Music : Made In The Dark

Rating: - The Hottie and the Nottie
'The Warning' was, if not quite a stunner, a bit of a hottie. This quite simply is not.

Why include three soul ballads if none of them is a patch on 'Look After Me' from the last release? These deathly dull tracks in particular bring the album crashing down. Other songs come across as in jokes and failed experiments - I'm looking at you 'Wrestlers' and 'Bendable Posable'.

The first three songs do show signs of life, 'Ready for the Floor' is a great single (partly due to the fantastic video) and there are other flashes of near brilliance in the intro to 'One Pure Thought' and the genuinely amusing spoken word section of 'Bendable Posable' - but at this stage of the game more is expected.

Make no mistake this is a huge disappointment.

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Rating: - Amazingly original
Catchy, Original, Punchy and infectious.

Mix of eclectic beats and sounds, which will intrigue, with brilliantly fun and foot tapping tunes - as well as a couple of more laid back songs.

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Rating: - Brilliant
Get this album! if you haven't heard of hot chip, or you're looking to buy your first hot chip album, this one is the one to get. I have it for about 2 weeks and it hasn't left my car since, I've to it everyday and I'm still not bored of it.

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Rating: - Immensely Creative and Wonderfully Unpredictable (It doesn't get better)
This is my first Hot Chip album, and am well and truly shell-shocked by the originality of this group. It's so refreshing to hear an album that is creatively pure, you can almost visualise the band in the studio enjoying themselves as they went through the process of refining this sweet gem of a cd. It doesn't feel forced or restrained in anyway, it just goes with it.

I'll even go as far as to say this is as originial as Jeff Mills' 'At First Sight' or 'Metropolis', which I hold up as two of the best ever. But while those albums explore the outter reaches of the techno universe, 'Made in the Dark' creates a new universe rich with smooth blends of tech, funk, disco, and pop. You can even hear elements of hip hop! This is as unique as you'll find these days, I'm so pleased that there are guys out there thinking outside of the box, and being truly artistic!! Best tracks on the album: 'One Pure Thought' and the stonkin', funked up 'Don't Dance'. I'm on my way to get a copy of 'The Warning', enjoy!

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Rating: - My first taste of Hot Chip
This album has taken me by surprise. I didn't buy it for me but for the other half. Truth is though, many tracks have caught my ear and I've been playing it sneakily by myself too when no-one else is around, but don't tell her will you?!

You see, I wasn't really expecting an album displaying such a diverse range of electronic influence. Being a fan of Jarre and Kraftwerk, there is more than a nod and a wink to these classic artists here, as well as more contemporary influences such as Groove Armada and even The Streets.

All in all a great album. 4 stars!