Monday, February 25, 2008

Hot Chip - Bubbles They Bounce

There is no doubt that It's been a big month for UK electro pop darlings Hot Chip. Here in North America, February 5th saw the release of their third album, Made In The Dark. Whether you're a devoted fan or a recent convert, February has proven to be an exciting time for all Hot Chip fans alike.

Just prior to the album release, Hot Chip released several versions of the 'Ready For The Floor' single. Version #1 of the 7" single features a radio edit of 'Ready For The Floor' on the A Side, and a quirky bouncy dance track on Side B, appropriately titled 'Bubbles They Bounce'. The latter track is a true gem. If you're a big time Hot Chip fan like myself, I'm sure you've heard Alexis and Joe's side project BOOJI BOY HIGH. Alexis and Joe (the two brains behind Hot Chip) disguised themselves behind the pseudonyms Georgios Panayiotou and Mother Markzbow for the project. Are these guys nerds? Quite possibly, considering the blatant homages to Devo. BOOJI BOY HIGH released a 7" last year on DFA Records which included the tracks 'DOUBLESHAW' and 'Twist Myself Again'. I've just now realized that 'Bubbles They Bounce' reminds me of a cross between Hot Chip and BOOJI BOY HIGH. Can you imagine that? It's a real stretch, I know. It's almost as if 'Bubbles They Bounce' takes the bouncy 1990s rave influenced synthesizers (as can be heard in DOUBLESHAW) and cleans them up with the polished and professional Hot Chip touch that we have come to know and love .

I might love 'Bubbles They Bounce' more than any of the songs on the new Hot Chip album. I wonder why they didn't include it on Made In The Dark. Perhaps because the vocals are a bit more strange sounding than usual. The combination of odd (at times, manipulated) high and low pitched vocals reminds me of either muppets or several different breeds of mice, or maybe... muppet mice. Alright, I've got it. If a band of muppet rodents posed as Hot Chip and recorded a song, 'Bubbles They Bounce' would be the end result. I mean that in the best way possible, of course. My ears are ringing with a joyful sound.

Make sure to stay tuned for the last minute of 'Bubbles They Bounce', which is almost a separate song unto itself. Hot Chip have given us the glorious gift of two amazing songs in one. I guarantee that both will be stuck in your head for weeks. Aaaaayoooo.

MP3: Hot Chip - Bubbles They Bounce (zshare)

MP3: BOOJI BOY HIGH - DOUBLESHAW (zshare)


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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

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