The Chemical Brothers
Come With Us
On Sale Now
For $13.75

Beginning with a myriad of string samples, modular synth twerps and plenty of sounds that don't exist anywhere else in the universe, The Chemical Brothers pull us into a new world with a tweaky robotic voice reminiscent of Hal from 2001. The album is Come With Us, and it invites the listener into a big beat future where everything you knew about music is put to the test.

These days it doesn't take a genius to make decent electronic music. Software, beat machines and basic grooveboxes all put hi-res sounds in the hands of anyone with enough money and time to figure out how it all works. But it takes a lot more than that to make great electronic music. It takes vision, imagination and zillions of hours in the studio.

Chemical Brothers Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons spent nearly eighteen months in a South London studio building beats, constructing sounds from scratch and otherwise twisting sonic perception for the ten amazing tracks that landed on their latest disc.

"It Began in Africa" pushes conga samples curled into tightly phased loops and sculpted feedback. This song along with tracks like "Galaxy Bounce" and "My Elastic Eye" progress through entire galaxies of rhythm, challenging the listener to keep his feet moving while everything else melts, crashes, builds or explodes.

Two highlight cuts include "The State We're In" and "The Test." On "State," folk-hop goddess Beth Orton lends her heavenly voice to the mostly non-beat song. A stylistic left turn for the brothers, this one shows a small attempt to land on commercial radio.

"The Test" brings Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft to the microphone. While swirling pads begin this phenomenal track, Ashcroft and the boys are in true form when the backbeat drops. With a funk heavy electric guitar sample, this tune is painted with motion, class and style.

The Chemical Brothers' Come With Us pushes the boundaries of audio production, dance rhythms and modern technology. If you could care less about shakin' your thing on a Saturday night, this collection is a marvel to listen to. Even if you're sitting down.

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