The Warning (CD - 2006)

Nearly 20 years on from the infamous 'Disco Demolition Night' at Chicago's Comiskey Park--a rally that forever etched the phrase "disco sucks" into the American consciousness--an unexpected alliance has been struck between the indie-pop world and the more synthetic, mechanized strains of dance music. Leading firebrands in this renaissance, the New York production duo DFA, have teamed up with U.K. ensemble Hot Chip for their latest effort, WARNING.

Hot Chip vocalist Joe Goddard's disaffected monotone provides a cool contrast to Alexis Taylor's lilting falsetto, a strategy that pays off on the driving "And I Was A Boy From School." The typically raw DFA production emphasizes rhythmic nuance over pop polish--this is stylized, minimal dance pop in the tradition of Pet Shop Boys and New Order. On more downtempo efforts like the gentle "Colours," the music lends room to Taylor's delicate but affecting voice, showcasing Hot Chip's promise as more than just a flavor-of-the-moment indie dance act.

Keeping their hot streak of spotting quality artists when they hear them, the good folks at DFA welcomed to their already diverse and talented roster Hot Chip. The "Over and Over" teaser single featured the band in rocking fashion, complete with DFA signature production and a chorus courtesy of Alexis Taylor that sounds hauntingly similar to something Paul McCartney would write had he been paying attention to the music of the youth in his own backyard. A definite departure and a step in the right direction over 2005's inconsistent full-length Coming on Strong, Hot Chip's creative maturity is immediately evident in the energetic opening. "Careful," which is laced with punchy, crisp hi hats and snare drums, then gives way to the dramatic "And I Was a Boy from School." They've gone beyond the quirky electro-pop into something much more focused and pop friendly (especially with the band's tight vocal harmonies). The title track has production that wouldn't be out of place on I Am Robot and Proud's last few records, or Postal Service outtakes. But like these artists, Hot Chip focuses more on song arrangements and structure rather than technology and programming showmanship. It sums up the core of what made The Warning so accessible and enjoyable right from the onset: it's like listening to early New Order records for the first time, waiting for the next one with a little bit of excited anticipation to see what's going to happen next with every new song. ~ Rob Theakston minimize