ZONOSCOPE [CD]

I pre-ordered this album with a degree of glee, having been completely smitten by the breakthrough sophomore effort In Ghost Colours, which was a huge step up from their promising debut, Bright Like Neon Love. The packaging is divine in this deluxe edition - great box set and bonus DVD of the making of Zonoscope, in which we get to see that Dan Whitford is a music geek and proud, rummaging through racks of vinyl and talking about enjoying an album as an "experience".

Now, with Zonoscope, the experience *should* be there for the taking, but sadly, on my CD copy (and clearly on many others too, judging by these reviews) there are two-second pauses between tracks. This isn't a problem for the small number of tracks that simply fade out. However, when a song ends with a bubbling electronic sound, then cuts off dead for two seconds, then resumes with the exact same sound, you know that this was supposed to be a seamless fit. It breaks the continuity. I am disappointed. If anyone has a CD that doesn't do this, please say, because I am loath to send this back only to have the same problem again. I much prefer physical music products to mp3 downloads so it is quite galling that this beautiful deluxe package seems to have a silly, avoidable error.

Quibble aside, Cut Copy have delivered the goods with this album. It's not In Ghost Colours. There is no song on here to rival the dizzying heights of Lights and Music. However, Zonoscope is a consistently very, very good record. The first thing I noticed was the sound has morphed from the indie disco sheen of In Ghost Colours to a more tribal, percussive sound. It's also a slightly muddier sound - the drums are not particularly dominant in the mix, but they're there. Vocally, there is more layering going on and a little bit more of a trippy, psychedelic vibe. Need You Now starts off sounding quite slow and ordinary, Dan crooning in a low voice, but it slowly builds up to a great climax, showing the songcraft and clever structuring work of Cut Copy.

Take Me Over is about as poppy as proceedings get, and while it's been compared to Down Under by Men At Work, the only similarity I can really detect is in the rhythmic flow of it and the bouncing bass lick. The vocal melodies and synths sound unique to me. It's a suitably sparkly pop nugget for anyone nostalgic for the 80s. Where I'm Going was a shock at first, with the unashamed "Yeah, yeah, yeah, woo" refrain and Beach Boys harmonies but this is another solid track, quite laidback indie in a way, a bit like Doves. Pharaohs & Pyramids is Cut Copy's Walk Like An Egyptian -here they take inspiration from Egypt and deliver some plump pop with rather haunting, quavery synths.

Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution is a highlight, fabulous driving bass and a plinky plonky riff with Dan's vocals seemingly aping Bryan Ferry and David Byrne... This is All We Got reminded me a little of the Stone Roses, or even some of the early 90s shoegaze acts, it must be something about the lush layers and Dan's soaring, soothing vocals.

Alisa is my favourite song on the album - jagged, ragged, angular guitars sparring in a way that I'm sure Bowie would kill for. It sounds like an alternative post-punk song but leads into a truly dreamy pure pop chorus. Hanging on to Every Heartbeat is another upbeat synth-drenched, radio-friendly slice of pop. There is a slight resemblance to Owner of a Lonely Heart by Yes, but the song is still its own man. The opening of Corner of the Sky reminds me of Bowie again, this time Lodger era. The album finishes with the 15-minute rave epic Sun God, which feels like another departure and may hint at a different future sound.

All in all, a great album - just wish those stupid song gaps weren't there!

Excellent 3rd album, will sound great in the summer. But is this pause between tracks a fault with certain batch or is it the same for everyone? If anyone finds they do not have this issue could you please post. Just so we know if it's worth returning for exchange as it completely ruins the flow of the album!

Great great CD and great songs and great cover. But how is it possible that while listening to the CD from the beginning to the end I have to face these crazy gaps between songs which are obviously supposed to be without any pauses and tied one to the other (e.g. see transition from track no. 4 to track no.5)? That really ruins the listening experience of the album. Wonder if that is a defect of a particular batch of CD. If anyone knows (e.g. Modular recordings) please let all the others know in order to substitute faulty CDs.