Review By Chris Nowling: Three albums into their career and lovable electronica nerds Hot Chip had, for the most part, stubbornly resisted maturity, but it seems they’re finally growing up; at least, if their latest record, One Life Stand, is any indication. This is clear both lyrically—with an introspective attitude toward love and its accompanying commitments—and musically, as the record presents a more focused stylistic approach. Hot Chip obviously hope to use their fourth effort to convince us of their legitimacy as indie mainstays and not simply another compelling novelty act. This isn’t meant as a critique, of course, it’s simply an observation; and it’s likely that this will greatly factor in to your reception of their new album. The band sound like themselves, only with a wider array of electronic techniques, vocal filters, and organic instrumentation combining in the service of danceable white-boy funk. Unfortunately, the more purposeful air somehow lessens the impact and personality we’ve become accustomed to with Hot Chip. In some ways this seems necessary or even preferable, but unfortunately the costs outweigh the benefits of such advancement and One Life Stand falls shy of its mark.

Much has been made of the way the new album functions so compellingly as a whole, and indeed this is Hot Chip’s most cohesive record to date. However, it’s also the least exciting set of songs this group has produced since their debut. Such restraint isn’t necessarily a bad thing—Hot Chip has proven before that subtlety is a tool they wield well—but over the course of ten lengthy tracks, little distinguishes itself the way the best tunes on their previous efforts have. Consequently, the entire project ends up feeling disappointingly flat. That’s not to suggest that One Life Stand is completely without highlights; the strongest material—heavily weighted at the beginning—does succeed in drawing you in, at least initially. “Thieves in the Night” features a driving beat built around a complex and jittery patchwork of synthesizers, while “Hand Me Down Your Love” has a killer piano groove, and the album's centerpiece and title track features an enjoyable marriage of funk and sentimentality. It’s an effective if less than thrilling sound collage, and the band’s buoyant personality makes these tunes easy to like.

Unfortunately, what works at the outset later trips up One Life Stand. In particular, it's  the syrupy-sweet lyricism that eventually begins to weigh down the record. A good portion of Hot Chip’s charm has always revolved around the unapologetic romanticism channeled by dual vocalists Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard (see: “In the Privacy of Our Love” from Made in the Dark and “Look After Me” from The Warning), but where these sentiments were previously balanced out by more danceable music—and somewhat more obtuse songwriting—they threaten to smother everything here. It's as much a hinderance as is One Life Stand's terrible sense of pacing. Starting with the strangely detached “Brothers,” continuing through the obnoxious and lengthy “Slush,” and finishing with the pleasant but forgettable “Alley Cats,” over 15 minutes of music pass by on One Life Stand with nary an attention-grabbing moment. It’s a frustrating passage, and by the time we reach “We Have Love,” the second half’s best track, it’s difficult to get excited about what the last few songs have to offer.

One Life Stand is a grower, which I can appreciate as many albums often take some time to reveal their strengths. And with a smoother, more polished electro-pop sound, this continually forward-thinking band is making a clear attempt at evolution, which is admirable. But I’ve yet to make it through all 50 minutes of One Life Stand without pining for something as fun as “Ready for the Floor” or as effectively dynamic as “The Warning,” or even something just plain goofy, like “Wrestlers.” Ultimately, the group’s fourth effort lacks the playful personality and the considerable punch that made us notice Hot Chip in the first place. Perhaps some fault lies with me for being unable to remove myself from comparisons to the group’s earlier releases, but I would contend that One Life Stand offers too few reasons for me to treat it any differently.

Last Word: Hot Chip’s fourth album sacrifices intensity and variety at the expense of cohesion and maturity, ultimately failing to be as compelling as either of the band’s previous two releases.

Review By:
Chris Nowling

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