Tuesday's Recommended Release

When Hot Chip released The Warning way back in 2006 the sound seemed fresh and new, after all there were only a few dozen people doing the electronic dance thing well back then and now there is a non-stop string of people that are turning on synthesizers and putting vocals over it. It was a mind blowing ride The Warning, loaded with non-stop beats and synths propelling every person that heard it to stand up and move their feet a bit. But in this day and age it seems everyone is doing the exact same thing, making the release of their third album, Made in the Dark a bit of a daunting challenge. Luckily for us Hot Chip have no problem separating themselves from the pack.

Kicking off with the iresistable "Out at the Pictures", Made in the Dark isn't necessarily a non-stop dance extravaganza, instead the album relies on a bit of feeling and soul to accompany all the break neck beats and candy coated lyrics found on the album. It's not a departure, it's just an adjustment to the times we've been through. While The Warning almost never let us catch our breath, Made in the Dark opts to take a page out of the LCD Soundsystem handbook going for the occasional slower tempo song. It allows for moments like the title track and "In the Privacy of Our Love" which could be used for a nice slow dance with that girl you've been pouring sweat over for the last 40-minutes, or to grab yourself an ice cold glass of water. However you choose to use the time make sure you hurry back, because these slower moments don't last very long.

The majority of the album continues to pack the same punch we've come to expect from Hot Chip, pounding as many synths and beats into each second of song as it can take without seeming like a jumbled mess. Like The Warning, there are a few standout tracks that are just ahead of the rest of the album. The opening three tracks spring to mind immediately for me. "Out At the Pictures", "Shake A Fist", and "Ready for the Floor" are probably the strongest songs I've heard so far this year (yeah I know its early still), and "Wrestlers" is outstanding fun.

Considering it's the first week of February I'll spare you the whole "this is the record of the year" spiel, but it is a freakin' good record and one that I can see spinning a whole lot this year. If you haven't picked it up yet, make sure you run to your record store right now and start listening.
Hot Chip - "Out at the Pictures"
Hot Chip - "Ready for the Floor"
Hot Chip - "Wrestlers"
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