Music

Mixing and matching musical influences is hardly new, but last year The Shortwave Set gave their meticulous sonic bricolage a name: Victorian funk. Like an elderly man wearing a shellsuit and a bow-tie, it throws together disparate styles to create something unique and fascinating. You can hear it in Four Tet’s folktronica, in Dizzee Rascal’s punk-spliced grime, and now you can hear it in the Fisher Price funk of Putney’s Hot Chip.

The project of little-and-large duo Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, plus pals Felix, Owen and Al, Hot Chip’s second album is a synthesis of dark, leftfield dance music and heartfelt pop. Banging rave, spooky garage and grubby R&B are weighted perfectly by emotive electronica and Taylor’s mournful falsetto. ‘So Glad To See You’ is folk pop given a glitchy, two-step makeover; ‘Boys From School’ is bouncy house meets poignant, lo-fi gospel; ‘Tchaparian’ is dark and freaky funk. With shade and light blurred, it’s no surprise to hear Taylor and Goddard sweetly sing: ‘Hot Chip will break your legs/snap off your head.’

It’s a curious mix that injects warmth into the icy waters of dance music. And, with its compelling oddness held in place by proper pop hooks, it’s one to play over and over.