The Chemical Brothers Further (Parlophone)
4/5
By: Charlie Hearn
If 2007’s We Are The Night posed some controversial questions regarding The Chemical Brothers musical direction, then Further is set to answer them. This is the duos seventh studio outing, succeeding what turned out to be a rather disappointing sixth. The term ‘backlash’ is probably a bit strong, but there was certainly a great deal of grumbling going down on the message boards when a list of collaborations the length of a Creamfields comedown was released before that last record. The fans’ disappointment appeared to be epitomised in the link up with rapper Fat Lip and his comic stylings on the single ‘The Salmon Dance’. The formula just seemed too far removed from the scene-changing science that gave the boys from south London their first break in the early 90’s.
So, plough on regardless or take it back to basics? Well, thankfully these superstar DJs haven’t quite lost touch with reality just yet. With the drawing board beckoning, a short break in the pair’s relentless production schedule appears to have done them good. Instead of a whole host of guests, the focal point for this album is the spectacular psychedelic imagery that’s usually projected on giant displays as an accompaniment to The Chemical Brother’s stage show. The entirety of Further is set to a collection of these kaleidoscopic clips, carefully pieced together to create a vaguely coherent short film.
The origins of the songs follow a similar live suit, each one road tested by Tom & Ed and unleashed upon an oblivious dance floor in the midst of a DJ set. The successful applicants were subsequently taken back to the studio for further work and expanded on to create full length songs. This idea becomes more important when you listen to the first track ‘Snow’, a minutes worth of feedback positioned at different frequencies drifts awkwardly into an amalgamation of high pitched vocals and low-fi fuzz. ‘Escape Velocity’ kicks in next, carrying a real sense of relief and anticipation, successfully simulating the chaotic beginnings of a gig. From here on in begins the ebb and flow of what The Chemical Brothers do best, building up to euphoric crescendos before disappearing into nothingness. Stand out tracks include ‘Horse Power’ and ‘Swoon’, as the album really picks up towards the end and the rough and ready soundscape comes into its own.
However, it seems that the collaborations that have served The Chemical Brothers so well during their expansion are destined to be a double edged sword. Despite only featuring 8 tracks, it’s not unfathomable to suffer from a case of boredom at one point or another during Further. You can’t help but think that the inclusion of a guest vocalist here or there wouldn’t actually have done the record any harm. Having said that, you can’t deny the strength of the duo’s input alone – Further should go a long way toward silencing the critics who questioned whether the Brothers were ever gonna work it out again.
Chemical Brothers - Further by knackfocus_roularta
Artists in this article: The Chemical Brothers
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