Reviews are on the way!
We already know this review: https://www.gigwise.com/features/3310961/six-things-we-learned-from-the-chemical-brothers-new-album-playback (https://www.gigwise.com/features/3310961/six-things-we-learned-from-the-chemical-brothers-new-album-playback)
This is in spanish, says that Banjo is the most "outstanding" song, the album has many minimalist sounds and again refers to the space travel with Gravity Drops and The Universe Sent Me. The lowest point on the album is Catch Me I'm Falling: https://bizarro.fm/2019/04/the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/ (https://bizarro.fm/2019/04/the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/)
Thanks!
I was confused for a moment when the translator showed this:
QuoteNo Geography nos deja ver de nuevo lo sublime que pueden ser un par de genios musicales como Tod y Ed, ...
As Tod means death in German. :D
Another positive review:
https://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/ (https://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/)
Quote from: nekoland on Apr 08, 2019, 11:58
Another positive review:
https://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/ (https://www.xsnoize.com/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/)
Wow. I'm so hyped :music
In this review it seems that the journalist did not listen to the album, he only talks about the singles. Anyway, 4/5 stars:
https://aestheticmagazinetoronto.com/2019/04/08/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/ (https://aestheticmagazinetoronto.com/2019/04/08/album-review-the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/)
9/10 review! "The discordant sounds of 'Gravity Drops' disorientates before the haunting 'The Universe Sent Me' emerges as a cry of surrender to the beat, with the relentless refrain "I cave in". GOD! i need to listen this two tracks together:
https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-chemical-brothers-no-geography (https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-chemical-brothers-no-geography)
The positive reviews are so promising! I know we shouldn't care what others think and we can form our own opinions, but good reviews are always a plus!! I can't wait to hear it all myself and in full album context.
Waiting the review of TheChemBase Forum. Will be 10 times more promising indeed ;D
https://twitter.com/NME/status/1115993657679781889
Quote from: Wolkenkrabber on Apr 10, 2019, 15:21
https://twitter.com/NME/status/1115993657679781889
Quote from: NME('Exit Planet Dust', 'Dig Your Own Hole' and 'No Surrender')
Also, Come With Them, Push the Butt, We Are the Knight and Furthermore!
Quote from: Csar on Apr 10, 2019, 15:40
Also, Come With Them, Push the Butt, We Are the Knight and Furthermore!
Don't forget "Born in the Ghetto"
Quote from: Csar on Apr 10, 2019, 15:40
Also, Come With Them, Push the Butt, We Are the Knight and Furthermore!
Quote from: Ben_j on Apr 10, 2019, 15:57
Don't forget "Born in the Ghetto"
Lolz :)) :)) :))
So, NME says it light years ahead of their peers eh!
But what I'm really waiting for is the pitchfork review. :P
ok my turn.....Poops of Fury! I'll see myself out
https://www.metro.news/bring-that-big-beat-back/1512835/amp/
Push The Butt is my fave! <3
http://razzletazzle.com/music/review-the-chemical-brothers-beats-are-still-big-on-no-geography/2019/04/11/
QuoteGive it up for the Chemical Brothers. Genres and trends come and go, festival gods rise and fall. Yet Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons stay eternally true to their block rocking vision. The duo has now outlasted two stupidly-named marketing gimmicks designed to sell dance music to normals: electronica (which they sort of helped invent in the Nineties) and EDM (which they've admirably ignored throughout the last decade). Their last album, 2016's Born in the Echoes, stuck with a formula that's worked for them for a quarter century: dancefloor bangers plus psychedelia plus big-name cameos (in this case Q-Tip, Beck and St. Vincent's Annie Clark). Their ninth LP clears out the guest stars to go in a ravier, heavier direction, while also suggesting a stock-taking introspect and angst worthy of their august status and our precarious times.
Titles like "Eve of Destruction" and "Mad As Hell" underscore an awareness on their part that peace, love, unity and respect are in short supply in the Trump/Brexit era. But the album's feel and sound is resiliently explosive, especially on the three-song mini mega-mix of sorts that kicks things off, a big beat suite following a narrative arc from apocalypse ("Eve of Destruction") to defiance ("Bango," which contains the vocal hook "I won't back down / Give me my thunder") to wide-open borderless promise (the bell-ringing rouser "No Geography").
