- Been a while since Hot Chip graced the turntables and ear canals of the discerning listener, the last album was four years ago and as this decade ends, the various members of the band are finding themselves on the cusp of the dreaded mid-life crisis: approaching 20 years as a collective music-making unit. Clearly, this could be a cause for despair or, on the other hand, radical re-invention to find some relevancy. Neither of these two extremes is apparent on A Bath Full of Ecstasy, their seventh full length release. Rather it’s a sparkling collection of pop gems shimmering in a golden glow that matches Alexis Taylor’s light, and at times fragile sounding vocals.
What probably has brought a relevance to this album is the effort to work with outside producers for the first time in their career. While it's still undeniably a “Hot Chip” record, the two producers with whom they have worked have teased out something fresh among the dreamy layers of sound and the electronic bips and boops that are a Hot Chip trademark. The xx, David Byrne, Adele (among others) producer Rodaidh McDonald, and the, sadly, recently deceased French maestro Philippe Zdar have pushed and pulled a well-crafted album that has less of the dance floor and more of the intimate listening experience.
Starting with Melody of Love, it is an esoteric mid-tempo ballad of the ephemeral nature of “love”. It swirls around in the air and if you are attuned, you will catch it. Second track, Spell is very Hot Chip and has the strongest beat (but perhaps the weakest lyrics) of the whole release. From there, the bathtub is full of warm, but refreshing sounds, delightful fragrances and the opportunity to ponder the nature of love. It’s not all happy and blissful, the album’s first single release Hungry Child alludes to that, and the dual songs What Does It Matter? and Clear Blue Skies have more than a touch of mid-period Sigur Ros to them.
Speaking of throwbacks, Positive calls to mind the stellar work of a late '80's / early '90's New Order and lyrically is a reflection on the “past it” feelings of someone older, still hoping for a chance at love. It’s a layering that needs a couple of hearings to really appreciate the depth of those lyrics. The album ends with No God which continues the embrace of the power of connection between two people in love, with a pop-sensible beat that happy-claps its way to the end.
The world may be going to hell in a hand-cart, courtesy of the appalling politicians elected repeatedly into office and making life that much more awful for us all. Spend a bit of time in the tub, luxuriating in sounds that wash over you and lyrics that remind you love is possible and connections are worthwhile. When the bathing is done, you can step outside able to withstand that awfulness and spread a bit of love yourself. Seems that is what Hot Chip want you to do, and who’s to deny them that sensible suggestion?
- Blair Martin.