Call Upon The Author

Canadian nonsense-mongers Hot Hot Heat are back, with their third album Future Breeds. I wouldn’t usually mention album artwork, but the effort that’s gone into this one merits it- elaborate and complicated, and every lyric handwritten in fancy fashion… I’ve had this for a couple of weeks and still can’t take my eyes off it. Well, that’s what it looks like, how does it sound? Mind bending, quirky, odd… but then, it IS Hot Hot Heat. Oh, and dead good as well.
Album opener YVR sets the tone and the pace – a sprawling electronic bit of dark edged wierdness. And it might deter the faint hearted, because this isn’t a first listen, instant hit kind of album. It’s a definite grower – maybe because it takes a bit of time to wrap your head around the off-beat unpredictability of it all. When you have heard it a couple of times, you can get past the madness and appreciate the tunes for the weird little gems that they are.
Track 2, 21@12 gives us familiar HHH songcrafting – odd whistles and squeaks and the greatness of Steve Bays’ distinctive vocal combine to make a poppy little number. Times A Thousand comes next, with a staccato stompy rythmn and a little bit of polka sensibility. Implosionatic is a favourite, frenetic and crashy with great slowed down breaks – it’s ace. Goddess on the Prairie is also fab – Bays gives his voice a lounge singer twang for his lamenting lyrics in this one.
A few tracks on, we get to the JFK’s LSD. It’s all over the place beat-wise, but has a great shout-along bridge. Buzinezz as Uzual is a slowed down piano meander, while sanity is questioned in What Is Rational? – possibly by someone who has failed to make sense of this album! Final track Nobody’s Accusing You (Of Having A Good Time) brings things to a fitting end – upbeat, well crafted, all whirly organ and shouty vocal- a great tune.
In conclusion, after taking five or six listens to get my head around this one, it was worth the effort. I like HHH anyway, and while this album isn’t as good as their second, Elevator (which was more grown up – eccentric, rather than just weird), it’s pretty bloomin good. If you feel like a change from the norm, like smart lyrics and a sprinkle of pop with your guitar, invest in Future Breeds.