This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Victoria isn’t exactly known as a hotbed of indie-rock. Hot Hot Heat may change that.
This angular alt-pop foursome are about to release a CD on prestigious indie label Sub Pop, and this five-song EP is the appetizer. If it’s anything to go by, their full-length will offer a magnetizing cross-pollenation of The Cure (in the singer’s breaking, Robert Smith vocals), Gang of Four (in the choppy guitars and propulsive beats), XTC (in the intelligent songcraft) and — believe it or not — Led Zeppelin (in the swaggering grooves, Middle Eastern melodies and rock-solid, heavy-footed drumbeats). And I don’t know about you, but that’s an album I want to hear. Even if it does come from Victoria.
