Album Review: Chic, It's About Time

Although it’s 26 years since 92’s not exactly essential Chic-ism, Nile Rodgers hasn’t just been sitting around on his arse. The reconstituted Chic are one of the greatest nights out known to man, who, thankfully, seem to pitch up here every second month. And although he’s not quite as busy in the studio as when he was midasianly touching up everyone from Diana Ross to David Bowie, the genius of Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’ made a new Chic album an enticing prospect. That the cover photo deliberately references their 1977 debut – although 78’s C’est Chic and 79’s Risqué are the ones you want – only whets the appetite further.

Things start off well, that familiar Rodgers funk/groove/flattened-or-added-seventh-notes rhythm guitar driving ‘Till The World Falls Down’. ‘Boogie All Night’ and ‘Do You Want To Party’ are better again, but skip Craig David’s turn on ‘Sober’ to get to ‘Dance With Me’, which makes you want to do exactly that.

Elsewhere, too many collaborators – most unfit to carry Rodgers’ bags - muddy the broth. Neither Lady Ga Ga’s “reimagining” of ‘I Want Your Love’ - you can’t scribble over a Picasso and expect anyone to think it’s a better picture - nor Elton John’s ‘Queen’ merit the Chic imprimatur. The space around the bass, behind Rodgers’ guitar and in front of the drums, an essential component of the great Chic songs, gets crowded out.

The record is at its best on ‘I Dance My Dance’ and ‘State Of Mind’ where there isn’t a queue vying for mic time, but it’ll probably all sound great blasting from a festival stage or in a hopping club, which is doubtless the point of the exercise.

https://open.spotify.com/album/49o8cBEcowlVsJBj8Kk17b