Live Review

Hot Chip – Manchester Academy

• 22nd Feb 2010

The idle chatter and into it jigging is evenly spread, as the jaunty electro/lounge/indie and pop conjoining Nordic sextet, Casiokids gives it energy, effort and some entertainment value. The latter element is provided, in the main, by the bold Bez impersonation of Ketil Endresen. This is especially so when the maracas come out. At times, they produce the impact of Baz Luhrmann being backed up by Paul Van Dyke.

Unfortunately, at other times, the beats get a bit lazy and appear to be on a loop throughout this set, becoming as repetitious as the ‘Smoking is not permitted in any part of this station’, message that is recycled at train stations. That said, as the bass element emboldens, idle chit chat reduces and looks of intrigue appear on faces and bodies start to sway. Casiokids amiable stage presence also provides for a friendly atmosphere.

A humble entrance and a slow lounge blues skirting opening through ‘And I was a Boy From School’. Is how lead man Alexis Taylor and his Hot Chip buddies elects to kick off proceedings, making for a sombre and reflective sing-a-long. It is an impact that continues into mini-epic ballad of ‘Hand Me Down Your Love’.

This represents the first of the material from the less playful, new and fourth album, ‘One Life Strand’ that is met with warmth and acceptance of the ranging nature of Hot Chip.

Of course, it isn’t long before they up the tempo and the blurry carnival beats and the maracas touting antics of Taylor, ensures that ‘One Pure Thought’ does exactly this. However, it is at this point that it is difficult not to start comparing watching HOT Chip live to going to see a DJ. This is down to the lack of any real physical energy or the fact that their stage presence doesn’t really provide for any sort of spectacle.

A whining horn intro leads the way into ‘Brothers’, whilst an increasingly appreciative crowd starts to lose themselves, in this genuine run through of a career of a growing in universal appeal and refreshingly inclusive act.

The bouncy rhythm, haunted vocals and cosmopolitan synth kicks of the title track from their 4th album, highlights a fresh and thoughtful direction from these once seemingly lost Londoners. A Friday night needs an up-fer-it anthem, no matter what brand of music or how diverse the act is and, ‘Over And Over’ has its hook-line chanted back with lurid vigour by an excited gathering:

“Over and over and over and over and over; like a monkey with a miniature cymbal.”

Taylor’s crowd interaction is sparse, yet amiable and the troupe makes full use of the sound concealing venue. Work experience with a travelling circus is all that’s needed in order to allow Hot Chip to be able to match their catchy, provocative sound with a breathtaking live show.