Susan Frances
09/08/08, 12:42 PM
The Chemical Brothers – Brotherhood
Record Label: Virgin Records
Release Date: September 2, 2008
The techno-pop duo of The Chemical Brothers have released their latest installment, a greatest hits collection entitled Brotherhood. The plasma synth composites and digital prattles of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons who make up The Chemical Brothers, have a penchant for creating futuristic vistas and sonic hippodromes protruding a chemispheric-slant. The processed beats and digital wobbles produce acid-induced everglades and opiate-filled aromas. Their composites resonant like sounds that orchestras of celestial bodies make up in the night sky. The duo’s sci-fi briquettes of bings and poings are liken to Hot Chip, and their cosmic zephyrs have emotive molecules that share properties with electronic artist, Andrei Lanes. Produced by The Chemical Brothers, Brotherhood brings some of the duo’s most recognizable tracks under one futuristically motifed cabana.
Opening with “Galvanize,” which is one of The Chemical Brothers most recognizable tracks after having been used for the Budweiser commercials, the album celebrates the duo’s success in making music that has a wide appeal among the global masses. The duo glamorizes Asian-toned strings watered in electro sloshing currents running through “Galvanize.” Sometimes the songs are dance tracks made for human enjoyment like the enchanting chimes and slinky pings of “The Golden Path” featuring The Flaming Lips. And sometimes the songs feel like they are expressly made for android’s pleasure like the twittering electrons and tiers of bouncing digital notes raked along “Out of Control.” Either way, the duo’s pulminating beats and crystal-studded effects produce gyrating movements with athletic jumps like in “Chemical Beats.” With many of the tracks matching the energy level of an athlete, the album relates to this certain lifestyle that motivates its listeners to strive higher.
The Chemical Brothers also included two tracks that they recorded with Oasis’ vocalist Noel Gallagher, who sings on “Let Forever Be” and “Setting Sun.” The coruscating channels of “Let Forever Be” have dark toned psychedelics with an ‘80s new wave veining, and the electronic lesions along “Setting Sun” are stoked by garage rock growls. The aquatic poltergeists swirling around “Midnight Madness” have a light and frothy prattle, while the sonic explosions and cosmic plateaus of “Block Rockin’ Beats” are cut sharp and share a gangsta-swagger with the duo’s tune “Leave Home.” The track “Keep My Composure” is a mixture of organic and mechanical elements, and features rap artist Spank Rock on lead vocals. The digital pixels culminate into energetic gyrations that fit an athletic lifestyle.
The Chemical Brothers latest disc, Brotherhood celebrates the duo’s mass appeal. Many tracks are familiar from being used in advertising campaigns. And those that weren’t adhere to The Chemical Brothers philosophy of making futuristic symphonies with a chemisperhic scope. The duo has a reputation of putting on an awesome light show that personifies their iridescent soundscapes. With music that sounds like an orchestra of celestial bodies, the shows are bound to be equally flashy.
Hot Chip, Andrei Lanes, Paul Oakenfold, Moby
www.myspace.com/thechemicalbrothers (http://www.myspace.com/thechemicalbrothers)
Record Label: Virgin Records
Release Date: September 2, 2008
The techno-pop duo of The Chemical Brothers have released their latest installment, a greatest hits collection entitled Brotherhood. The plasma synth composites and digital prattles of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons who make up The Chemical Brothers, have a penchant for creating futuristic vistas and sonic hippodromes protruding a chemispheric-slant. The processed beats and digital wobbles produce acid-induced everglades and opiate-filled aromas. Their composites resonant like sounds that orchestras of celestial bodies make up in the night sky. The duo’s sci-fi briquettes of bings and poings are liken to Hot Chip, and their cosmic zephyrs have emotive molecules that share properties with electronic artist, Andrei Lanes. Produced by The Chemical Brothers, Brotherhood brings some of the duo’s most recognizable tracks under one futuristically motifed cabana.
Opening with “Galvanize,” which is one of The Chemical Brothers most recognizable tracks after having been used for the Budweiser commercials, the album celebrates the duo’s success in making music that has a wide appeal among the global masses. The duo glamorizes Asian-toned strings watered in electro sloshing currents running through “Galvanize.” Sometimes the songs are dance tracks made for human enjoyment like the enchanting chimes and slinky pings of “The Golden Path” featuring The Flaming Lips. And sometimes the songs feel like they are expressly made for android’s pleasure like the twittering electrons and tiers of bouncing digital notes raked along “Out of Control.” Either way, the duo’s pulminating beats and crystal-studded effects produce gyrating movements with athletic jumps like in “Chemical Beats.” With many of the tracks matching the energy level of an athlete, the album relates to this certain lifestyle that motivates its listeners to strive higher.
The Chemical Brothers also included two tracks that they recorded with Oasis’ vocalist Noel Gallagher, who sings on “Let Forever Be” and “Setting Sun.” The coruscating channels of “Let Forever Be” have dark toned psychedelics with an ‘80s new wave veining, and the electronic lesions along “Setting Sun” are stoked by garage rock growls. The aquatic poltergeists swirling around “Midnight Madness” have a light and frothy prattle, while the sonic explosions and cosmic plateaus of “Block Rockin’ Beats” are cut sharp and share a gangsta-swagger with the duo’s tune “Leave Home.” The track “Keep My Composure” is a mixture of organic and mechanical elements, and features rap artist Spank Rock on lead vocals. The digital pixels culminate into energetic gyrations that fit an athletic lifestyle.
The Chemical Brothers latest disc, Brotherhood celebrates the duo’s mass appeal. Many tracks are familiar from being used in advertising campaigns. And those that weren’t adhere to The Chemical Brothers philosophy of making futuristic symphonies with a chemisperhic scope. The duo has a reputation of putting on an awesome light show that personifies their iridescent soundscapes. With music that sounds like an orchestra of celestial bodies, the shows are bound to be equally flashy.
Hot Chip, Andrei Lanes, Paul Oakenfold, Moby
www.myspace.com/thechemicalbrothers (http://www.myspace.com/thechemicalbrothers)