Hot Chip have emerged from their bedrooms studios onto the UK music scene to become one of the most interesting electropop band in Britain over the last four years, a status that has gradually developed from the band's formation in 2000.

After years of experimenting with pop music and self-releasing records, schoolfriends Joe Goddard (lyricist/producer/keyboardist) and Alexis Taylor (vocalist/keyboardist) signed with the indie label Moshi Moshi in 2003 before releasing their laid-back debut Coming On Strong, a refreshing blend of warm electronic beats combined with the fragility of lead singer's Taylor castrated tones.

After signing a deal with EMI and DFA Records, Felix Martin (geek/machine drummer/lemurian), Al Doyle (multi-instumentalist) and Owen Clarke (guitarist/keyboardist) joined the band to work on the release of Hot Chip 2006's breakthrough album The Warning. This exciting record positioned neo-soul next to electro-funk-rock and effervescent folk-pop, and managed the difficult task of both satisfying their listeners' cerebral demands and filling the dancefloor. The album was shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize nomination, counted 100,000 UK sales, and infiltrated the mainstream with hit singles such as "Over and Over" and "Boy from School".

In February 2008, the band released their third studio Album, Made in the Dark. The first proper single was "Ready for the floor", which reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart.

The band is also well-known for their live shows, as they often reinvent their songs on stage and create a completely different sound. The Lemur has found a place of choice in their set up, effortlessly programmed and skillfully played by member Felix Martin. He mostly uses it to control Ableton Live, the Lemur's flexibility allowing him to configure a specific interface for each of the songs he plays with the band. More can be learned about how and why Felix uses Ableton Live in conjunction with the Lemur in this video interview granted to the Ableton Live team : http://www.ableton.com/hot-chip.


Hot Chip at Le Trabendo, Paris, March 17th 2008: