Music Review: Hot Chip, “Made in the Dark” (EMI) * * * 1/2

Posted by staticblog

on February 6, 2008M at 3:49 pm

On its full-length debut, 2005’s “Coming on Strong,” the snide London electro-rock band Hot Chip were dealing in sparse arrangements and funny in-jokes — the scathing “Down With Prince” came out just as alt-rock bands such as Spoon started emulating the Purple One. But with each new release, Hot Chip has beefed up its sound and written better melodies, and “Made in the Dark” sounds like Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard’s bid for greatness.

At first, “Made in the Dark” sounds like a prickly affair: “Out at the Pictures” and “Shake a Fist” are dragged down by abrasive organ sounds and cacophony. But like 2006’s “And I Was a Boy from School,” “Ready for the Floor” is one of those stellar fantasy tracks that begs the question: what if Paul McCartney collaborated with New Order?

Hot Chip could be angling for a hit here: “We’re Looking for a Lot of Love,” with its gauzy, 10cc-style harmonies, is just warm and snuggly enough to qualify for a Valentine’s Day mix tape, as is the gorgeous, gospel-tinged title track. But as one might expect from a band heavily influenced by Ween, Hot Chip revels in its range, rocking out on “One Pure Thought,” hitting the Afro beat on “Hold On,” and aping Timbaland on the beat-down anthem, “The Wrestler.” And you have to love a band that refers to “Willie Nelson” as a wrestling move.

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