Cut Copy have always been a band who embraced both the old and the new. They stitch futuristic electronica with retro dance music. When they released their innovative debut and sophomore records in 2004 and 2008, they pioneered the indie dance movement, blending lo-fi indie with ‘80s pop and disco to create a sound that had both feet planted in different musical paradigms.
Despite being voted #5 by my peers in Beat’s top ten albums of 2013, I believe Free Your Mind, however, is a step back. Almost ten years after the release of their debut Bright Like Neon Love, Cut Copy have gone 20 years back, delivering both an idea and a sound that is just way too retro, way too old school and much too antiquated.
Everything about this album is corny. The album and the title track tell you to “free your mind,” the tracks have titles like We Are Explorers, Into The Desert, Meet Me In A House Of Love, Take Me Higher and Walking In The Sky. The lyrics are all wishy washy and cheesy: “In these arms you’re always welcome/if you are a sinner or you are a saint”, “You gotta reach the sky if you want your life to shine” (Free Your Mind) and “You gotta live your life today, tomorrow is a world away” (Walking In The Sky).
Seriously though, I was really disappointed with this one. I miss the days when Cut Copy were independent and progressive. This whole pseudo-psychadelic narration meets ‘90s house thing is stagnant, outdated and just plain weird. Instead of freeing my mind, it just pissed it off. Bring back the old Cut Copy.
BY DINA AMIN
Best Track: Free Your Mind
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Idea Of Happiness VAN SHE, The Rhythm Of The Night CORONA, The Best Of DEPECHE MODE
In A Word: Cheesy
