Album Review: Hot Chip’s ‘In Our Heads’My Nguyen June 12, 2012
The dazzling sounds on London-based Hot Chip’s fifth studio endeavor creates dizzy effects fine-tuned to produce something that traverses the distance between electronic music and a sound brimming with emotions. Hot Chip’s In Our Heads weaves in synth-powered backbeats layered in drowning rhythms and a retro, spiraling effect that blends in the vulnerable and fragile singing of Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard’s deeper vocals. Together the flushed sound that Taylor and Goddard help to illuminate listeners on their album further envelopes their audience in this cohesive piece of work with their ongoing dialogue. Though Taylor takes the lead in vocals in this compilation, Goddard’s participation in the conversation is a requisite. Their frothy sound creates a contrast that functions in tandem with soaring and an uplifting dance vibe that is crafted with a surreal element to ensure the fantastical in Hot Chip’s unapologetically melodic force is not to be missed. Though Taylor and Goddard are under a musical pact to work together instead of against each other, their colorful, and oftentimes flaring sound has spurts of unease and are flecked by moments that are quite jarring, this unique blend of unquiet is heavily adorned with electric aerial sounds that swells and bleeds into the consciousness of the listener. But what overall stands out in, In Our Heads, is an awe-struck heady wonder and hopeful essence that definitely leans toward the refreshing end of the musical spectrum.
So often a celebration of life, love, and music, the soulful, funk rock, dance appeal of this album surpasses the casualness of pop music today. Setting in motion an overdrive of impressive beats that doesn’t just spell out but screams emotions and expressions, though these songs are usually about the brokenness of love, the conversation that gets jumpstarted here just doesn’t end with the close of this album – but rather perpetuates in a continuous stream of compelling reflective afterthoughts.
Photo courtesy of julieftw via Flickr.
