:: Hot Little Hands - Dynamite In Black N White

Hot Little Hands

Better known for their affiliations with Clare Bowditch And The Feeding Set thanks to vocalist Tim Harvey, Melbourne’s ultra-chic kids Hot Little Hands are making quite a name for themselves – fast. And apart from Bowditch and co., already the garage-disco group has drawn some powerful allies in its corner among which include producer Frank Tetaz (Architecture In Helsinki, Lior) and Art Of Fighting. Noteworthy friends and allies aside, ‘Dynamite In Black N White’ serves at best as not much more than aural wallpaper, and at worst as a collection of rehashed ideas that will leave you with a particularly strong sense of dejavu. With an overall sound that resembles a bizarre cross between David Bowie, The Cure and even at times Devo, this album isn’t really sure what it is. And while throwing a big range of styles and genres into the mix doesn’t always have to result in s**t soup, Hot Little Hands are yet to learn this. At its lowest point, ‘Dynamite…’ is neutral and unaffecting, as per Scene Of The Crime.

At its best, however, the debut provides brainless good-time boogey-rock (as on Love Unusual) – and maybe that’s exactly what vocalist Tim Harvey and his band of kool katz set out to do in the first place. Either way, the important thing retro fans should know is there are synthesisers galore here as are hand-claps, plenty of oooh-aaahs and other mandatory bits and pieces required of the current ’80 revival scene. Of course, it’s safe to say that ‘Dynamite…’ isn’t going to be everybody’s cup of red, but considering this is the first ever full-length for the Melbourne electro-rockers, there is hope yet. Note for next time, though: a little more substance, a little less posturing please.