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 polished and more coherent than their previous work? “In Ghost Colours” is like that, but Cut Copy were always pretty polished from the beginning, now it sounds like they wrote a song, played it, recorded it, and then remixed it.
Those expecting the raw ferocity of “Twilight” from “Bright like Neon Love” aren’t going to find it here. They will find, however, many jams ready to roll out for an outdoor festival. Even though the guitar doesn’t show up and dominate the music, it does often show up and provide nice melody and rhythm for the most fully formed song structures so far in Cut Copy’s career. Often times Cut Copy uses cheeky sonic references and tricks reminiscent of more traditional club music. It’s like they’re winking at the audience when they pull out a quick house chord progression loop. Using elements like that they manage to turn something that is so easily tacky and cheesy into something that elevates the fun of the music as it is channeled through their sound. Another interesting approach to the production of this album are the ambient sound breaks, where the official songs chill while drones and pleasing hums spiral about until the next song kicks off. This is a little tiresome when listening to the songs on shuffle, but in the order of the album, it makes the anticipation for the next song even greater. I imagine they’ll definitely do the interludes like that live.
With their new release, Cut Copy will gain a wider following, more recognition, and if all was right with the world at least one car commercial licensing deal.
