Coming on Strong
Are Hot Chip another postmodern buzz band from England making happy-go-lucky pogo-pop as fast as they can before it becomes passe? Thankfully, the answer is hell, no. Not only is there a span of five years between their first EP and their debut, but Hot Chip may in fact be seen as an update of theBeta Bandat their loosest and best. A loungey, electropop sheen covers much of the music, but more than anything, Hot Chip displays an omnivorous approach to the entirety of alt, ‘60s pop and electronic music history. Their songs are infectious, silly and often weirdly beautiful. The hilarious "A-B-C," for instance, is abig pimpin' in the basementtune that crosses acoustic guitars with retro bleeps and will easily appeal to fans ofWeen. A London-based group with singer-songwriters Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard at the core, Hot Chip's mixture of textured, smart, lo-fi groove with actual humor is incredibly rare, and great.–Mike McGonigal