Not many current acts will make it to a sixth album, but Hot Chip’s latest reflects their growing maturity and comprehensive knowledge of dance music. They nod to Kraftwerk, Orbital, funky 80s pop and the golden age of disco, while Roxy Music-like dancefloor ennui nestles comfortably against a masterful juggling of ecstasy and melancholy that recalls peak-era New Order. De La Soul’s Pos even drops in to add a rap to Love Is the Future, without ever compromising the band’s distinctive sound. The ace, though, lies in their sharp songwriting: the likes of Dark Night and Easy Bet are superb pop constructions; White Wine and Fried Chicken comes from the same sphere as Prince’s Starfish and Coffee. There are subtly insightful lyrics from Alexis Taylor, who is becoming a beautifully understated vocalist. “Why make sense, when the world around refuses? Why be tough, when strength is just for losers?” he sings on the killer title track. It’s another classy effort from an increasingly great band.
