Indie dance music that makes great food for thought

Indie dance group Hot Chip just released a new album, Freakout/Release. The album is an eclectically styled, danceable collection of exciting new work from the band. Hot Chip was formed by Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor in the early 2000s. They have been nominated for both the Mercury Prize and a Grammy Award. 

The album starts with the song “Down,” an upbeat, groovy disco-esque track with electric guitar, some layered vocals and a solo vocalist in the foreground singing lyrics about their romantic admiration for someone. The style of the song is funky and danceable, but makes for good listening in any relaxed or slightly energetic situation. 

“Eleanor,” the second song, follows the theme set by the first with its funky rhythm and similar instrumentation. The song is a bit more contoured, with a more colorful contrast between the verses and choruses. This song has a slightly lighter feel than the first, though it is romantic and has a deeper lyrical theme about love. 

The title track “Freakout/Release” leans more towards a techno sound, with distorted vocals and synths at the beginning. The song has pretty minimalistic instrumentation, but carries heavy-sounding electric guitar and vocals. The overall sound of this song is more grungy and rock-based, but it maintains a dance style that coheres with the rest of the album. 

On the more mellow side of the album is “Not Alone.” This song reaches out to those feeling alone in their struggles, with lyrics like “You’re not alone/I know your mind, I know it’s real.” Arpeggiated chords played by keyboard and soft vocals make this track feel wistful yet comforting. The song beautifully conveys hope and solidarity. 

A little later on in the album is the song “Miss the Bliss.” The smooth synths and vocals, complemented by a simple beat in the background, make this piece sound soothing and easy to listen to. The song is about longing for happy moments of the past, but also alludes towards themes of healing and growth in the present.

Freakout/Release is not just dance music– it’s dance music with deeper meaning. The lyrics are heartfelt and thoughtful, which adds to the colorful musical themes of the album. The songs vary from upbeat dance tracks to relaxed dance music all filled with catchy melody and memorable style.