Free Your Mind (album)

Free Your Mind
Studio album by Cut Copy
Released 1 November 2013
Recorded
Genre
Length 50:32
Label Modular
Producer
Cut Copy chronology

Zonoscope
(2011)		 Free Your Mind
(2013)
Singles from Free Your Mind
  1. "Let Me Show You Love"
    Released: 6 September 2013
  2. "Free Your Mind"
    Released: 11 October 2013
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 68/100[1]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [2]
The A.V. Club B−[3]
Clash 7/10[4]
Consequence of Sound [5]
The Guardian [6]
NME 7/10[7]
Pitchfork Media 6.4/10[8]
PopMatters 4/10[9]
Slant Magazine [10]
Spin 4/10[11]

Free Your Mind is the fourth studio album by Australian electronic music band Cut Copy, released on 1 November 2013 by Modular Recordings. The album was produced by frontman Dan Whitford, with mixing and additional production by Dave Fridmann. It was preceded by the singles "Let Me Show You Love" and "Free Your Mind".

Background

Produced by frontman Dan Whitford, Free Your Mind was recorded in Cut Copy's hometown of Melbourne and later mixed by Dave Fridmann in Upstate New York.[12] According to its press release, the album was inspired by the two different Summers of Love (San Francisco's in 1967 and Britain's in 1988 and 1989). "The concept of freedom is one that's universally positive and timeless, and whatever each person's version of that freedom is, it's a good thing to be reminding people or even just ourselves to be 'free'", Whitford stated.[12]

Release and promotion

Cut Copy revealed the single "Let Me Show You" (eventually retitled "Let Me Show You Love") at the CHIRP Record Fair at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago over the weekend of 19–21 July 2013, where 120 copies of the 12-inch vinyl were lathe-cut on-site and sold to fans.[13][14] "Let Me Show You Love" was officially streamed on 29 July through the band's SoundCloud page,[15] and was released as a digital single on 6 September.[16]

In early September 2013, the title track was unveiled via six billboards that read "Free Your Mind", each placed at specific locations worldwide—Mexico City; Santiago, Chile; Moora, Australia; Blaina, Wales; Detroit, Michigan and the California desert.[17][18][19] In order to hear the song, fans were instructed to visit one of the billboards and open the band's website on their iPhone or Android.[17][20]

"Free Your Mind" made its official debut online on 9 September,[21] while a digital bundle containing remixes by Spiritualized and Fort Romeau was released on 11 October.[22] The accompanying music video, directed by Christopher Hill, premiered on 10 October and stars Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård as a cult leader.[23]

On 10 September 2013, the band announced a world tour in support of the album, which kicked off in Salt Lake City, Utah on 30 October, and ended in Copenhagen, Denmark on 13 December.[12] The entire album was made available for streaming on 24 October.[24]

In October 2013, Cut Copy shared the tracks "We Are Explorers" and "Take Me Higher" via SoundCloud;[25][26] the band had previously debuted the former at a show in Charlottesville, Virginia on 6 June 2013, under the title "Explorers".[27] The group also performed "We Are Explorers" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 19 November 2013.[28]

The video for "We Are Explorers", directed by Aramique Krauthamer and Masa Kawamura, premiered on 21 February 2014 and was created with special characters made using a 3D printer. A bundle containing the files for the 3D prints was released via BitTorrent to allow fans to print and create their own videos.[29]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "(intro)"  Dan Whitford 0:20
2. "Free Your Mind"  
  • Whitford
  • Tim Hoey
  • Mitchell Scott
  • Ben Browning
 4:57
3. "We Are Explorers"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
 4:18
4. "Let Me Show You Love"  
 5:56
5. "(into the desert)"  Whitford 1:28
6. "Footsteps"  Whitford 4:42
7. "In Memory Capsule"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
  • Browning
 4:40
8. "(above the city)"  Whitford 0:32
9. "Dark Corners & Mountain Tops"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
  • Browning
 5:07
10. "Meet Me in a House of Love"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
  • Browning
 6:09
11. "Take Me Higher"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
  • Browning
 5:52
12. "(the waves)"  Whitford 0:45
13. "Walking in the Sky"  
  • Whitford
  • Hoey
  • Scott
  • Browning
 3:31
14. "Mantra"  Whitford 2:15
Total length:
 50:42

