Beloved Naarm/Melbourne-based electronic duo Close Counters have just unveiled their third studio album, LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY. Produced by Finn Rees and Allan McConnell, the nine-track LP is an ambitious concept album centred around the transformative power of dance music.
Boasting collaborations with the likes of Lyric Jones, Tiana Khasi, Allysha Joy, Jace XL and Shiv, the record sees the producers conjure a utopian dancefloor flavoured with elements of soul, broken beat, house and jazz.
Close Counters – LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY
Speaking on the record, Close Counters explain: “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”.
They continue: “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,” the pair add. “‘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.”
Close Counters will celebrate the arrival of LOVERS DANCE ACADEMY with their biggest Australian tour to date, visiting fans across seven metro and regional cities (including Hobart!) this March.
You can take their new album for a spin up above, or suss the duo’s live dates down below.
Close Counters 2025 Album Tour Dates
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
Further Reading
Love Letter To A Record: Close Counters On Jamiroquai’s ‘The Return of the Space Cowboy’
All the Winners of the 2023 Music Victoria Awards: Julia Jacklin, Immy Owusu, Cable Ties + More
Melbourne Electronic Duo Close Counters Drop ‘SOULACOASTA II’ LP
