Reviews

Watching the band rock back and forth behind their keyboards and computers in unison is an almost emotional experience. Headbanging has been redefined: the beardy retro electronics enthusiast has usurped the lanky leather-clad rocker as the rightful ‘banger.

Speaking of which, Hot Chip’s driving force and unlikely-looking whiz kid Joe Goddard is central to their unique stage show. Producing live the vocal parts other dance acts might use samples to create, his deliberate, out-of-time rap, as on ‘Bendable Poseable’, is peculiar and fun, as is the same song’s mind-bending, key-changing extravaganza of a conclusion.

The other central part of Hot Chip’s identity is Alexis Taylor and his smooth, soulful vocals. They lend a melancholy air to the band’s slower numbers, like the sweeping ‘Made In The Dark’. Soul, R’n’B and hip-hop mesh naturally with electronica under Taylor and Goddard’s alternately smooth and robust voices.

Things get off to a good start with ‘Shake a Fist’, Taylor’s delicate chant colliding with a beat worthy of Missy Elliot. Following a nuclear meltdown in the sequencer department - ably glossed over by crowd pleasing guitarist Al – ‘Boy From School’ takes a turn towards classic Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder territory and is all the better for it.

Unsurprisingly, ‘Over And Over’ is the biggest hit with the crowd and a few wry smiles on the bands’ faces seem to indicate that Manchester is making Hot Chip happy.

‘Colours’ is played for the first time live although in a higher energy state than on record, and so it loses some of its subtle charm, though there’s a savvy nod to the locals, as New Order’s Temptation is spliced in to the mix.

Encore ‘Ready For The Floor’ sadly falls slightly flat. The beat all but drowns the other parts of the song rendering it monotonous in a way the rest of the set avoids, but the energy with which it is played and received cover the cracks, allowing for a slow, hands-in-the-air moment to finish the set off.

Having taken most of the set from new album Made in the Dark, an album that is immensely brave, is a great and rare thing to hear; no-one then would deny that them selling out the show is a fair reward, particularly when you consider the number of smiles filing out at the finale.