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features /  music feature
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hot chip session
hot chip session
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Five tracks exclusively in session from London’s twisted pop up-and-comers.

“The Beach Boys is such an easy reference point. It seems everybody is influenced by The Beach Boys,” complains Joe Goddard as his friend, Alexis Taylor, lists Hot Chip’s many and varied influences. The pair are the nucleus of one of London’s more interesting electro-soul pop combos, Hot Chip. They’re a band who wear their influences on their sleeve, but having so many and varied springboards means that Hot Chip don’t sound like anything you’ve heard before. Also on their list are Ween, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Madlib and Devo.

“It’s nice that people can’t say what the band sounds like or who it’s similar to,” reckons Alexis. “They normally say it doesn’t sound like much else. We don’t try to be difficult or obscure but we do strive to be original.”

Their music is experimental but not at the expense of a good tune: “I’m always thinking that people like melodies,” says Joe. It’s also got a sense of humour - dry, tongue-in-cheek but not in some horrible postmodern, ironic way. There’s enough charm underneath lines like “How the hell does Stevie Wonder see?” to tell that these guys really mean it. And that they have the deepest respect for Mr Wonder.

“If you find something comic in it, that’s a good thing,” says Alexis. “Some people don’t even notice it, but there’s definitely some intention for humour. But it’s not a sneering humour, or sarcastic or mocking.”

“It’s playful,” agrees Joe. “The sound and the production are meant to be DIY and homemade as well. That’s kind of the idea, music that’s made on computers but in a very human kind of way.”

With their album about to hit the shops, what hopes do they have for the year ahead? “Not having to go to work.” says Alexis, who works by day for Domino Records. “That would be the extent of my goal,” nods Joe. “Not to have to work. I don’t think we’ll be at that stage in six months time, but hopefully we’ll have a record that people will have shown some interest in.” It’s definitely worth showing an interest.


Matt Walton 14 May 04
Hot Chip – Coming On Strong, released 17 May 04 on Moshi Moshi Records.
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www.hotchip.co.uk
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see also
hot chiphot chipcoming on stronghot chiphot chipnew talent 2004

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