CUT/COPY/CREATE

While pop music is generally defined as being straightforward, catchy, and, er, popular, it has become much more diverse in the twenty-first century as many more genres are embraced and hybrid forms multiply. A great example is pop-electronica-dance group Cut/Copy.

Melbourne musician Dan Whitford released the first Cut/Copy E.P. I Thought Of Numbers in 2001, drawing instant attention from listeners, record labels and critics. That debut release was essentially a solo effort, but by 2003 Whitford had expanded the project to include Tim Hoey on guitar and sampler, plus bass and drums. A regular rock quartet, it seemed. After a well received album in 2004, Cut/Copy took their time in creating a follow-up. The result was 2008’s In Ghost Colours which was even more successful than their debut.

In Ghost Colours is widely regarded as a seminal release in the electro-pop genre and a major landmark in the band's career.

The album opens with "Feel the Love”, a euphoric track that sets the tone for the rest of the album. The song features a pulsating beat, catchy synths, and Dan Whitford's distinctive vocals, which are drenched in reverb and echo effects. The chorus is a sing-along anthem that's guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

Second track "Out There on the Ice" is slower and more contemplative, amply demonstrating the band's ability to create atmospheric, affecting music. The song features a hypnotic drumbeat, dreamy synths, and lyrics that evoke loneliness and isolation.

"Lights and Music" was one of the album’s singles and is a standout track. The song is a masterclass in how to create a catchy and danceable pop song, with a driving beat, infectious melody, and a chorus that's impossible not to sing along to. It’s a perfect example of how Cut/Copy seamlessly blend indie rock sensibilities with dance floor-ready beats.

But this album is not just indie rock influenced. "We Fight for Diamonds" evokes 80s synth-pop with its infectious melody and sparkling chorus. This is a great example of how to absorb influences yet avoid being suffocated by them. Sure, there are appropriations and winking references, but Cut/Copy manage to avoid sounding too eager-to-please. This music will make you smile, not rot your teeth.

The first LP ends with "Midnight Runner”, a track built around a propulsive bassline and featuring a soaring chorus guaranteed to get you moving. Slip the second platter onto the turntable and you get "So Haunted". This is another standout track—eerie and catchy—with haunting synths and a chorus both hypnotic and anthemic. One final highlight from an album packed with them. “Visions" is a slow, dreamy track perfect for a late-night drive or a reflective moment. The song features a beautiful melody and fine vocals from Dan Whitford, delivered with a sense of introspection and vulnerability.

Summing up—as much as one can with a fifty minute, 15 song album—In Ghost Colours is a varied, colourful and entertaining record that shows the band’s versatility and invention. Effortlessly blending indie rock, electro-pop and dance music, it creates a sound both distinct and accessible. It is a great example of how pop is still pop and yet more than pop. Got that?

© Bruce Jenkins - March 2023