Come Closer - the Album

[inchemwetrust]

Me atm

[BurnerMan54]

So I did a "Thing"

I wanted to listen to the live version of Starvation x My Baby from their set. Extracted vocals and stems from both songs, made some edits/additions and ended up with a remix/remake/live version type track. 

Here's the link if you want to give it a listen https://on.soundcloud.com/wYV33eHk26wNRmjQUv

[Bosco]

Me atm

Are majority of you holding out for your physical copies to arrive for first listen? It's kind of quiet on the reactionary front so far. Obviously take time to digest album that fits you best, just weird to have like 3 people on the forum go into detail about how they feel about the album so far. Anxious to hear everyones thoughts and don't want to flood the zone with my opinions. 

[Csar]

Still collecting my thoughts (and have yet to buy an actual physical copy). This is easily the most interesting from either artist I've heard in a long time (IDTL and IAM have been stuck in my head for days now, making me hum along during the day like proper ear worms). What's best is that, with maybe the exception of one or two songs, this really feels like a complete thing of its own and not like a project that is Tom featuring Aurora or Aurora featuring Tom. It almost completely stands on its own legs rather than being a cliché of either artist. And I love the analogue synthy-ness of it all. So refreshing.
This whole unexpected collab has turned out to be a pleasant surprise ! Me encanta!

[feedmevinyls]

Not sure if this is a hot take but... I like Come Closer more than For That Beautiful Feeling. Don't get me wrong, I love FTBF (it was my most listened album in 2023/24), but it does feel a bit like No Geography 2. I'm pretty sure I remember reading in an interview that one of the Chems even described it as an extension of No Geography.

I know what's explored on Come Closer isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but as a new-gen Chems fan it's exciting to hear this kind of experimentation. I hope we see more of it on the next Chems project. If Tomora even slightly influences a new album or pushes them to explore something different, then I think it's absolutely worthwhile.

Anyway, my favourite is probably My Baby, but I don't think there's a dud on the album. Some tracks (like Come Closer) I wouldn't listen to on their own, but I think they work great in the context of the album.

What's best is that, with maybe the exception of one or two songs, this really feels like a complete thing of its own and not like a project that is Tom featuring Aurora or Aurora featuring Tom.

What tracks would you say don't fit this?

[actionjackson780]

I'm still collecting my thoughts, and I'm not really one for longer posts anyway, but just popping in to say I'm surprised there isn't more love for "Wavelengths" so far. It might be the standout track for me!

[Bosco]

(and have yet to buy an actual physical copy).

Either have I.

I think I'm awaiting for actual concert announcement in my area before I support the band with my money. Is that fair? Maybe not...

Not sure if this is a hot take but... I like Come Closer more than For That Beautiful Feeling.

Not a hot take, only natural to compare previous work.

I think Come Closer might be the most accessible album Tom has been apart of. Do I think that makes a better album? Not necessarily, in my opinion.

It will be interesting how everyone processes this album.

I'm surprised there isn't more love for "Wavelengths" so far. It might be the standout track for me!

Upon multiple listens, I do think this is one of the better tracks. Very Spiritualized-like opening to the track

[hstn]

I'm still collecting my thoughts, and I'm not really one for longer posts anyway, but just popping in to say I'm surprised there isn't more love for "Wavelengths" so far. It might be the standout track for me!

I'll be so real Wavelengths is such an underrated gem, nearly made me cry upon first listen, it's so touching and inspiring

I'm glad Tomora is allowing for more ambient moments from Tom but this exceeded my expectations outright from the imagery and instrumental, it's just gorgeous imo

[Enjoyed]

I want to do a Wolkenkrabber style track by track, but haven't had a the time yet (we work weekends, sadly).

I DO want to say though, that I adore this album. I listened after work on Friday, headphones on, laying in bed, with a cocktail - and had a fucking wonderful time. I've been listening to it pretty much non-stop since.

So much going on which I'd love to dive into more track by track. But the nods and homages to other artists that have already been mentioned here, to me are simply a treat. Who wouldn't want to hear what a Chemical Brothers remix of Bjork sounds like? Or if Tom produced an Ultraísta track???

I'm surprised there isn't more love for "Wavelengths" so far. It might be the standout track for me!

Dude, completely agree. The harmonies at the end are so gorgeous. And Tom finally found the perfect way to incorporate the live vocoder destruction of 'You are all my children now' in an album track. I love it!

I Drink The Light is the best Chemical tune since... Further? Maybe? That analogue synth stab melody (is that the same synth as FLIAD?) is just perfection.

So much fun is being had on this album, and it's not sloppy either. Tight, interesting, ethereal in places. I'll be talking more about it for a while I think.

I've definitely come back to it and relished in it a lot more than FTBF when that came out.

[Bosco]

I Drink The Light is the best Chemical tune since... Further?

Now that's a Hot Take! ... that I absolutely don't agree with

Obviously subjectivity drives this thought, but just for the sake of Aurora tracks... Eve of Destruction.

[Enjoyed]

EOD is pretty fucking good... 

Maybe it is a little too hot?

Check back in with me in June

[Bosco]

Maybe it is a little too hot?


Check back in with me in June

For the moment it might be. Who knows though, maybe in a few months I'll be agreeing with you.