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Hot Chip Made in the Dark Rating: 4/5 |
Hot Chip’s music is really good in my book. Their third effort, “Made in the Dark,” is intriguing, seductive and intelligent. They have created a fantastic album and a bangin’ single, “Ready for the Floor,” (streamable on YouTube). They have a strong following in the UK and are poised for a takeover over hither with their particular brand of shiny dance rock.
But everyone’s got their kryptonite right? Shaq can’t throw free throws. Heath Ledger had pills. Tila Tequila’s head is inexplicably a perfect cube. And Hot Chip all have faces that could melt cheese. I suppose their rhythm guitarist racks up like a six on the bonability scale but they definitely aren’t getting their own reality show anytime soon (unless one of them decides to pop a bisexual pill).
Anyways, “Made in the Dark” is certainly worth a spin. It’s certainly not your typical dance record. In fact, my suitemate just poked his biracial head in my door and told me that I, star Cadenza reporter Eric Lee, “listen to weird music.”
I accept this little jibe, because modicums of originality and whimsy are oft hard to find in this day and age’s land of stale acoustic guitars. Also, my family tree doesn’t put roots out on four continents. So you can suck it, mutt.
Speaking of diversity, it should be noted that Hot Chip consists of five musicians, who rock conventional instruments by day and moonlight as DJs. This has given way to a blend of electronic and rock music with a taste for dramatic synthesizers and basslines. Couple this with smartass lyrics and horny ethos and you have a combination built to entertain. Check out the WWE inspired “Wrestlers” for this nugget of gold, “I’ve got a roll of coins/I’m aiming for your loins.”
This is all a little eccentric to be sure. Aside from the slurry diction, and the guy’s voice sounding, endearingly, like a nervous freshman speaking up in Gen. Chem., I have no problems with the musicianship. I’m sure this won’t get far, as far as club spins go, but I’d definitely recommend cranking this at your next local party.