Close Counters Reveal Anticipated Album Lovers Dance Academy
Naarm/Melbourne-based producer duo Close Counters have just delivered their joyous album ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY‘ – recorded at their studio in Brunswick and across the globe, produced by Finn Rees and Allan McConnell and mixed by Allan. It features the latest single ‘I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU‘.
‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ is a moving celebration of soul, broken beat, house and jazz, packed to the brim with exquisite rhythmic percussion, vibrating improvised synths and syncopated bass lines. The record showcases Close Counters’ effortless and infectious instrumentation, while intricate production allows the tracks to retain an energetic yet spacious feeling. Collaboration has always been at the heart of Close Counters’ music, and the album showcases exuberant feature performances from Lyric Jones, Tiana Khasi, Allysha Joy, Jace XL and Shiv, plus nods to their wider collaborative team on the record (Lucky Pereira, Robyn Poppins, Matthew Hayes, Ryotaro Noshiro, Tiaryn Griggs, Annalisa Fernandez, plus Adam Halliwell of Mildlife on the album opener) creating a festive community and captures their live-performance energy throughout.
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The duo talk about the inspiration behind ‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’:
“‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ is a concept album about an idea where we want to transport the listeners to a club, or collective, that’s manifesting a better world through art. It’s both a metaphor for the power of collective energy in dance music that can give life to the people, and literal in the sense that there’s a collective behind the Close Counters album. A place where you learn, it’s mysterious and intriguing. Never quite giving everything away. Each song is a confession of life and love’s growths, ‘FREEDOM WE’RE NEEDING‘, ‘FEELING TAKES OVER ME‘, and ‘ON THE MOVE‘ cover the longing for freedom through movement. ‘WAITING ALL NIGHT‘ and ‘CONSTANT LOVE‘ are more personal accounts of love’s journey. ‘I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU‘ is a collective message to lift those around you or someone in need.”
Accompanying the album’s release is their biggest Australian tour to date, and the pair are on a hot streak of sold-out shows in Naarm/Melbourne (Northcote Theatre – Northcote Rise Festival, The Corner Hotel, 170 Russell, The Night Cat). Last year, they performed a breakout live (and self-booked) headline tour of the UK/EU, selling out the iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, playing tastemaker festivals Lost Village Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Cabaret Sauvage, plus key dates at Jazz Café London, Sisyphos, Ninety One Living Room, and wrapped it all up at the hedonistic Defected Malta.
CLOSE COUNTERS
‘LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY’ TOUR DATES
Presented by Good Intent, Music Australia and UNDR Ctrl
Tickets available at closecounters.com
SAT 1 MAR | BLACKBEAR LODGE, MEANJIN/BRISBANE QLD
THU 6 MAR | BEACH HOTEL, BUNDJALUNG/BYRON BAY NSW
FRI 7 MAR | HALFWAY BAR, WOOLYUNGAH/WOLLONGONG NSW
SAT 8 MAR | RED RATTLER, EORA/SYDNEY NSW
SAT 15 MAR | ALTAR, NIPALUNA/HOBART TAS
SAT 22 MAR | THE CROXTON, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
SAT 29 MAR | GANG GANG, NGUNNAWAL/CANBERRA ACT
SAT 26 APR | BRICK LANE JAZZ FESTIVAL, LONDON UK
SAT 3 MAY | JAM ON THE HORIZON FESTIVAL, BRISTOL UK
FRI 13 JUN | RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB, LONDON UK
SAT 14 JUN | RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB, LONDON UK