The rest of the album feels a little more perfunctory, never quite being of a piece a la their euphoric 2010 return-to-form Further, or offering uniquely memorable high-points a la Born in the Echoes' "Tomorrow Never Knows"-tinged face-melter "I'll See You There." While recording No Geography, the duo broke out the same gear they used to create Nineties classics Exit Planet Dust and Dig Your Own Hole, but tracks like the classic acid throwdown "Free Yourself" and the Seventies soul-sampling electro-squelch-fest "We've Got To Try," while synapse-nuking fun, echo past greatness without feeling revelatory in their own right. The album ends with the setting-sun distress and golden dissonance of "Catch Me I'm Falling," a ballad about loss demonstrating that even when they're merely taking care of business, they can capture a classic pop emotion better than pretty much all of their peers of followers. Here's to 25 years of chasing the next one.
RS needs to calm down!
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-chemical-brothers-no-geography-820572/amp/
Quote from: Csar on Apr 11, 2019, 20:53
http://razzletazzle.com/music/review-the-chemical-brothers-beats-are-still-big-on-no-geography/2019/04/11/
LOl at the PLUR reference
Aside from This is not a game/taste of honey, They really did generally dodge the EDM sound.
Quote from: inchemwetrust on Apr 11, 2019, 20:56
RS needs to calm down!
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-chemical-brothers-no-geography-820572/amp/
The publication is mad that it needs heart surgery
Pitchfork like it, but they make sure to take a cheap shot on WATN
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-chemical-brothers-no-geography/
I feel filthy posting reviews from them
https://thequietus.com/articles/26319-chemical-brothers-no-geography-review
Nice reviews (except for the Rolling Stone one, which my takeaway is 'old man yells at cloud' but even that one had its bright spots.
All the reviews so far point to the Chems' endurance over the years. And that's a good thing.
Quote from: whirlygirl on Apr 12, 2019, 20:25
..except for the Rolling Stone one, which my takeaway is 'old man yells at cloud'..
it refers to 2016's
born in the echoes and it almost reads like a positive review until you see 2.5★/5. i'm thinking they neither turned up the volume nor donned sensitive phones
;﹚
The Rolling Stone review and the Razzle Tazzle review are the same review, except the Razzle Tazzle one doesn't have the star rating.
I thought the Rolling Stone review was more positive than the 2.5 stars suggested it would be.
So far, I think I generally agree with that RS review. NG has some good stuff on it but it's not as good as Further (not even close!), or indeed the first three albums. I'm excited that there's a new album but a little surprised by the level of praise. My hunch is that when people look back on it six months from now they'll say: Maybe it's better than BITE (which seems to be getting a battering at the mo), but perhaps it's not quite as good as we said in the heat of the moment.
The album hasn't wowed me, but I do think it's another quality experience for both die-hards to gnaw on and new fans to fawn over. And I think the mostly positive reviews are serving the purpose that this album is worth checking out, or at least looking into the catalogue of The Chemical Brothers.
Quote from: Bosco on Apr 12, 2019, 21:39
The album hasn't wowed me, but I do think it's another quality experience for both die-hards to gnaw on and new fans to fawn over. And I think the mostly positive reviews are serving the purpose that this album is worth checking out, or at least looking into the catalogue of The Chemical Brothers.
I'm somewhere between 'wow' and 'average' right now in terms of the album. I have a write up about tonight and it ain't pretty.
At least tell us if it's a step up from 'insert past album here' or something in that nature.
Well for starters, what do you like most about the album?
I touched upon this in the other thread... with most Chemical Brother albums I can gravitate towards a singular track (sometimes multiple on a few) where it isn't necessarily my favorite track on the album, but it is one where I can pinpoint as the heart of an album, and does somewhat of the heavy lifting.
