Consider this my disclaimer as well as my sincerest apology: Sorry, but I have no idea what genre Hot Chip falls under.
That aside, whatever this band is and whatever it is they do, they do it well. Just as the rock genre has alternative rock, alternative electronica has Hot Chip. For the sake of naming a genre, I'll use some creative liberty and dub Hot Chip "Electron-ative" ... patent pending.
Though rooted by chunky dance beats, Hot Chip's "Made in the Dark" has a unique feel that makes it not quite the ordinary dance-club rump-shaker. Each song is distinctly different with layered beats that keep monotony at bay. That is what surprised me the most about these guys. Their songs rely on catchy beats, but even the god of all beats cannot keep a track afloat if it is overused. As if to remedy this, each song on "Made in the Dark" holds the listeners attention by adding something unexpected, be it a catchy chorus or an intricate synthesizer beat.
Another aspect that sets Hot Chip apart is that it has vocalists. Though some of you may claim that techno merely samples vocals and that I am a dirty liar, do hear me out. The singers make the album unique. Both singers croon away with smooth voices, one with a higher pitch and the other with a lower, sometimes-haunting tone. Songs like "One Pure Thought" and "Out at the Pictures" showcase the unusual approach Hot Chip takes with vocals.
Though the majority of the album is dance-floor ready, there are a few songs that keep this album from being a house party's "set-it-and-forget-it" CD. The final two tracks and the title track are slow and reminiscent of ballads, as well as the song "We're Looking for a Lot Of Love." This is not a drawback. In fact, the change of pace enhances the album immensely.
Even if you buy the album by mistake thinking that it's the re-release of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," give Hot Chip a chance.
Reach the reporter at: adam.chaikin@asu.edu.
