I am ready for a fall

I can't believe how cold it's gone.

Every time I step outside and the wind hits me, it feels like I'm sticking my face into the freezer.

I worry that my ears will snap off should I bump into anyone. My fingers tingle as an icy numbness takes hold. The feeling in my toes, a distant memory. So I reckon it's only right we have some music to warm our cockles. Hopefully it should thaw you out a bit as you feel the urge to jig along to the catchy beat combo that is Hot Chip. At the very least, I'd hope your feet would enjoy a quick tap along.

Now, the last time Hot Chip were on Later With Jools Holland, I'll admit I was severly disappointed. At the time, I'd not long discovered 'The Warning' and was smitten with it. Yet it seemed they were completely unable to recreate it's intricacies or replace what was missing with anything else. But this time, they did better. They didn't nail it. But they came close. At least as close as they could get in a relatively stale studio environment. I'm guessing, the songs probably work better in a proper live environment. Where they can build up the atmosphere and the beats and send the crowd into a sweaty fervourous fever.

What struck me most about these performances was a weird resemblance to LCD Soundsystem. Only more reserved. More inhibited. And just a bit more British. Whatever that may mean. Where James Murphy and co are able to completely lose themselves and push the live experience to the edge, Hot Chip just seem to hang back a bit. Consciously or not, they seem to hold themselves back from really going for it. At least, that's how it felt on Friday night.

Hot Chip - ready for the floor (live on Later With Jools Holland) original version available on 'Made In The Dark'

Hot Chip - made in the dark (live on Later With Jools Holland) original version available on 'Made In The Dark'

Hot Chip - hold on (live on Later With Jools Holland) original version available on 'Made In The Dark'

mp3 / music / hot chip / later with jools holland