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Free Your Mind.[31]

  • Dan Whitford – artwork, design, production
  • Vika Bull – additional vocals (tracks 2, 4, 7, 10, 11)
  • Andrew Everding – mixing assistance
  • Dave Fridmann – additional production, mixing
  • Michael Fridmann – mixing assistance
  • Julian Hamilton – additional arrangement (tracks 2, 3, 7, 10)
  • Benny Harwood – extra pedals, gear (tracks 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14)
  • Anna Laverty – additional recording (tracks 2, 4, 7, 10, 11, 13)
  • Mike Marsh – mastering
  • Matt Neighbor – additional assistant recording (tracks 2, 4, 7, 10, 11, 13)
  • Rene Vaile – additional sleeve photography
  • Mirko Vogel – recording (tracks 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14)
  • Wizard – assistant recording

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[32] 19
Australian Dance Albums Chart[33] 2
UK Albums Chart[34] 146
UK Dance Albums Chart[35] 12
UK Indie Albums Chart[36] 25
US Billboard 200[37] 98
US Alternative Albums[38] 17
US Dance/Electronic Albums[39] 6

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Edition Label Ref.
Australia 1 November 2013
Standard Modular [40][41]
France 4 November 2013 Digital download [42]
Germany [43]
Netherlands
  • CD
  • digital download
 [44][45]
Sweden
  • CD
  • LP
  • digital download
 [46][47][48]
United Kingdom [49][50][51]
United States 5 November 2013
  • CD
  • digital download
[52]
Germany 8 November 2013 CD Modular [53]
15 November 2013 LP [54]
France 18 November 2013 Barclay [55]
United States 19 November 2013
  • Loma Vista
  • Republic
 [56]
France 25 November 2013 CD Barclay [57]
Australia 18 July 2014 Digital download Deluxe Modular [30]
France 21 July 2014 [58]
United Kingdom [59]
United States 22 July 2014
  • Loma Vista
  • Republic
 [60]
Germany 23 July 2014 Modular [61]

