more so than in 2008, following triumphant runs by LCD Soundsystem, Justice, and Simian Mobile Disco; the months just preceding In Ghost Colours' release saw eminently enjoyable new albums by Hot Chip, Hercules and Love Affair, Neon Neon, and Does It Offend You, Yeah?, to name a few.)
Cut Copy's music bears all the prominent hallmarks of its era: giddily omnivorous stylistic appropriation, a sensuous, sybaritic (though not, in their case, seedy) demeanor, and the distinct evocation of bygone decades, most palpably the ubiquitous post-punk/post-disco '80s, without succumbing to the pitfalls of overzealous eclecticism, empty hedonism, sugary glut, and blatant derivativeness. Or rather, they do show traces of all of these things, but they play each one off as a strength, always in moderation, and never to the detriment of the music. The eclecticism is there but it's fluid and cohesive rather than distractingly showy; their influence-dogging plays like affectionate homage rather than pointless mimicry; there's an abundance of gleaming, even gaudy surfaces, but they're just too rapturously enticing to entertain qualms about superficiality. It surely helps that they have one of the primary architects of this sprawling scene, the DFA's Tim Goldsworthy, on board as a producer and mixer. More importantly though, beneath its perfectly formed surfaces this is truly an album of songs -- a surprisingly rare thing in this milieu -- with simple but resonant melodies, carried by Dan Whitford's appealingly casual delivery, which help alleviate a slight tendency toward sonic sameness. This is evident not only on the gentler guitar-based numbers, like the loping "Unforgettable Season" and the oddly country-inflected "Strangers in the Wind," which temporarily scale back the dancefloor euphorics, but the out-and-out burners as well, combining with the peppy basslines and nagging chorus hooks to create something all the more transcendent. To be sure, In Ghost Colours is a triumph of craftsmanship rather than vision -- a synthesis and refinement of existing sounds rather than anything dramatically new and original -- but it is an unalloyed triumph nonetheless, and one of the finest albums of its kind.
I am new to the Cut Copy bandwagon, but I have a feeling that I will be getting very well acquainted with these retro wunderkinds in the next few weeks. Without a doubt, detractors will joke that the band's name is quite appropriate, as they certainly created a record that borrows a lot from the past. Those same snide commentators will be missing out on a hell of a show. Certainly owing a ton t...
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Homeys tore up Webster Hall on Sunday night; and we tore up the upstairs balcony couch cushions with a new bounce/dance combo move called "Where's our teacher? She hasn't shown up yet!" that's most similar to how the kids at Polly Fector Elementary roll before Miss Vaughn arrives. And jackpot, indeed. Some alt bros had a hard time figuring out how to dance to "Strangers in the Wind," but t...
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--- - |- Cut Copy have developed a rep as a top-notch live band, and this set captured earlier this year at Brooklyn's Studio B shows what the fuss is about. They know how to build and break down their electro-pop tunes to encourage movement, and their energy never flags. So go ahead, dance in front of your computer-- no one is watching. Five songs are up today-- click on the link below to sta...
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You know in those movies where a hero time travels or escapes supernatural captivity and has to shed his clothes and hijack a bus and all the public is a twitter because they aren't in on the fact that really he was a desperate hero, doing everything he could to survive so that he could eventually save the fate of mankind?Well, the other day I saw this article:Naked man hijacks busA naked man w...
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It seems that In Ghost Colours highlight, Hearts On Fire is rapidly turning into this years D.A.N.C.E. On the plus side there's always at least one great remix in the pile, but at the same time it can become a bit of a shitter as I invariably end up hating the original. This presents me with something of a conundrum. Do I jump of the bandwagon and get trigger happy with these remixes, or do I h...
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--- - |- Melbournes' finest, Cut Copy, return with a new album, "In Ghost Colours", that plays like a DJ set. The elements of their songwriting have definitely been beefed up. The acoustic guitar is more than a few times front and center and their lyrics have never been so distinguishable. Remember when the Rapture released "Pieces of the People we Love" and how it sounded so much more polishe...
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--- - |- The first week of summer was quite eventful. I went home last Monday for the first time in months. Thing is, New York feels more like home these days, and I was back on the subways by Wednesday. It wasn't just that I'm tired of suburbia, but there were also shows to be had! Cut Copy - Bowery Ballroom, May 14th This was a show I couldn't miss. I've really enjoyed Cut Copy's...
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First, a song from one of the bands that grabbed my attention at Friday's Coachella show, and has not let go. More on them later.After a restful night's sleep at the deceptively-named Vagabond Inn Executive, and a bit of morning beverage (juice for me, thanks), it was high time to meet the ladies and hit the road. Which we did in style, courtesy of Amber and the shortbus AKA the biggest SUV I'v...
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It’s been quite a while between releases for Melbourne based indie-synth-electro popsters, Cut Copy. But in that time they’ve built up an international reputation as some of the best in the business. Having toured with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party and Daft Punk, winning hearts all the while.Now with the eventual release of their sophomore album, In Ghost Colours, after a delay with
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"Everybody's worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's a really easy way: stop participating in it." Noam Chomsky MP3: Dead Rock Machine - Good News DOWNLOAD MP3: Kap10kurt - Mission Complete ( Moulinex Remix) DOWNLOAD MP3: Cut Copy - Far Away (Ring Trick Mix) DOWNLOAD MP3: Starfucker - Pop Song DOWNLOAD MP3: Mr Oizo - Cut Dick DOWNLOAD MP3: The Loom -...
