close counters: lovers dance academy
Francisco Espregueira
Naarm/Melbourne-based producer duo Close Counters invite you to join LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY, their joyous new album released on Holy Sound. Recorded in their Brunswick studio and across the globe, and produced by Finn Rees and Allan McConnell (who also handled mixing duties), this album is a vibrant celebration of soul, broken beat, house, and jazz. The record follows years filled with magnetic releases, with our special recommendation going to the previous two albums SOULACOASTA (2018) and SOULACOASTA II (2023) in case you want to dig into their discography.
Packed with exquisite rhythmic percussion, vibrating improvised synths, and syncopated basslines, LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY showcases Close Counters' effortless and infectious instrumentation, maintaining an energetic yet spacious feel through intricate production. The album pulsates with a live performance energy, reflecting the duo's collaborative spirit and featuring exuberant performances from Lyric Jones, Tiana Khasi, Allysha Joy, Jace XL, and Shiv, alongside contributions from their wider creative community including Adam Halliwell of Mildlife.
More than just a collection of tracks, LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY is a concept album, a metaphorical and literal representation of a collective striving for a better world through art and dance music. It’s a space for learning, mystery, and intrigue, where each song is a confession of life and love's growth. From the hip-hijacking bass and uplifting melodies to the glockenspiel magic of "Dusk," the clap-happy energy of "Feeling Takes Over Me," the broken beats and infectious vocals of "Freedom We're Needing" (featuring Shiv), and the warm embrace of closer "I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU," LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY is a dose of soul-enriching dance medicine that makes remaining motionless an exercise in futility. Available on vinyl, this flies across ocean, all the way from Australia - more specifically stolen land belonging to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. Respect!