…And Your Ass Will Follow

From the land down under, Cut Copy has released their fourth album of eclectic jams, the aptly named Free Your Mind. It sounds like the summer of love never ended for these guys as they approach their brand of bright, psychedelic synthpop with absolutely no shame. In it’s own funny way, it’s a bit refreshing.

With a title like Free Your Mind, it’s easy to imagine an album full of cheese and kitsch, which is exactly what Cut Copy is bringing to the table here. This isn’t an album of deeply thought-provoking or innovative art pieces. Rather, it’s a fun and fashionable take on dance-hall disco, with an emphasis on layered melodies, catchy beats and spacey vocal leads. In this space, one might compare Cut Copy to up-and-comers like Javelin without the bubblegum or of Montreal without the depression.

The title track shows what this record is all about– catchy polyrhythmic beats with an optimistic backing of melodies and plenty of sing-along hooks. “Let Me Show You Love” blends that same sparkly dance floor vibe with acid bass-lines and bright pianos, with a deft mid-song breakdown that builds back up into a damn fine crescendo. Occasional interludes throw obscure vocal samples into the mix, bringing up memories of The Orb and other space-case ’90s electronica classics. On tracks like “In Memory Capsule,” they’re halfway between new wave and Italo-disco. At its best, it makes you wonder why disco ever had to end. At its worst, all the glitz can get a bit tiresome– maybe that was why disco had to end.

When it comes down to it, no one could argue that Cut Copy knows exactly what they’re doing here. They throw in everything but the kitchen sink and somehow make it into their own cohesive style. They’re not concerned with anything dark, low or gritty. The whole of Free Your Mind is bright, clean and heavy on the treble side of the speakers. It’s cheesy and fun; what the hell, you can’t be down all the time.