For the uninitiated, DJ Kicks is a series of mixes that gives electronic music artists a chance to compile tunes that show not only their own interests, but also what shaped their style. Hot Chip, on their effort, seem to have really understood this, which means the contents of their mix is not really that much of a surprise. Not that this is a criticism – when you have such a pleasant and tasteful aesthetic as Hot Chip do, it's a pleasure to hear anything, even if it is variations on a familiar theme.
Hot Chip's selections, then, closely navigate the heritage of their own sound. For their daft party vibe you get the block party hip hop of 'I Got a Man' by Positive K and 'Mess Around' by Ray Charles. For their glacial remoteness you have the awesome Kraftwerk-esque 'Short Road' by Wax Stag. For banging bits you have Grauzone's 'Film 2"22', and for their obvious nod to pop of the past you have New Order and Joe Jackson. The London five-piece are also pretty nifty at mixing. Perhaps the best example is when Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto's 'In The Basement, Part One', a funk belter, gets blended into Black Devil Disco Club's Italo disco gem 'On Just Foot'.
Even though this mix is very good, it doesn't quite top Erland Oye's DJ Kicks effort, which had the king of the nerds himself singing over the records. But given summer is nearly upon us (and Erland's mix is three years old), Hot Chip's record collection here will make a fantastic companion for the warm months ahead.
Published /
Fri, 25 May 2007
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Tracklist: Hot Chip - DJ Kicks
01. Grovesnor - Nitemoves
02. Positive K - I Got A Man
03. Gramme - Like You
04. Subway - Persuasion
05. Soundhack - B1
06. Tom Zé - Cademar
07. Hot Chip - My Piano (DJ-Kicks)
08. Wax Stag - Short Road
09. New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Shep Pettibone Extended Remix)
10. Young Leek - Jiggle It
11. Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - In The Basement, Part One
12. Black Devil Disco Club - On Just Foot
13. Dominik Eulberg - Der Buchdrucker
14. Grauzone - Film 2
15. This Heat - Radio Prague
16. Wookie - Far East
17. Gabriel Ananda - Doppelwhipper (Live)
18. Marek Bois - You Got Good Ash
19. Lanark - The Stone That The Builder Rejected
20. Pete Um - The Man’s Got Me Beat
21. Nôze - Love Affair
22. Audion - Just Fucking (Roman Flügel’s 23 Positions In A One-Night Stand Remix)
23. Joe Jackson - Steppin´ Out
24. Ray Charles - Mess Around | 
