Hot Chip announce ninth album A Long Way From Kansas
The January release features Beth Ditto and Eddie Chacon, with lead single “Random Violence” paying tribute to Optimo’s Keith McIvor.
Hot Chip have announced that their ninth album, A Long Way From Kansas, will arrive in January. The British synth-pop group has released “Random Violence” as its lead single, a tribute to Keith McIvor of Optimo, also known as JD Twitch.
The album will end a gap of almost five years between Hot Chip studio releases. Its theme draws on Dorothy and Toto from The Wizard Of Oz, and its 11 tracks include “Me In Your Head,” featuring Beth Ditto, and “The Garden,” featuring Eddie Chacon.
Joe Goddard said McIvor, who died of brain cancer, was a major inspiration for the single’s lyrics. He said the words reflected both McIvor’s death and memories of Glasgow’s Sub Club, where the two met 20 years ago.
Goddard opens the song, with Alexis Taylor joining for the chorus. Jack Cole directed the accompanying video. The album also includes “Stuck Around,” “The Mask Is Slipping” and closing track “Crushing.”
