Brotherhood

The Chemical Brothers

Virgin

2008-08-01

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• (Member — 0 votes)

It hasn’t been long since the last “best of” album from The Chemical Brothers brought together all their singles between 1993 and 2003, so with only two albums to draw new material from it might be considered a little cheeky to release another. The fact it matches the dance duo’s only UK gig at the huge Kensington Olympia might also give the impression it’s a bit of a cash-in, and not for the avid fans eagerly awaiting their sixth studio album. The good news is while Brotherhood has the tracks you’d expect, there is also a bonus CD well be worth the outlay even if you do have every other one of major releases.

If you’re short on Chemical goodness, this is a suitable purchase to kickstart your collection.

First up, the standard CD. Rather than having another chronoligical collection of Chemical Brothers singles, they’ve mixed it up to give a more fluid transition between tracks although they aren’t mixed together. Recent live set starter “Galvanise” paves the way for a fellow popular opener “Hey Boy Hey Girl” before delving back to their second album for “Block Rockin’ Beats”. Each of their five albums has a look-in at some point, “Leave Home” and “Chemical Beats” are the oldest singles here from Exit Planet Dust and there is also a new track: “Keep My Composure” featuring Baltimore’s Spank Rock. A glitchy groover, it owes a lot to Roots Manuva’s Witness the Fitness and Lupe Fiasco’s hip hop. Sure to be a winner live, it’s a much-needed breath of fresh air on a CD of such well-worn tracks. “Let Forever Be” is perhaps the one mistep here, Noel Gallagher’s grammatically-challenged vocals are still jarring on every listen.

Brotherhood does pick out a excellent choice of Chemical Brothers tracks, yet just a solitary new song makes it hard to recommend if you’ve got their back catalogue to make into a mix-tape from yourself. Those looking for an good excuse to hit the shops on release will be pleased to hear a bonus CD of their 10 Electronic Battle Weapons is to be included. These productions have been used by the pair since 1996 to experience with new sounds and lay the rhythmic foundations for numerous tracks, as well as providing some of their most formidable mixes. In the past there tracks have been available in limited formats, generating a buzz whenever they have been heard at a club or live, so this is the first opportunity to get your hands on them easily. Of course, avid fans probably have those limited editions sitting at home already. Still, if the first CD seemed a little shameless, the bonus CD adds worthiness to Brotherhood. Yes, it is just a greatest hits collection, but if you’re short on Chemical goodness, this is a suitable purchase to kickstart your collection.