CD of The Week

Australian band Cut Copy has delivered an eclectic mix on their new album Free Your Mind. They have stayed within the electronic-synth pop genre, but it seems they are trying to cut out a piece out of the dance-punk pie. Dan Whitford’s voice takes center stage; and it makes you sit up, stand right, and pay attention. His voice is at odds with the music at times, which can give a disconnected feeling to the album. But, like their past efforts, they sometimes manage to cohesively pull together the unfitting voice and the music.

The title song has a deep bass reverberating with deep tonal singing and easily leads you through. It is melodic, and pushes interest in the juxtaposition of the ethereal voice and dancey synth pop beat. Keeping with the synth pop sound, lead single “We Are Explorers” delivers as well. Again, Whitford’s voice just melts into the notes of this song.

On past albums, and at moments here, his strained voice matches the background. However, at times Whitford’s voice sounds like it is trying to belong, but he lost a sense of the music behind him. Dissonance is a beautiful way to build tension into a musical narrative, but here it doesn’t quite achieve the resolution that this tension demands. ”Footsteps” sounds like an awkward accident–it is off beat at times and his voice can make the listener uncomfortable.

“Let Me Show You Love” is where they cross solidly from just electronic pop into a firm dance punk vibe. Whitford’s echoing voice is almost a mimic of !!!--the deep bass, repetitiveness, and funk beats. You might expect Parliament to shake the funk out of this album but it never quite makes it to the beats and fun of Bootsy.

Free Your Mind feels and sounds familiar–they might be a bit too late to the dance punk scene. “Into the Desert” instantly reminds you of The Orb, but it does quickly change the beat, which then again, sends you back to another unnamed band in the 90s electronic era. Cut Copy is breaking out of what they used to be, albeit timidly. While I’m unsure if it is a successful move, live it will be an irresistible dance party.