In Our Heads
Hot Chip
(Domino Records)
**
Given that the UK's premier lounge-room electronic ensemble have around 40 million members, each one seemingly brandishing a heavily stamped passport and well-stocked record bag, experts predict at least half of the world's population have been witness to a "Hot Chip DJ Set" at some point in their lives.
But despite such international marketing, five studio albums and Alexis Taylor's unmistakable vocals, it's likely that most out there won't remember them for much more than those miniature cymbal-wielding monkeys from 2006's breakthrough single Over and Over.
And this lack of all-round catchiness plagues In Our Heads. Aside from Night and Day, the dance floor-grabbing space-age shuffle with a bouncing bass line, there's nothing on this likely to tickle the memory boards. Sure, it's nice, inoffensive and won't have anyone instantly reaching for the off switch. But with too many slower, emotional tracks – perhaps with the exception of the haunting These Chains – and too few decent toe-tapping melodies, little of In Our Heads is likely to remain in yours for long.
