Hot Chip's A Long Way From Kansas Album Due 8 January 2027

A ninth album, and a darker one

Hot Chip have confirmed that their ninth studio album, A Long Way From Kansas, will come out on 8 January 2027 through Domino.213 Alongside the announcement, the London group released a lead single, "Random Violence," with a music video, and listed UK and European tour dates for February and March.213 The 11-track record follows Freakout/Release from 2022, which makes this the longest gap between Hot Chip studio albums in some time.29

The title comes from Dorothy's line in The Wizard of Oz. Several outlets describe it as a reference to the long trip home and the hope of getting back to something like normal life.111 The cover reportedly shows a small black dog in front of colourful gradient lettering, which looks like a nod to Toto.4 First pressings of the LP editions have spot-gloss and foil-blocked artwork by Scott King.14

The coverage agrees on the basic facts. The things it plays up differently are the album's mood, how central the McIvor tribute is, and some of the tour logistics. I take this to be one of the band's most openly emotional and political releases, while noting that the band themselves don't call it a protest album.

"Distortion" as a watchword

Alexis Taylor's statement sets the tone. He said the record grew out of a feeling that the world the band were working in is harsh, discordant, violent and depressing.14 He also said distortion became a guiding idea for the whole album.14 In a longer version of the statement, he said not every song is about politics, or about genocide, which he named directly, but that these things formed a backdrop the band couldn't avoid.213

Outlets read that statement in different ways. Consequence says the band are tackling political unrest and a bleak world with a more distorted, punk-influenced sound.2 Babystep Magazine also describes a rawer, more distorted record, but stresses that it is still looking for connection and joy amid the chaos.14 mxdwn repeats the press materials' claim that the album finds the band at their most primal.11 Calling it "punk-influenced" goes further than the band's own quotes do. Until critics hear the full album, it's best treated as one outlet's reading of the lead single and press notes.

My own reading leans toward Babystep's. Taylor carefully separates the record's backdrop from its subject matter, and the lead single is mostly about love and grief. That suggests an album shaped by the times rather than one making slogans about them.

The record was made at Relax and Enjoy, the East London studio run by Joe Goddard and Al Doyle.214 TheFestivals reports it was recorded earlier this year.

A tribute to JD Twitch

Most of the coverage focuses on "Random Violence." The song is a tribute to Keith McIvor, the Glasgow DJ, promoter and Optimo co-founder known as JD Twitch.713 Goddard said McIvor died in September of last year, a few months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.12 He said McIvor inspired most of the lyrics, many of which deal with his death and with memories of Sub Club in Glasgow, where the band met him about 20 years ago.29 Goddard described McIvor as a passionate music lover and a committed socialist.16

Goddard sings the opening section, with lines about friends telling stories of a man who spent his life sending songs out into the world. Taylor then comes in with the line "You gave me something to believe in."6 Consequence notes that the song sets acts of violence against acts of kindness, reflecting the warmth McIvor brought to his work.2 Al Doyle describes the song's effect as one of "human connection."6

That is where the title starts to make sense. A song called "Random Violence" turns out to be about generosity and community. It sums up the album's central tension: a hostile world, set against the people and dance floors that make it bearable.

The video takes the same approach. Jack Cole directed it, and it features Boss Morris, an all-female progressive morris dancing group.113 Doyle said the band invited woodland spirits, cursed animals and wild dancers to celebrate humanity, remembrance and resistance. He said the idea came from Optimo's Espookio Halloween parties at Sub Club.17 Mixing English folk ritual with Glasgow club culture is an unusual choice for a synth-pop band. It fits a group that has always cared more about the communal side of dance music than its polish.

Hot Chip planned a live tribute as well. The band arranged a DJ set with friends at Sub Club on Wednesday 21 October to celebrate the announcement and honour McIvor.313 Dork reports that tickets were free.7 Holding the first event of the album cycle at the club where McIvor met them, rather than a big London venue, shows how central he is to this record.

More voices, more guests

The album also changes who sings. Beth Ditto features on "Me In Your Head," and Eddie Chacon appears on "The Garden."715 Taylor said that, along with himself and Goddard, Owen Clarke and Felix Martin also sing. It is Martin's first time singing on a Hot Chip record.413 There is also a choir and a lot of group singing. Taylor said the band like opening up their "interior world" and bringing many voices together.413

Hot Chip records have long been built around Taylor and Goddard as the two lead voices. Bringing in the whole band, a choir and outside guests is a real structural change. It also fits the album's theme of togetherness. The full tracklist runs from "Stuck Around" to "Crushing," with "Random Violence" third and songs titled "The Mask Is Slipping" and "Secular Hymns" in the middle.19

The album will be released as a deluxe double gatefold LP with an extra 7-inch, a standard double gatefold LP, a CD and a digital download.47

The road to album nine

The announcement comes at the end of a busy period of looking back. The band marked 20 years of their second album, The Warning, in 2026, and Clash says they hinted at new material at the same time.1 TheFestivals reports that the anniversary in May included an episode of NPR's Song Exploder. The band also appeared in the second season of Netflix's Beef, playing live alongside Oscar Isaac.2

Outlets describe the recent catalogue activity differently. Pitchfork mentions a 2025 reissue of the greatest-hits set Joy In Repetition.9 Treble says the band reissued three of their classic albums earlier this year.8 Dork's archive describes Joy In Repetition as the band's first best-of, covering eight albums and including a new track, "Devotion."7 These accounts don't contradict each other, but read together they show a band that spent recent years curating its own legacy. This new album looks like a deliberate move forward again.

Under the Radar places the record after 2022's Freakout/Release and 2019's A Bath Full of Ecstasy.13 The line-up is still Clarke, Doyle, Goddard, Martin and Taylor.13 Doyle has also been busy outside the band: Northern Transmissions recently featured a solo track of his from a forthcoming album.6

Tour dates, with some discrepancies

The live dates start in Berlin at Astra on 26 February 2027. They continue through Brussels, Amsterdam's Paradiso, Paris's Bataclan and Dublin's 3Olympia, then move to the UK.213 The run ends at Exhibition White City in London on 12 March.313 Pre-ordering the album gives access to a ticket pre-sale, and general sale begins on 23 October.7

The published UK dates don't all match. Consequence and Neon Music list Glasgow's SWG3 Galvanizers on 7 March, followed by Manchester on 8 March and Birmingham's O2 Institute on 9 March.25 Under the Radar and Dork list Glasgow on 8 March and Manchester on 9 March, with no Birmingham date.713 Northern Transmissions lists Glasgow on both 7 and 8 March.6 Fans should check the band's own listings before buying tickets.

Why it matters

On paper, this is a standard announcement cycle: an album, a single and a tour. But the framing tells you more. Hot Chip have made their first statement in more than four years about grief, a sense of political dread and the value of club communities. Earlier records leaned toward joyful escapism. My reading is that this one doesn't drop the joy, but argues for it as a response to bleak times. Whether the distortion and darker tone hold up across all 11 tracks will be clear on 8 January.