Sunday, December 20, 2009

Song #20: Hot Chip - "One Life Stand"


 
The British laptop rockers were unepxcted heroes of 2009's Big Day Out, playing just before The Prodigy in the boiler room and causing a massive stir whilst doing so. Nearly a year after these apperances, and fresh from the solo album from frontman Alexis Taylor, material has begun to surface from the band's forthcoming forth (see what I did there?) album, One Life Stand.



On offer for listening today is the title track. After a bit of a build-up, Taylor's vocals kick in...we're in familiar territory momentarily before being catapulted into space. With an army of synths, tripped out backing vocals and even those steel drums you always hear in Jamaican music that change the sound depending on where you hit them. And then, the glorious chorus makes its way in, and any bizarre behaviour is instantly forgiven. Momentarily, at least.

There are some redeeming qualities, but a lot more surrounding the track is in the realm of puzzling. The question that lingers is just where the band can possibly go with this sound. If this turns out to be a grower, then it looks like we'll have to quote the classic disco hit - "the only way is up". For now, though, I'm still not entirely sure.

FINAL RATING (/10): 6

One Life Stand is available now on iTunes, with the album arriving in early February. You can stream the song from YouTube below, and see what you think:



xx
David

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