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New Cut Copy album In Ghost Colours comes out the 8th of April, which reminds me of how good a month April is for releases: Les Savy Fav's After the Balls Drop, Shout Out Louds' Impossible EP, Islands' Arm's Way, Tapes 'N Tapes' Walk It Off, The Brian Jonestown Massacre's My Bloody Underground- which I'm really looking forward to, etc.About Cut Copy's new album: I think In Ghost Colours doesn't...
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It seems that In Ghost Colours highlight, Hearts On Fire is rapidly turning into this years D.A.N.C.E. On the plus side there's always at least one great remix in the pile, but at the same time it can become a bit of a shitter as I invariably end up hating the original. This presents me with something of a conundrum. Do I jump of the bandwagon and get trigger happy with these remixes, or do I h...
More >
"If you want your dreams to come true, don't over sleep." Yiddish Proverb MP3: Dan Black - Hyptz DOWNLOAD MP3: Cut Copy - Far Away (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) DOWNLOAD MP3: MGMT - Electric Feel (Dskotek Remix) DOWNLOAD MP3: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Around The Bend DOWNLOAD MP3: The Whip -Fire (Geometri Remix) DOWNLOAD MP3: The Joy Formidable - Cradle (Kyte Remix) DOWNLOAD MP...
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First, a song from one of the bands that grabbed my attention at Friday's Coachella show, and has not let go. More on them later.After a restful night's sleep at the deceptively-named Vagabond Inn Executive, and a bit of morning beverage (juice for me, thanks), it was high time to meet the ladies and hit the road. Which we did in style, courtesy of Amber and the shortbus AKA the biggest SUV I'v...
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Earlier this week Mogger pillowtalk posted a link to this new Cut Copy video for the track "Hearts on Fire." It's a great clip that makes you think how crappy it'd be to live under a rain cloud. Here it is directly for your enjoyment:
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I got shafted this summer when I went to see Cut Copy. Due to traveling issues the band arrived in the nick of time and played about 15 minutes at the Pitchfork Music Festival. Those 15 minutes were great and all, but I wanted more. More is coming this winter when the Aussies head out on a 17-date track with Brooklyn's indie pop act Matt & Kim, kicking off March 6th at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, T...
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After over a month of torture, I've finally tracked down a song that's been eating at my brain. The song heard during Virgin mobile's 'Bakery' commercial has been running through my head almost non-stop."Could this be true-oo-oo-oo, it all comes back to you-oo-oo-oo"Ahhhhhhhh!I now know the track is "Feel the Love" by Cut Copy. This tooth-ache inducing pop song can be addictive, so be warned. ...
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This was originally intended to be a post about Cut Copy but I couldn't come up with anything to say about them. Thus, the song is just an accomplice to my scattered, abstract thoughts...so do what you will with it. "It is true, I am only a wanderer, a pilgrim on this earth! But are you more?" __The Sorrows of Young Werther__, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe__Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog__, Caspar ...
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Not sure that's an appropriate description of Cut Copy, but man I'm digging this record in a hardcore kind of way. It's immediately gratifying, and only gets better after multiple spins. Typically, for me anyway, anything overtly "retro"-sounding is a turn off, but there's something special about In Ghost Colours. It's like waking up in the morning and instantly being in a good mood (y'know - s...
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I'm still in the middle of gathering all the half year lists of 2008! A list of the best albums of 2008 so far according to all Moggers. If you haven't voted yet, go to this thread: http://mog.com/SA/blog_post/169238 and post your top 10 albums of 2008 so far. You still have until next Wednesday!My Nr. 6:Band: Cut CopyAlbum: In Ghost ColoursBest Track: Lights and MusicBest line: What's that yo...
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http://terriblelovesongs.blogspot.comA set performed by Cut Copy back in May of this year at the now closed down Studio B in Brooklyn is currently streaming on Pitchfork TV.In case you don't already know, Cut Copy are Australian and sound like a mixture of something between New Order, Daft Punk and Human League with a little rock infusion. Indie dance, electro-pop, you get the general idea. I'm...
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I am new to the Cut Copy bandwagon, but I have a feeling that I will be getting very well acquainted with these retro wunderkinds in the next few weeks. Without a doubt, detractors will joke that the band's name is quite appropriate, as they certainly created a record that borrows a lot from the past. Those same snide commentators will be missing out on a hell of a show. Certainly owing a ton t...
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Weekly Installment....enjoY!Lady GaGa - Bad Romance (Chew Fu H1N1 Club Mix) -- Lady Gaga Club banger - Totally a Chew Fu mixKe$ha - Tik Tok (8-bit Slave's Bump It Remix)Great remix from 8-bit SlaveAda Fijal (feat. Louie Austen) "Take Your Time"Old school sound with a new feel beat from Polish artist Ada Fijal.
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Video for Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire, from their sophomore record, In Ghost Colours. Directed by Nagi Noda. Cut Copy - Hearts On FireUploaded by modularpeople
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Feel the Love |
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| 2 Out There on the Ice |
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| 3 Lights and Music |
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| 4 We Fight for Diamonds |
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| 5 Unforgettable Season |
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| 6 Midnight Runner |
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| 7 So Haunted |
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| 8 Voices in Quartz |
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| 9 Hearts on Fire |
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| 10 Far Away |
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| 11 Silver Thoughts |
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| 12 Strangers in the Wind |
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| 13 Visions |
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| 14 Nobody Lost, Nobody Found |
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| 15 Eternity One Night Only |
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Click to purchase…
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 "In Ghost Colours")
