Review: Hot Chip

Over the last decade the growing market for electropop has, it’s far to say, been something of a triumph of style over substance.

But not so with Hot Chip, the geek group personified in bespectacled frontman Alexis Taylor. In spite (or perhaps because) of their looks, they’ve won the hearts of music lovers by consistently producing dance records with intelligence and energy.

But the crowd’s energy wasn’t on a par with the opening tracks, including effortlessly funky Boy From School. Apparently there was some debate among onlookers as to whether they should dance or be immersed in Taylor’s dulcet tones.

Warming them up were covers of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere, and latest track Night and Day (from their new album, In Our Heads). But it took One Life Stand to bring many out of their shell, bopping along to its feel-good chorus and wonky bass lines.

In one clean swoop, Over and Over transformed the gig into a club night. The glistening beads of sweat on foreheads and the comedic value of Taylor’s trademark glasses falling off, combined to create a real buzz. Towards the end of the night the anthemic Ready For The Floor left many suspended in a state of euphoria.

Substance definitely won this battle. With a simple “thank you, goodnight” the gang waltzed off stage to rippling applause and screams. There were no outlandish performance stunts or shock tactics unlike many an act of the Gaga generation. Hot Chip will never be juggernaughts of pop, but their legacy of genius song writing will keep them relevant as long as electronic music remains popular.