Hot Chip
One Life Stand

Astralwerks

When I think of Hot Chip, I immediately think of upbeat, optimistic, melodic and very crisp song writing. It’s no surprise as The Warning was my first introduction to this group. Their last album, Made In The Dark with their most successful single — “Ready For The Floor”, gained them a lot of support in the United States. What I think contributed to their success is that they have universal appeal to listeners. Their music is upbeat, melodic, dance-able (but not overtly “dance”) while displaying quality song-writing skills.

One Life Stand is the result of experience, maturity and confidence that the band has come to possess in their skills. Clearly, the thoughtful creativity evident in each song was not in the earlier albums. I certainly never thought of Hot Chip as innovators. It’s funny that the album cover depicts a suspended statue head as if being placed somewhere because the album has that same feel of everything put together very carefully so that they fit perfect.

Songs like Thieves in the Night, I Feel Better and the title track, One Life Stand from the first half of the album are singles in the making. One thing I did not expect was the improved vocals and the storytelling that they show. The second half we see them mix up the tempos with songs like Slush and Alley Cats where there is diversity even within the song. Each track offers something creatively without hitting me over the head with it which I appreciate.

This is the best Hot Chip album by a matter of magnitude. Everything that you like about this group is present in concentrated form.

— Jack Tse