When tickets for Cut Copy’s show at Lee’s Palace this past May turned into some of the hottest ducats in town, first forcing the show to be moved to the twice-as-large Phoenix and still selling out completely, I attributed it as much to the presence of much-hyped outfit Black Kids on the undercard as any buzz the Australian trio had amassed on their own.

But considering that they’re coming back this Fall for a September 19 date at the Sound Academy (tickets $22.50) entirely on their own merits, it seems I may have underestimated their appeal. Not that it doesn’t make sense – their new record In Ghost Colours reminds me of Technique-era New Order with some Depeche Mode thrown in (Dan Whitford’s vocals can be eerily reminiscent of Dave Gahan’s) and when you manage to be evocative of two of the biggest bands of the ’80s with being slavishly derivative, well people are going to take note.

While Colours runs a little long at 15 tracks, I appreciate how well they’re able to balance out decent pop songwriting with the necessary traits of electronic dance music (big, repetitive beats) that make for enjoyable listening whether out at a club or just sitting at home. Which is how I’ve been listening to them. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s not. It doesn’t mean I don’t dance to it. I mean, I don’t, but that’s not a given. Anyways.

There’s features on the band at The New York Times, Metro, Chart and The Scotsman while Spinner’s Interface recently hosted a studio session with the band.

Update: The tour will be a co-headline with fellow electro-Aussies The Presets. FYI.

MP3: Cut Copy – “Lights & Music”
Video: Cut Copy – “Lights & Music”
Video: Cut Copy – “Hearts On Fire”
MySpace: Cut Copy

As for their tourmates on the last tour, Black Kids will release their debut full-length Partie Traumatic in North America tomorrow and having gone though the record via the Spinner stream, I suspect this is a case where what comes across as exhilarating on a single or an EP gets exhausting over the course of a full length – Reggie Youngblood’s almost-satirical Robert Smith yelping, in particular, becomes a bit much to take. Black Kids are at the Mod Club October 5, NPR has a World Cafe session with the band, Reuters and interview and The Independent an extensive feature.

Stream: Black Kids / Partie Traumatic
Video: Black Kids – “Hurricane Jane”
Video: Black Kids – “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You”
MySpace: Black Kids

Also coming back to town for the second time this year – Jamie Lidell, who will be at the Opera House on October 9 in support of his latest album Jim, tickets $17.50. The New Zealand Herald has a profile of the electro-soul singer.

Video: Jamie Lidell – “Another Day”

Music Snobbery and Pitch talk to Supergrass, about whom the excellent question was raised the other day – why aren’t the playing Toronto on this tour? Their jaunt with Foo Fighters ends in New York. Hardly a hop skip and a jump up here and you know they’d sell out wherever. Just saying.

Neil Halstead reminisces about the Slowdive-y days with Wired. His new solo record Oh! Mighty Engine is out next Tuesday.

The Quietus has an exclusive excerpt from Nick Cave’s forthcoming book Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! based on the song “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!” from the album Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!. Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!, the concert, will be held at the Kool Haus on October 1.

The Sun and The Minneapolis Star-Tribune interview The Hold Steady while Spinner solicits a list of top ten pet peeves. I dunno, harping on pet peeves is hardly staying positive.

Vindy.com talks to Film School frontman Greg Bertens. They’re at Sneaky Dee’s tomorrow night.

And if you’re in the mood for something a touch quieter Tuesday night, Bon Iver is at Lee’s Palace though I believe that one is sold out. If you can’t get tickets, perhaps console yourself with this Daytrotter session while reading these features at Relix and JamBase. It’s like an intimate backstage concert and conversations… except not.

Paste has a first listen to one of the songs from Calexico’s forthcoming Carried To Dust, out September 9, while Blurt profiles and offers a preview of their forthcoming cover story on the band. Update: MP3 now available to download!

MP3: Calexico – “Two Silver Trees”

The New York Times talks to Neil Young about the CSNY: Deja Vu documentary.

Leonard Cohen is profiled by The Times.

JAM discusses Something For All Of Us…, out tomorrow, with Brendan Canning.

The Province talks to Kathleen Edwards.

The National Post anoints Weakerthan John K Samson as “Canada’s Poet Laureate”. I don’t think they can do that. And don’t we already have the Alligator Pie guy? The Weakterthans are playing day two of V Fest on September 7 at the Toronto Islands.