Indecent Obsessions

Photo of Cut Copy and one of their groupies by Jason Evans

By the time you get to this, you would have already read about how fucking eighties Cut Copy try to be. Don't buy it for a second, Cut Copy may rock a Prophet but they don't always obsess over the eighties. Signed to Australia's forward thinking Modular Recordings, Cut Copy are a Melbourne band with a soon to be released debut album, Bright Like Neon Light, that's been produced by Philippe Zdar - the guy responsible for Phoenix, responsible for Motorbass and responsible for Cassius (pre-Moonlight Cinema tour). Before the album drops they'll be doing a heap of live shows as well as promoting their single, Future, which features a carnivalesque oompa-loompa remix by Zongamin. Hearing all this you start to get the feeling Cut Copy are going to be large. VICE: Last time we spoke about music production you wouldn't shut up about Giorgio Moroder's set up. Are you any closer to having any of this stuff for yourself?
Dan: No, but I got to use some of it when I was recording the album in Paris. They have heaps of old Moogs, Arps and Prophets kicking around over there. This one Prophet I found, the Prophet T-8, this is the one synth that's on my all time wish list. With that you could create bass lines that sound like ‘The Message' or Madonna' s ‘Get Into The Groove'. So you used it to write a number one hit?
Actually for the first two days I spent hours on end smoking hash, playing Van Halen's ‘Jump' on this thing. Yeah, I think that's how French House was cultivated. So I guess that's why you recorded your album in Paris with Philippe Zdar?
No, it's mostly because Philippe was involved with the Phoenix record, which I'm crazy about. He was also the most sane, most sober person on our shortlist of potential producers. Well out of those who were still alive. So who made it onto the dead, drunk and insane list?
Martin Hannett. Martin Rushent. Tony Visconti. Moroder, he's a multi billionaire now. He lives between LA and Austria preferring to work on his paintings than music. I guess that's what happens after you abandon your disco roots and team up with Oakey.
Yeah, I think we're likely to team up with Phil Oakey sooner rather than later. I mean we kind of did things the other way round. We started by writing an AM radio pop record. Next I'm thinking of sculpting my mo' into a handlebar and getting a perm. I guess it takes all types.
Sure I can see myself writing a country pop record one day, like Phil Drummond from the KLF after they did the ‘White Room' album. That'd be the fastest way to shake all those New Order comparisons.
You'd think with no girl in the band that would be enough. Having said that, when I went along to see the White Stripes someone said we need a chick with big tits in our band or we won't sell any records. Seems well reasoned but I'm crossing my fingers and sticking with the current lineup. The single Future is out now on Modular Recordings with debut album, Bright Like Neon Light due March 2004.