Music Review: Hot Chip's "One Life Stand"

By our guest blogger, Elizabeth Hughes

Hot Chip is at it again. No, they’re not a $1.00 addition to your lunch sandwich and soda, but a Grammy-nominated band teetering in that inevitable gray area between being an established indie band with the signature cult-like following, or just another indie band. There newest single is “One Life Stand.” It is off the album of the same name ,which will be released on February 9, 2010.

A bit of advice would be to put this on your IPod now. It is an essential walking song. Hot Chip’s unavoidable beats sync perfectly with every step you’ll take.

The simple lyrics and the smooth voice of the singer offer an interesting combination with the music. The tune itself features Hot Chip’s signature heavy beats, mixed with an almost horn-like effect that mesh together perfectly.

The song is irresistibly catchy--it’s one of those tunes that will get stuck in your head for days, only to come back inexplicably a few months later. It is also a much easier listen that much of Hot Chip's other releases. His voice is much clearer in this track and the music sounds more polished.

This single is almost like a sedated version of Hot Chip. While it is still upbeat and painfully easy to dance to, there is a calm vibe to the song that the group pulls off very well.

These electro-pop dance boys are no strangers to beats like this. This will be their fourth studio album, and if this single is any indication of the rest of the album, it will be terrific.

Check out the video for "One Life Stand" below. What are your thoughts?