Hot Chip have been one of my favorite bands for a while.  One thing in particular that I enjoy about them is that they are always altering their sound.  From their first album, Coming on Strong, to 2006′s release, The Warning, to 2008′s, Made in the Dark.  With their recent release, One Life Stand, they have switched gears again and moved towards a more mellow, toned-down tempo.  Which means that you probably won’t be hearing any of their songs spinning in clubs.  However, all of the elements that make Hot Chip great are still intact.  They still have the tongue-in-cheek sense of humor about their lyrics(see the new album name and track with same title), they still have the same catchy melodies and dual vocals of Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor, and they can still make a damn good tune.  One Life Stand seems to be more about love and feelings rather than wrestling,  repetitive songs, etc.   This song, Alley Cats, was played on tour in 2009, and is finally now on an album.  If you saw them live last year, there is a chance that you heard it.  If you’ve had the chance to see and experience Hot Chip in concert, then you know that everything you hear live is bound to be a little different (and usually a little bit better) than the album recording.  Enjoy and look for them coming to a city near you soon!