Hailing from London, the electrorock/house band Hot Chip just reached the decade point, which they marked with their new album “One Life Stand,” released this month. With a slew of distinctly unique tracks, the album seems to be everywhere at once, never monotonous, never predictable. Consisting of vocalists Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, along with members Owen Clarke, Felix Martin, and Al Doyle, Hot Chip has been influenced by such greats as The Kinks, Stevie Wonder, Prince, as well as contemporary groups like Destiny’s Child and Aphex Twin. This eclectic mix of sounds has served them well, paving the way for hit singles like “Over and Over” and “Shake a Fist.” Now, with their most recent album, they continue to break the mold musically.
The first song on the album, entitled “Thieves in the Night,” is impeccably crafted, with an incredibly catchy hook and a melancholy, but infectious, melody. As it washes over its listeners, “Thieves” pounds out the chorus “Happiness is what we all want/ May it be that we don’t always want” as if there is nothing left to live for. Definitely a bold choice for the opening song!
Listening on, the songs change tone drastically – going from mellow to upbeat to sad to nostalgic, this album runs the gamut of emotional expression. Case in point, the semi-auto tuned “I Feel Better” has an air of Top 40 pop nostalgia, and is immediately followed by the title song “One Life Stand,” a dance track with a melancholy tone laced throughout its chorus. Just two songs later, “Slush” creeps up with a lead-in reminiscent of barbershop quartet a capella groups, leaving its listeners re-evaluating the border between musical genres.
In the song “We Have Love,” the beginning again serves to ruffle feathers, using high pitched effects on the introductory vocals to shake things up. As the song progresses, Hot Chip adds more to the mix, sometimes auto-tuning or speeding up the driving beat. The combination of the mellow vocal melody and the almost frantic rhythm of the background instrumentals adds an intriguing feel to the track that keeps listeners’ interest piqued.
Overall, this album is a sock-rocking, distinctly Hot Chip addition to the band’s discography. Truly reaching out to a wide range of listeners, Hot Chip’s “One Life Stand” will certainly stand the test of time.
