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Hot Chip, the adored music geeks from London, released their fourth studio album early this month.  “One Life Stand” comes two years after the band’s last album, and amidst a dry period for new music.  The band’s latest has received rave reviews from most media outlets, and I too recommend giving the album a listen.

The band returns in full electro-pop glory, leading off their new LP with a suspenseful synth; like curtains being pulled back for a long-awaited theater performance, the hums commence the triumphant return of Hot Chip.

The last track is much of the same; an electronic drumbeat accompanies industrial beeps, glitches, boops and what can only be described as digital farts. Quirky, synthetic sounds are smeared across the album—but, then again, what is to be expected from the band that spelled out “K-i-s-s-i-n-g /S-e-x-i-n-g /C-a-s-i-o /P-o-k-e /Y-o-u /M-e /I” on their first epic single (“Over and Over”)?

Every chorus on “One Life Stand” is colorful and grandiose—taking the listeners on a rainbow journey high above the clouds, though somewhat less-entertaining verses bring one back down to earth. Hot Chip croons on every chorus as though they were given the voices of angels. The melodies are memorable, and worth a few hums during the workday.

“One Life Stand” is coherent and operatic.  This is the most “lovey-dovey” Hot Chip has ever been, and it’s most apparent on the title track.  “I only wanna be your one life stand (Keep on feeling)/ Tell me, do you stand by your whole man?” sing Alexis Taylor and Co.

The real selling point on the album?  The remixes—and they come in large numbers.  Remix. Remix. Remix. A few are arguably better than the songs’ original versions, as has been true of previous Hot Chip remakes.

Sick of remixes and seeking great originals that follow a formula similar to Hot Chip’s?  Dreamwave, a new(er) type of electronica taking off on the west coast, will satisfy. The coin was termed by LA-based group Binary, which promotes electro-based artists.

I don’t mean to steal Hot Chip’s thunder; they deserve much admiration. But, if you’re wanting to bop along to new beats, then dreamwave is your answer. Much like Hot Chip, dreamwave fuses pop, disco and electronic music. And, personally, the wobbling sounds and punching disco beats found in Fabian’s dreamweave single “Heatwave” leave my ears more entertained than anything off of Hot Chip’s album.

You be the judge.  Check out the videos below, and—for more dreamwave—check out Binary’s blog.

Hot Chip — “I Feel Better”

Fabian — “Heatwave”

via behindthehype.com

Videos via youtube.com