albums of 2012 - 36. Hot Chip - In Our Heads

36. – HOT CHIP – IN OUR HEADS

Wow. Album number five already? Time does zip by. This album zips about too. Hot Chip are truly a great band that need to be celebrated. While they haven’t ever 100% blown me away with their shit – this is actually their first entry on my blog unbelievably – I feel this is right up there with their best material. Some bands cannot be ignored.  Consistent disco dynamite.

They first really started to resonate when I went to a house party in Miami for Halloween – at least I think it was! – in 2006. “Over and Over” off The Warning was a stand-out track that really made me dance on my heels. Not high-heels. But then, sometimes there a few tracks off that album, and the next two, that didn’t hit home so well. I think that that’s their issue sometimes.;they’re so immediate. But subtlety was never their shtick. I’ve grown to learn how to take Hot Chip; at face value. They were buzzed about too much, but now they’ve been left alone, In Our Heads does precisely that, get inside the noggin to get that foot tappin.’ Maybe not a perfect album band but still, a great collection of songs from a top, top band.

BEST PLAYED: To beat your indifference towards life.

albums of 2012 - 45. Nathan Fake - Steam Days

45. NATHAN FAKE –STEAM DAYS

And yes, this is his real name. From Norwich, Norfolk ,in the UK, Nathan Fake came on to the scene in 2006 with the giddy and wonky ambience of debut LP Drowning In A Sea Of Love. He followed this up with a mini-album in 2009 entitled Hard Islands whose title definitely signaled the shift towards a harder techno sound. I saw him DJ in Reykjavik in 2008 and his music spazzed around but was still danceable. I really enjoyed that night, even though I abused the publication I worked for by getting in for free. This third effort is a messy ride again, as it fuses the two styles of ambient glow and techno glare to commendable effect. You can stick it on when doing shit around the room or use it as a headphones record. It’s not made for the club but can definitely get you in the mood while you pre-game you party penguins you!

BEST PLAYED: When pre-gaming to go out.