The Chemical Brothers, No Geography - album review
It's been almost four years since we had a full release from Chemical Brothers, and sometimes artists make sure their gift is worth the wait.
No Geography is the ninth studio album in their collection, and even now - 24 years since debut Exit Planet Dust arrived - they are showing us they remain completely and utterly relevant in the British electronica scene.
The sound of this record is essential right now. With the world in political, social and criminal difficulties, a feeling of hope is more important than ever.
From the uplifting and breezy synths that paint a sun-kissed picture through much of the music to the hushed, easy-going guest vocals of Aurora. From the light and free-flowing beats that power the whole record to the Moby-esque sampling of gospel and soul refrains. No Geography is the closest we've got to the perfectly succinct and flowing record from these guys.
It has a clear beginning, middle and end. Its aural narrative takes us from getting ready in the morning, to seizing the day full-on in our jaws and then celebrating success as the evening draws in.
Of those early numbers, Bango is the most light-hearted and fun-filled of the lot. Drums and electro hammering thump the track from side to side like a play-thing. The things being played with are our eardrums and we love it from the moment it kicks in.
The title track is exceptional. Its synths carry us forward on a breeze of optimism and never-say-die attitude. It's a mesmerising journey of a song that encapsulates all the hope we mentioned earlier powered by those thumping percussive elements carried over from Bango.
In the middle section The Universe Sent Me is a real gem as it builds to an eruptive crescendo like all good, up-tempo electronica tracks do. The building of the walls of sound throughout stirs the anticipation that something big is coming. And when the huge breakdown kicks in at 4:02 minutes in, all our prayers are answered. Wait for this one live!
The single Free Yourself with its Prodigy-esque distorted atmosphere and the jumpy vibes of MAH provide the starring sounds later on as the album keeps the quality levels up throughout.
Welcome back Ed and Tom, you've been missed.
Rating: 8/10
The Chemical Brothers come to Arena Birmingham on November 29. No Geography is available to buy now here.
