A Quick Once-Over

Hot Chip “Shake A Fist” –

It Begins…

Matthew Perpetua: Oh, this Hot Chip song you sent over sounds good!
Matthew Harris: Did you get to the middle?
Perpetua: Not yet, just put it on.
Harris: The “sounds of the studio” part?
Perpetua: This is great — his voice is still dispassionate, but the music isn’t as emotionally flat. Oh, wow, just got to a really good part.

Soon…

Perpetua: OH MY GOD!!! Now I know what you’re talking about, the middle part! WOW! What got into them? They improved a LOT rather suddenly!
Harris: I think they are totally trying to take this into more of their live show. Their live show is definitely more uptempo. The last time I saw them, Alexis sang lines from “Temptation” and “Is It All Over My Face” over the loudest, most manic beats. It was like he was trying to seduce me.
Perpetua: These guys have seriously stepped up.
Harris: I just love that middle part. I keep listening to it like some Pavlovian dog wanting treats. It’s like, “La de dah, regular old Hot Chip, nothing that exciting … HOLY SHIT!!!”

Later…

Perpetua: Wow, that Hot Chip song just keeps getting better somehow.
Harris: Haha.
Perpetua: It’s always exciting when it makes that shift in the middle
Harris: You can hear the structure better after the first few listens.
Perpetua: I also love the first time the beat switches up and gets stronger. I thought that’s what you were talking about at first. But then it just gets so much more exciting! I’m so proud of them.

(Click here for the Hot Chip official site.)