Astralwerks

With their third album, Hot Chip mature and end up sounding like…well, a lot like New Order. Lacking their trademark humor and bad fashion sense, the band abandon their trademark pop pastiche and leave it all for the dancefloor. It’s a risky move and could have failed miserably (nerds rapping about Escalades and rims was part of their appeal, after all). Yet Made in the Dark sounds very “now” — and completely unlike the toast of indie-electronica currently filling blogs everywhere (Dan Deacon, Justice, etc.). Erlend Oye may be the unquestionable king of white-boy electro-nerd stylings, but Alex Taylor is a close second, and when he slows the jams down Hot Chip may just be the ultimate basement makeout band. Made in the Dark is an album sure to be on everyone’s list this spring.

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