Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” “Kids In America” by Kim Wilde. Anything by Duran Duran.
Yes, ’80s music sure sets a mood.
The Psychedelic Furs’ “Love My Way.” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” All those awful Men at Work hits, and all the great Michael Jackson jams.
The music from the ’80s was so much fun — and iconic — that it still has us dancing. From hipster clubs to suburban weddings, ’80s music still dominates the dance floor. So it’s no surprise to see that some contemporary artists are drawing from hair-sprayed, decades-old influences to make new music that makes you move.
What is surprising: Cut Copy’s update on the new-wave movement of the ’80s. With flourishing synthesizer strains and crystalline pop vocals that would make an New Order fan salivate, the Melbourne, Australia- based trio has revived a dead art form. And the kids who missed out on ’80s music the first time around are claiming their right to this updated sound that brings to mind the early days of Yaz, Depeche Mode and New Order.
“For me, the ’80s felt like an era that I never got to know because I was too young to appreciate it and go out and see the bands,” said Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford, who was born in the late ’70s as many of these bands were forming. “You kind of half-know things you hear at such a young age, and so when you go back and rediscover it, it’s like finding a repressed memory or something.”
For anyone vaguely familiar with the synthesizer-driven pop from the ’80s, Cut Copy’s music will remind them of a good friend, a wild night, a favorite movie. Something about the band’s perfect compositions — with their balance of big beats, pop melodies, computer programming, backing vocals and dynamic synth lines — is so familiar.
The glittering pop candy of “Far Away” is more infectious than anything Cyndi Lauper ever performed. “Lights & Music,” with its jumpy, post-punk bass line and shadowy vocal effects, is one of the greatest pop- dance songs ever. “Hearts on Fire” smartly draws from ’90s house music to create an intoxicating blend of post-new-wave excess.
Whitford and his bandmates — Tim Hoey and Mitchell Scott — are naturally drawn to the various sounds that make up their lush compositions.
“We love making music with synthesizers because of what Yaz and New Order did,” said Whitford, who will play a sold-out show with his band Sunday night at the Bluebird Theatre. “We’re deeply influenced by that kind of music, and we’re trying to continue in that tradition of synthesizers and pop music.”
Like many bands, this one started out as a solo music project. Cut Copy found its modest start in Whitford’s Melbourne flat. He didn’t know anything about music or production, but he had a great record collection and he boldly purchased a couple of keyboards and samplers to mess around on. Before long, he was scheduling band practice with a couple of friends and prepping for a first live show.
“I never had any real expectations with making music,” Whitford said. “I thought it wouldn’t be that hard to create something interesting, but as far as being able to tour the world and play amazing places and festivals, this whole thing has really far exceeded any expectations I had in the beginning.”
Things are going well for the hot Aussie band. Whereas they once sold 300 tickets in their native Melbourne, they are now selling more than 8,000 tickets. Whereas they first toured the United States opening for Franz Ferdinand in medium- sized theaters, they’re now headlining those same rooms — and selling them out.
It helps that they aren’t lazy about their live show. They could just rock out and let the dance party unfold around them, but instead they’re careful to give their fans something they can’t get anywhere else.
“From the beginning, we’ve never played the songs as they are on the record,” Whitford said. “We’ll reinterpret them and perform different interludes and add things that create a more interesting set. And we also pay close attention to the presentation of the whole show. We’ve spent a lot of time working on the lighting design of this tour. And we just did a rehearsal a week ago, and the lights were so bright that we had to take breaks from rehearsing our set.
“I hope that people are dazzled by the light show,” said Whitford, the stage lighting designer who is also the graphic designer behind all of the group’s media. “I know I am.”
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
Cut Copy
’80s-infused dance-pop. Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., with Matt & Kim and DJ Knightlife. Sunday. 9 p.m. Sold out. More info:
