Hot Chip’s third album, Made in the Dark, is mostly a continuation of their sophomore album, The Warning, but departs from its predecessor with more electronic sound and style, mixed with more slow, chill songs. The album begins with the slick electronica sound of “Out at the Pictures,” with a cool stutter style to the chorus that keeps your head bobbing. Next up is the first song released from the album, “Shake a Fist,” which came out back in September of ’07. I was a little surprised; the track was relatively repetitive, despite a departure from the norm by adding a brief monologue-of-sorts midway through the song. The first single actually associated with the album is the third track, “Ready for the Floor,” which brings the album back up to a steady pace. With a rough-but-cool intro leading into a light beat and melody, the song is a standout on the album.

A few other songs are standouts, if for nothing more than being different. “We’re Looking for a Lot of Love,” is a chill, relaxing song with a good melody and no overemphasis on electric sound. “Made in the Dark” follows a similar train of thought, as do “Whistle for Will” and “In the Privacy of Our Love,” though the latter has a tight little synthesized bit at the end to finish off the album. “One Pure Thought,” on the other hand, jumps out at you – just like “Ready for the Floor” – and keeps your head bobbing along with the beat for the whole track. A light melody mixes with a heavier grind through the middle of the song, with enjoyable results.

My personal favorite, though, is “Wrestlers.” Appropriate lyrics, themed after – you guessed it – wrestling, contrast against a jovial melody and slow beat; the song is just fun to listen to. Short bits of quick rap fit appropriately in-between longer melodies and singing. The song even gets its little bit of electronica in midway with rewound and reversed lyrics.

The rest of the songs fit right in with the course of the whole the album, though may overuse synthesized sound and nifty sound tricks in place of really enjoyable melodies and beats. But that’s the hook for Hot Chip, and die-hard fans of electric music and those apathetic to it will enjoy the album all the same. The songs mesh well with the rest of the album, for a polished product overall.

Made in the Dark lacks some of the really great sound from The Warning; I don’t hear any equivalents of the beautiful driving sound of “Boy from School” or the rough funky beat of “Tchparian.” However, the style of “Wrestlers” does match, if not defeat, the incredible contrast of lighthearted sound and threatening lyrics of “The Warning,” and “Out at the Pictures” and “Ready for the Floor” pick up right where The Warning left off. Made in the Dark is a step – albeit a small step – for Hot Chip; the album offers some new sound, mixed in well with some old sound. It will keep you bobbing your head and listening contently.

(Image from Amazon)