In 2008, Made in the Dark catapulted Hot Chip to the forefront of electropop, capturing the attention of hipsters across the country. Yet what makes this British band unique is not their ability to craft heart-pounding, synth-infused dance beats, but their willingness to explore life beyond the dance floor — namely, the introspection that follows once the lights go out and the alcohol wears off.
One Life Stand presents us with a more mature group of musicians. While their previous albums have occasionally suffered from a lack of cohesion, here all their ideas are channeled into a unified, beautiful whole. Frontman Alexis Taylor has said that the album has a 'homely' feel, and indeed amidst the disco freshness are delicate, existential meditations on relationships.
The album begins with the pulsating and catchy “Thieves in the Night,” in which Taylor gets tangled by romantic thoughts: “A want is a lie but also desire/A need can be nothing but should be held high.” But even on danceable tracks such as this, “Hand Me Down your Love” and “Take It In,” Hot Chip is noticeably restrained, more interested in developing an atmosphere across songs than stand-alone hit singles.
Thus, when more low-key tracks dominate the second half of the album, we aren’t taken by surprise. “Brothers,” for example, is a surprisingly personal look at friendship, presumably between the band members. But by far the album’s greatest song is “Alley Cats,” a gorgeous look at loss. The lyrics begin, “Two people are alley cats/ We have an unhappy cat/ He is restless, needs attention, loses patience, seeks affection.” What follows is a lyrically playful yet soulful tune featuring overlapping vocals and haunting harmonies, culminating in the heartbreaking line, “There is no pain I don’t know.”
Hot Chip continues to resist being labeled as a dance-pop band. You are more likely to dance to these songs in socks at home than at a rave or club. Instead, the album wraps you in its warm embrace, begging for repeat visits.
5 stars
