hot chip - playboy + various b-sides
best lp track gets lifted for a single release. the sweeping electro pop synthetics, the deep vocal interplay referencing certain models of cars, the sparse use of machine noises make this a very different pop noise. on its own, its a great pop single. over the spread of the various formats there are all sorts of new extras. 'from drummer to driver' is fantastic. showing that the band could indeed completely win me over. the melody is sharp and precise, with the addition of a clean guitar line to the synth backing. tis the divinely sweet vocals that lift the emotions though. gorgeous stuff. as is the epic 6 minutes of 'defeated by technology track' which strips away the techno toys and has minimal instrumentation, but uses vocal harmonies to heart warming effect, when the extra vocal layers come in @ 2 minutes it can stray close to a new world version of 'the flying pickets' perhaps, but its just too bloody gorgeous to complain. and this is a b-side !? the trademark hot chip electro clicks and bleeps surface in 'hittin' skittles'. the big noise though is the four tet remix of the track 'the ass attack' which is completely freaky. stripping away any of the real song structure other than the vocal refrain, kieran breaks the original down to it a mass of strange factory type noises and vocals. millions of miles away from four tets usual folktronica style that's for sure, but interesting nonetheless.
a varied set of tracks showing that hot chip are indeed a fascinating pop group combining all sorts of weird and wonderful twists to their harmony strong creations.