In Ghost Colours

Cut Copy

Modular Records, 2008

http://www.myspace.com/cutcopy

REVIEW BY: Kenny S. McGuane

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/06/2008

What the hell’s going on? Highly refined electro-dance-pop from Australia? Really? Well, yeah, they’re called Cut Copy and their sophomore release for Modular Records, In Ghost Colours, is about as good a neo-synth-pop record as one could hope for in 2008. It arrived just in time, too; I was beginning to wonder whether or not I would have a record so spin the hell out of all summer. Thank god it’s here. I’ve already listened to this album nine times in its entirety and it just keeps getting better and better, reinforcing my initial thoughts: it’s the best party/dance record to hit record stores so far this year and it’ll be pretty hard to top, with or without an album from Madonna. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Debuting at number one on the Australian Charts, In Ghost Colours draws heavy on ‘80s influences -- identifiably Pet Shop Boys, New Order, and Modern English -- and brilliantly fuses these elements with more recent advancements in indie-rock keyboard wizardry (Daft Punk, The Rapture, Junior Boys, Hercules & Love Affair). It’s a record overflowing with melody and powerfully engaging keyboard hooks.

But it’s not all keyboards: Cut Copy make clever use of guitars, too on album opener “Feel The Love” and other standout tracks “Lights And Music” and “So Haunted.” This disc just keeps on giving; there’s not one low point on the record, which is why it will lend itself to many a summer party or Sunday drive to the beach – not to mention it’s a great jogging soundtrack. There are a few musical interludes bridging the 15 tracks together on In Ghost Colors and these could arguably be the record’s only shortcomings. But they work and they’re brief. In fact, if you’re not watching the stereo display then you probably won’t even realize the interludes are tracks of their own, they’ll just appear as outros to one song or intros to another.

Cut Copy front man Dan Whitford said recently that the more dance music is played live, the more accessible the genre becomes. He’s right. What’s striking about this disc is how live it sounds, especially for a dance record. Dance music is constantly evolving and the more we get guys like Cut Copy who can blend keyboards, guitars, live drums and good ole’ fashioned songwriting, the better it sounds. In Ghost Colours doesn’t sound revolutionary, it just sounds smart, polished, and exciting. It’s a fine representation of how fresh-sounding and dynamic dance music can be.

Rating: A

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© 2008 Kenny S. McGuane and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Modular Records, and is used for informational purposes only.