Made in the Dark

Hot Chip's sophomore album, THE WARNING, signaled the group's arrival as a geeky indie-pop rebuttal to electronic music's detached cool. Combining clever, cheeky songwriting chops with a chugging discofied beat, it seemed to strike a perfect balance between pop and dance music. On the group's follow-up, MADE IN THE DARK, they present an ever more eclectic set of influences, displaying a penchant for everything from light FM balladry to the latest rhythmic innovations of reggaeton and R&B. Picking off where they left off with the jubilant lead single "Ready for the Floor," its buoyant, rubbery bass and gauzy synth chords illuminate vocalist Alexis Taylor's pleasing falsetto. As much as their brand of brash indie-dance pop can ignite dance floors, MADE IN THE DARK shows the band's more sensitive and wistful side on a pair of ballads, "Whistle for Will" and "Privacy of Our Love." Taylor's delicate vocals on those tracks are reminiscent of Paul McCartney--a likely touchstone given this quirky ensemble's broad range of influences.