Cut/Copy
– Zonoscope
4.5/5
Modular
Full of melodic genius, gentle homage and the hypnotic thud of house beats, Cut/Copy are leaving the women and children behind with third album Zonoscope.
Opening track “Need You Know” is dripping with regret as a gospel choir props up front man Dan Whitford’s hurting vocals. The chant-heavy “Where I’m Going” kicks happiness into overdrive with cheers of “all you need is a dream/and a lover too”, complete with a whimsy Who-esque breakdown.
Jungle fever strikes “Take Me Over”, as rollicking rototoms stride “through the jungle/through the night/forever”. “Pharaohs and Pyramids” and “Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution” take a pornographic soundtrack turn, whereas “Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat” has a real swagger to it with acoustic guitar flourishes amidst oozing keyboard textures and bubbling bass.
The intimidating 16 minute long “Sun God” closes the album with three epic sections of massive drums with tribal chanting, moving into INXS sex-funk territory, counterpointed with chants of “you’ve got to live” and “love won’t give you enough” then heading into acid-drenched oblivion via pulsating, laser beam, shoe gazing Kraut-rock madness.
Zonoscope isn’t some crappy made up name, it’s a damn good record. Surrender now or forever hold your peace.
Written by Matt Petherbridge. Republished with permission (Reverb Magazine).
