April 19, 2022

Hot Chip - "Down"


Hot Chip has announced their eighth album. It's called Freakout/Release and it's out in August.

“By the time we were able to be back together, we were turning on a tap and having a lot of ideas being poured out quite quickly,” Alexis Taylor said in a statement when talking about his band's new album. Given that the record was made throughout the pandemic, it should be no surprise that the album is a bit darker lyrically, than their past work however, with Joe Goddard adding: “We were living through a period where it was very easy to feel like people were losing control of their lives in different ways. There’s a darkness that runs through a lot of those tracks.” While the lyrics hit a bit of a darker note, the music is still finding its groove through traditional pop and R&B much like their best work of the past. For the album's lead single, "Down," the track starts off with a heavy sample of the Universal Togetherness Band’s “More Than Enough” before the rush of Hot Chip kicks in and we're transported to the dance floor. This is another lush track, with deep grooves and propulsive rhythms which continues their blend of innovative electro-pop with rich house beats. Thick, fuzzy bass also gives the track some density as opposed to some of their airy melodies which flutter vs the ones, this one included, that go a bit harder for the floor. Disco and funk elements continue to find their way into the band's work as well, making for more luxurious dance music from a band who never seems to disappoint.

Freakout/Release is out August 19 via Domino.

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