Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours

Shimmering Eighties Synth Pop!!

I was at a friend's place a few weeks ago and the TV was tuned to a dance music channel when this crackling Dance number came on. I took note of the song title, "Hearts on fire" as well as the act, Cut Copy.

Cut Copy are an Australian trio and they sound very much like the groups that took up residence in the British top 20 singles charts in the eighties; Human League, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran et all. "In ghost colours" is apparently their sophomore album. I half expected it to be filled with dance numbers but the album is split between Dance songs and dreamy Synth Pop.

"Out there on the ice", the deliriously catchy "Lights and music" (with swirling synths, ghostly harmonies and a guitar break; Madonna would kill for this song), "Far away", and "Nobody lost, nobody found" fall into the dance category. There a few psychedelic sounding instrumental interludes; "We fight for diamonds", "Voices in quartz", "Silver thoughts", and "Visions".

"Feel the love" is a sunny sixties sounding Pop song with lovely harmonies. Still upbeat are "Unforgettable season", and the shimmery rocker "So haunted" (one of my favourites). The rest are ballads; "Midnight runner" (with disembodied harmonies sounding like The Fleet Foxes), the gently stomping "Strangers in the wind" and the gentle floaty "Eternity one night only".

I must say, this album far exceeded my expectations. One of my favourite Dance/Pop albums of 2008. November 11, 2008

addictive 80's inspired electropop album - upbeat music with melancholy lyrics

I love this album so much that I have had a hard time listening to other albums because this one is so good. The music is upbeat and danceable or very downtempo with intriguing melancholy lyrics - the perfect synthesis that represents the best of eighties synthpop like pet shop boys and new order. It sits right between the nexus of pop, electronica, and alt rock.

If you love to dance and appreciate the irony of 80's alternative music - then I highly recommend this album!!! October 23, 2008

4.5 stars... One of 2008's best albums

Australia's Cut Copy has released a couple of interesting albums before (2004's Bright Light Neon Love and 2006's Fabridrive.29,) but the band hasn't jelled completely before until this fantastic release, their 3rd album.

"In Ghost Colours" (15 tracks, 51 min.) brings 11 tracks intermixed with 4 short instrumental tunes. From the opening track of "Feel the Love", the band brings an energized and sing-along "Feel the Love", and it starts an almost non-stop dance party. Great tracks follow one after another, including "Lights and Music" (UK single). At times this album feels like an updated Pet Shop Boys for the 21st century (and that is a compliment). One of the few mishaps is "So Haunted". Amazingly, track 8 "Voices In Quartz" is, when you hear it in isolation, a straight retreat to Tangerine Dream era-late 70's (all of 1'20 min. of it), but it then leads into to 2 best tracks of the album, "Hearts On Fire" (UK single), which towards the end reminds of New Order with the guitar solo, and then "Far Way", my favorite song on the album. Can anyone resist this hopping-head-bobbing sound? I don't think so. Dance on!

In all, this is a fantastic album, and one of my favorites of the year. I had the good fortune of seeing these guys at the Monolith festival (at the Red Rocks near Denver) last month, and they put on a tremendous show, playing many of the tunes from "In Ghost Colours". Even though they played their set in the mid-afternoon, they got the place rocking and dancing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! October 18, 2008

Great album!

As much as I liked Bright Like Neon Love with its disco inspired tunes, In Ghost Colors still has the same Cut/Copy feel with a more alternative approach. Great album. Definitely recommend it. September 15, 2008

My favorite Cut Copy cd - so far

Another batch of of tasty songs, spacey synthesizer work, and, a bit more guitar edge as compared to their first album. CC follows their own vision and avoids formulaic pop tunes. Take for example, Strangers in the Wind, a slightly melancholy synth trip that takes off, winds and climbs and 4:40 later sets you down in a different place. The best albums always take a few listens to study and appreciate and for me this is one of those albums. August 30, 2008

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