Both Alexis Taylor (the Steve Urkel, if you will, of Electro- Dance-Rock) and computer club sidekick Joe Goddard were riled after hearing repeated criticisms of debut album “Coming on Strong,” being a bit too mellow. Taylor and Goddard, who make up the creative force of London’s Hot Chip, assured critics that their next offering would check in with more gravitas

Does ‘The Warning” live up to it’s hefty billing? Well, only periodically. Granted, there are moments when the BPM’s are cranked up, and the 303’s are blaring, but not far behind are moments of calculable, laid back, sugary melodies with smoothed out synths.

Opening Track “Careful” begins catatonically, but 27 seconds in, the intense drum machine blasts will knock your socks off. “Over And Over,” a funky, wibbly-wobbly number with Devo eccentricities, adheres to the new “meatier” Hot Chip sound. Another brawny number is “Just Like We Breakdown,” with it’s ultrasonic bass line. “Tchaparian,” drops a reach- for- your- inhaler asthmatic loop, reminiscent of Aphex Twin, only tweaked for Disco. “Look After Me” is pure R &B, only with a digital backdrop. “Warning” mixes in a jungle beat. “So Glad to See You” brings to mind Kraftwork, at their most experimental and perturbing.

“The Warning” is, dare I say it, also a laid-back album, but so what? It’s still quite a cheeky dance number; perfect background music for studying with that cutie wearing the black rimmed frames- Try it. (excerpt from “Over and Over”)

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