References

  1. ↑ "Free Your Mind – Cut Copy". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Sendra, Tim. "Free Your Mind – Cut Copy". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  3. ↑ Brusie, David (5 November 2013). "Cut Copy: Free Your Mind". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Nguyen, Dean Van (20 November 2013). "Cut Copy – Free Your Mind". Clash. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Cosores, Philip (7 November 2013). "Album Review: Cut Copy – Free Your Mind". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  6. ↑ MacInnes, Paul (31 October 2013). "Cut Copy: Free Your Mind - review". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  7. ↑ Jones, Damian (31 October 2013). "Cut Copy – 'Free Your Mind'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Cohen, Ian (4 November 2013). "Cut Copy: Free Your Mind". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Coe, Taylor (5 November 2013). "Cut Copy: Free Your Mind". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  10. ↑ Liedel, Kevin (4 November 2013). "Cut Copy: Free Your Mind". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Kamps, Garrett (4 November 2013). "Cut Copy Indulge the Banal, Vapid Side of '90s House on the Constricting 'Free Your Mind'". Spin. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 McGovern, Kyle (10 September 2013). "Cut Copy Urge 'Free Your Mind' on Hippy-Dippy Fourth Album". Spin. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  13. ↑ Goble, Corban (22 July 2013). "Listen: Cut Copy: "Let Me Show You"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  14. ↑ McGovern, Kyle (22 July 2013). "Hear Cut Copy's Throbbing, Limited-Edition New Single 'Let Me Show You'". Spin. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  15. ↑ Minsker, Evan (29 July 2013). "Listen: Cut Copy: "Let Me Show You" (Official Stream)". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  16. ↑ "Let Me Show You Love – Single by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Minsker, Evan (7 September 2013). "Cut Copy Share New Single "Free Your Mind" Via Billboards Across the World". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "Cut Copy debut new song at six locations worldwide including Blaina, South Wales". NME. IPC Media. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  19. ↑ Lindsay, Cam (November 2013). "Cut Copy – Feel Love". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  20. ↑ Young, Alex. "There's a new Cut Copy song, but you can only hear it at six locations around the world". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  21. ↑ Minsker, Evan (9 September 2013). "Cut Copy Announce New Album Free Your Mind, Share Title Track". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  22. ↑ "Free Your Mind (Remixes) – Single by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  23. ↑ Phillips, Amy; Pelly, Jenn (10 October 2013). "Video: Cut Copy: "Free Your Mind", Starring Alexander Skarsgård". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  24. ↑ Minsker, Evan (24 October 2013). "Stream Cut Copy's Album Free Your Mind". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  25. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (22 October 2013). "Listen: Cut Copy: "We Are Explorers"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  26. ↑ Battan, Carrie (24 October 2013). "Listen: Cut Copy: "Take Me Higher"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  27. ↑ Martins, Chris (11 June 2013). "Cut Copy Announce New Album With Dance-Punk Popper 'Explorers'". Spin. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  28. ↑ McGovern, Kyle (20 November 2013). "Cut Copy Groove Into 'We Are Explorers' on 'Fallon'". Spin. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  29. ↑ Locker, Melissa (21 February 2014). "Check Out Cut Copy's 3D Printed Music Video for "We Are Explorers"". Time. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Free Your Mind (Deluxe Version) by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  31. ↑ Free Your Mind (CD liner notes). Cut Copy. Modular Recordings. 2013. MODCD166.
  32. ↑ "Cut Copy – Free Your Mind". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  33. ↑ "ARIA Dance – Week Commencing 11th November 2013". ARIA Charts. Pandora Archive. p. 17. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "The Official UK Albums Chart for the week ending 16 November 2013". UKChartsPlus (Milton Keynes: IQ Ware) (638).
  35. ↑ "2013 Top 40 Dance Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  36. ↑ "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
  37. ↑ "Cut Copy – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  38. ↑ "Cut Copy – Chart history: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  39. ↑ "Dance/Electronic Albums : Nov 23, 2013". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  40. ↑ "Listen: Cut Copy – Free Your Mind (Album Stream)". Modular Recordings. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  41. ↑ "Free Your Mind by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  42. ↑ "Free Your Mind par Cut Copy" (in French). 7digital France. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "Free Your Mind by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Germany. Apple. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  44. ↑ "Free Your Mind | Cut Copy" (in Dutch). Free Record Shop. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  45. ↑ "Free Your Mind by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Netherlands. Apple. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  46. ↑ "Free Your Mind – Album – Cut Copy" (in Swedish). CDON.se. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  47. ↑ "Free Your Mind – Vinyl LP – Cut Copy" (in Swedish). CDON.se. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  48. ↑ "Free Your Mind by Cut Copy". iTunes Store Sweden. Apple. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  49. ↑ "Free Your Mind". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  50. ↑ "Free Your Mind [VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  51. ↑ "Free Your Mind by Cut Copy". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ "Free Your Mind" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  54. ↑ "Free Your Mind (2LP+Mp3) [Vinyl LP]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  55. ↑ "Free your mind – Cut Copy – Vinyl album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  56. ↑ "Free Your Mind [LP]". Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  57. ↑ "Free your mind – Cut Copy – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  58. ↑ "Free Your Mind: Cut Copy: Téléchargements MP3" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  59. ↑ "Free Your Mind: Cut Copy: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  60. ↑ "Free Your Mind: Cut Copy: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  61. ↑ "Free Your Mind: Cut Copy: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved 22 July 2014.