7/10

Label: Domino   |   Released: 11.06.12.

Hot ChipÔÇÖs fifth album, In Our Heads, is a tricky one.┬á The band have been carefully crafting electro pop for (shockingly) twelve years; Hot Chip are becoming a veterans of the British music scene.┬á First track of the album, Motion Sickness, starts with grim, determined drum rhythms and synths that sound a bit like musical farts, but then it blossoms into an ethereal soundscape, with an angelic choir and AlexisÔÇÖ voice soaring over it all.┬á ItÔÇÖs clear from the start that this is an album of contrasts.┬á In places, it has a slightly harsh, repetitive feel, which works wonderfully in tracks like Flutes, with its menacing bassline and looped, distorted voices.┬á Night and Day, however, falls short, even though it smells rather strongly of their earlier stuff… itÔÇÖs damn catchy, but something about it is a little cold.┬á Then there is the other side of the album, perfected cheesy pop.┬á DonÔÇÖt Deny Your HeartÔÇÖs eighties-style ┬á ┬á disco tempo, key changes and harp glissandos (!) are great fun, and Look At Where We Are takes you right back to the early noughties, with a crooning, feelings-laden chorus; Cry Me a River-esque ÔÇô but wonderful.┬á ThatÔÇÖs the thing about Hot Chip ÔÇô thereÔÇÖs always a twist, and In Our Heads is no exception.┬á ItÔÇÖs not groundbreaking but it certainly is fun.

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