Hot, Again
So, here's something I've wanted to do for a while, and that is re-posting something from back when we were a little fledgling music blog without that many readers. So, all you new folks get a chance to see something that was turning our robot wheels back in October of last year, here's what robot Mark said back then about one of my favorite bands Hot Chip. NME loved their record (giving it an 8 out of 10), calling the band "slapcore" (what?), and bloggers have been on top the band ever since then... we here at MFR were originally introduced to them via a friend, and Mark gave me their CD last fall.
Since then I have been mildly obsessed. In fact, my obsession may be even more than mild. More like slightly crazed, especially after actually meeting the band at a lovely Sunday-afternoon waffle-brunch-session at APT, then seeing them the next night at Rothko wherein my mind was absolutely blown. Their sound is hard to define: keyboards, drum machines, little guitar stabs, saxamophone, and gorgeous multi-part harmonies (pure Beach Boys inspiration). The songwriting is total genius too, with humorous, self-effacing songs about love, lust and technology.
This made loads of sense after I met the guys in the band, who are so nice and modest, they seem like some of the strangest candidates I could ever imagine to stand up on stage, sing and play their keyboards. The five of them line up and jam out when they play, like an insane British version of Kraftwerk... and jesus, every show of theirs I've seen (three and counting) has been so loud! The bass-melodies get rather nasty and make your lungs vibrate when played loud. Plus, though a lot of their songs on the album are slower (this one included), they up the tempos and add spectacular flourishes like cowbell and loads of distortion to the live versions - I love it.
Love it.
Their record, Coming On Strong was originally released by our friends at the UK-based Moshi Moshi Records label, and if you live in the UK, you're best off buying direct from them (here). Now, for those of you in the US, well, finally there's an alternative to purchasing a high-priced import disc: Astralwerks and DFA Records are releasing the album here. The original eleven tracks are bumped up to fourteen, with the addition of bonus/b-side tracks "A-B-C", "Hittin' Skittles" and one of my favorites, "From Drummer to Driver."
Starting tomorrow, buy your (American) copy here (or download from iTunes - thanks for the tip Russ) and do your best to see them live whenever or wherever they perform - see their live page for a handful of upcoming dates in the UK. I really can't say enough good things about this band, and hope many many of you will go out and buy it - I've listened to it consistently for a year now and will continue to do so for longer than that still.
Keep on them too, as there's word that they've got another album coming out soon, and there's the very limited Barbarian EP out now that I'll let you track down on your own...