The Chemical Brothers - Born in the Echoes

The Chemical Brothers
Born in the Echoes
2015

The Chemical Brothers and their other 90s electronic brethren (think the Prodigy, Fatboy Slim) as come into new albums with lofty goals. Nothing short of changing the world will suffice. Born in the Echoes is not going to bring about world peace or patch the Ozone lawyer but it is a pretty damn good record. From the first note you know you are in for a blast straight in the face on this album. It is going to take you high and keep you there for the duration of their time with you. "Go" features Q-tip in a rare featured few verses and absolutely crushes. The song is a high energy dance track and the inclusion of Q-tip adds some mainstream cred. Q-tip is not the only special guest; St. Vincent, Cate Le bon, Broadcast and even Beck show up to lend their voices and instruments to the Chemical Brothers here. It seems that with Born in the Echoes the Chemical Brothers are accepting the festival culture currently holding tight to electronic music and giving us a variety of music that can work in a variety of places. There is psych-dance, rave, mainstream EDM and much more rounding out this record letting the world know they boys still have it and can do it at a high level over 20 years on.

The Chemical Brothers can make great mainstream music but they are at their best when they really let loose on the psychedelic-rave tracks. "I'll See You There", "Just Bang" and "Taste of Honey" are just as aggressive as they are trippy and make for that eyes closed hands in the air type of electronic music. Embracing the darkness has never been an issue for these guys and Born in the Echoes is no different. The industrial drums and echoy syths reign supreme and put music on the floor that works just as well at an all nighter as it does to listen to on even given day. The Chemical Brothers ability to stay in the gritty nature of things leads to an amazing experience, it becomes less about the lights and the stage (though that can work as well) and connects more on a personal level. Being pioneers of a genre give you that ability to move a style forward or backward at will and never missing a beat while doing so. Born in the Echoes is a stellar album from guys who have been doing it at a high level for years, and hopefully will be doing it for years to come.

8.6 out of 10