The Police Chat

“Cut Copy” is 3 piece band from Melbourne, Australia. Their music genres include Alternative Dance, Electropop and Dance Punk. Cut Copy consist of Dan Whitford (The Founder of Cut Copy), Tim Hoey and Mitchell Dean Scott. Former member, Bennett Foddy left Cut Copy in 2004 for further education. Cut Copy have toured with some indie big names like Franz Ferdinand, Junior Senior, Bloc Party and others. One of their hit single, “Lights and Music” was featured in FIFA 09. Hm, listening to Cut Copy while play FIFA, not bad at all.
In Ghost Colours by Cut Copy sounds very futuristic, think of 3 Daft Punks playing together, the result that you would get is Cut Copy!

Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours has a very lovely and poppy opener! “Feel The Love” will make you feel so light in a way that this song is very suitable if you’ve having a birthday party at your home, it’s just so friendly, so appeal to our ears. There are some ligh guitars, and the electro-pop genre can be clearly heard in this track. “Hey you….. (followed by some robotic voices)” is just so simple… Making you feel guitly if you’re not singing along.

“Out There on the Ice” continues directly from Feel The Love. This track is groovy in an electronic and electropop way. As Dan sings, there would be background vocals performed by Tim and Mitchell. Midway through the track, you would think that you’re in a live concert, seeing Cut Copy performing on stage. The only difference is that the sound recording sounds better here.

Wow, the next track is called “Lights and Music”. The bass will just get you up and make you put down everything that you’re doing and just focus on listening to this track. Really! Nice vocal teamwork by Cut Copy again. As Dan sings, the rest of Cut Copy will contribute their part, “aa aa ai..” & “woo hoooo…” Heck, even i can be a great background vocalist! Let this track show you how to chill in a club. “Lights and music, are on my mind, be my baby, one more time…”

“We Fight for Diamonds” is a prelude for the next track. From a distant soundscape, it evolves to an eventual loud sound and then gradually fades back and the real deal starts approximately the last 17 seconds.

“Unforgettable Season” starts straight after We Fight For Diamonds. It has the sound and atmosphere of the 90s music, and a bit of 80s. It’s more like a pop song rather than electronic. Perhaps this song will take you back to the past, rather than the future. A light tune on a cheerful note.. Not bad at all from Cut Copy.

Cut copy continues In Ghost Colours with “Midnight Runner”. Midnight Runner focuses on the music and it’s pure instrumental except for Dan singing, “It’s a secret I’ve been keeping from you..” Cut Copy made this song sounds so simple yet so attractive and addictive. Honestly, i find Midnight Runner such an enjoyable track, and if possible, i want this song to be longer and more.

“So Haunted” has a brief opener that reminds me of Muse’ “Take A Bow”. Throughout this whole track, the riffing of the guitar can be heard. And again, reminding me of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘n’ Roll”. Not a bad combination. When it gets to the chorus, “I get so haunted, I fall in your dreams tonight, I get so haunted, That I misunderstood tonight..” The whole song goes into another mode. It sounds lighter, and the music was just so good. Trust Me, you’ll like this song. Even the last 1 minute ends on a cheerful note.

Another instrumental, “Voices in Quartz” is over 1 minute long. It builds us up to the next track. Get our momentum running and ready to take on the next track.

So In Ghost Colours continues with “Hearts On Fire” (a re-recorded version). Dan expresses his feelings for a girl in this song, “There’s something burning up inside, I reach out for you and our hearts collide, with hearts on fire I reach out to you tonight…” Just looking at the lyrics, i thought that this song is going to be an eletropop and dance punk love song. And it proves just way too good. Everyone on the dancefloor will dance to Hearts On Fire. 2 in 1, romance plus dance punk, and the result is simply lovely. At some point, saxaphone can be heard to furnish the rhythm and atmosphere.

“Far Away” brings me back to the 80s and 90s again. The beat of this song is so catchy, repetitive of guitar and bass can be heard clearly on an infectious note. You can’t help but smile and slowly let your body sway to this cute and lovely track. And the lyrics goes, “And you could say, give your love to me, but I was far away, and you could be handing love to me, but I was far away” Could it be that long distance relationship is hard to keep?

“Silver Thoughts” is just 29 seconds long, it’s like Cut Copy is having a short break. Some electronic beats and background voices can be heard.

“Strangers in the Wind” has a very calming and lounge-feel opening. From the lyrics, it sounds that as if Dan is singing about a girl whom he doesn’t know much about. “These hands, like strangers in the wind, these eyes, float in the breeze”. Keep an ear for the music, there’s something about the music of this song that makes it stand out. With Cut Copy’s talent and experience in electronic music, it’s no surprise they can turn an ordinary song to one that keeps playing in your head.

“Visions” is the last instrument on In Ghost Colours. Only the last 30 seconds, instruments like bass and guitar can be heard. It won’t be long before the next track bites it off.

“Nobody Lost, Nobody Found” starts off with the immediate playing of guitar, bass, drum and other electronic beats and magic. The chorus got me away, when Cut Copy goes, “Burning in the face of love.. Burning in the face of love.. Ha ha ha..” They go so effortlessly but yet, i can enjoy this song so much. Oh boy, they put magic into their electronic music.

“Eternity One Night Only” has a slow opening, but gradually sound louder some time into the song. While someone’s voice is being played in the background, Cut Copy harmonized the song with some light vocals. Some movie would love to include this song in their movie, especially the part when two lovers are spending time together or recalling their lovely moments together, or even when the movie ends and the credits of the movie begin to show and appear. Cut Copy closes In Ghost Colours with a low and yet powerful note. Bravo!

Rating: Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours is a rare electropop and dance punk album that scores straight away from start to finish. Every song has its uniqueness and flavour. Personally, i’m not much of an electropop or electronic music fan, but with Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours, i think i’m starting to like it. I have to add one more indie genre to my account. For birthday parties or other relevant parties, Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours would serve awesomely well. From dancing to chilling out, from romantic dance to romantic talk, it all can be done with Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours. Beautiful and perfect electronic music stuffs, i can’t help but give it 8 out of 10.

Stand-Out Tracks (My Picks): Feel The Love, Lights and Music, So Haunted, Hearts on Fire, Unforgettable Season and Strangers in the Wind.

Cheers!
Darren Tan
Avid Indie Music Fan