Here is my ranking of albums from first to last:
Come With Us
Dig Your Own Hole
Further
Born In The Echoes
Exit Planet Dust
Surrender
Push the Button
We Are the Night
Here is my list of favorite albums with what I'm gonna call (for a lack of a better term) an album stalwart(s):
Come With Us - Star Guitar
Dig Your Own Hole - Setting Sun
Further - Swoon/ Escape Velocity
Born In The Echoes - Go
Exit Planet Dust - Chemical Beats
Surrender - Out of Control/ Let Forever Be / Hey Boy Hey Girl
(Here is where it gets difficult for me...)
Push the Button - Galvanize (Not a fan of the studio version track)
We Are The Night - ????? Is it 'Do It Again'? If so, I really don't like that track. 'We Are The Night' (title track)? No, I don't think so. It's a fun ride, but it doesn't fit the bill. Saturate? I like it, but like most EBW's that are featured on the albums I think their higher purpose is to keep all the albums connected. Not exactly a focal point (IMO). This album nothing but a mishmash for me.
So now we reach 'No Geography'
Nothing rings out to me as a focal point to the album. I find my self in a similar predicament as WATN. My initial thought is 'Got to Keep On'. But I just don't think this track is of my flavor. 'Free Yourself' could be the "stalwart" I'm looking for, but it just it sounds a bit recycled and forgettable (which I already did briefly, https://forum.thechembase.com/index.php/topic,759.msg15827.html#msg15827)
Notice how just about all these tracks I'm referring to are singles and featured in their live sets. Beyond this 'No Geography' tour I'm not so sure what we're talking away from this album.
I do find the album more interesting than Push the Button and WATN. There is plenty of room for this album grow on me. Two tracks I know I like, are 'No Geography'(title track) and 'We've Got to Try'. But I don't think either are blemish free. Overall, I have a much more positive thought about the album then I may be indicating. I'm super happy we have a new album and their is a bunch of interesting sounds on this new album I can't wait to dissect with y'all.
always interesting to see a different point of view, bosco. (i mean it.) my read on the `heart' of each album differs from all yours but come with us and exit [except i'd add hoops to the heart of CWU]..btw the `heart' of no geography is the universe sent me
With the album being out for a while. I find myself only listening to the tracks that weren't released which means it boils down to about 20 min of listening. I need a break from the other tracks I've played them too much to listen to them at the moment because the offical album versions are no different to the when they were released as singles. If the album came out not knowing any of the tracks it could very well be a different review.
Quote from: Bosco on Apr 14, 2019, 00:08
I do find the album more interesting than Push the Button and WATN. There is plenty of room for this album grow on me. Two tracks I know I like, are 'No Geography'(title track) and 'We've Got to Try'. But I don't think either are blemish free. Overall, I have a much more positive thought about the album then I may be indicating. I'm super happy we have a new album and their is a bunch of interesting sounds on this new album I can't wait to dissect with y'all.
I think that over time, you'll get the opportunity and closure to convey the feelings that you have on this album. Maybe a few more listens or something. I know that your not discouraged about the album, but I know your trying to find some very good reasons or incentives about this album. IMO I think everyone has had some trouble with an album or two after a few listens, but I really think you'll find some silver lining while the album is here, or even when your back from the live shows. Besides...the Dog Planet needs you! :)
Quote from: MIKL on Apr 14, 2019, 00:43
With the album being out for a while. I find myself only listening to the tracks that weren't released which means it boils down to about 20 min of listening. I need a break from the other tracks I've played them too much to listen to them at the moment because the offical album versions are no different to the when they were released as singles. If the album came out not knowing any of the tracks it could very well be a different review.
i too took a break from those tracks that were already released prior to the albums release. I wanted to freshen up my ears and give them rest. I got a pretty good warm welcome when I started hearing FY, WGTT, GTKO,
Quote from: inchemwetrust on Apr 14, 2019, 03:34
i too took a break from those tracks that were already released prior to the albums release. I wanted to freshen up my ears and give them rest. I got a pretty good warm welcome when I started hearing FY, WGTT, GTKO,
Yep, I did that as well in the weeks leading up to the album. Instead I distracted myself by listening to the previous albums, in the order they where released, so that I can get a better context for the new material and how their music developed over time.
Quote from: Stefan on Apr 14, 2019, 07:54
Yep, I did that as well in the weeks leading up to the album. Instead I distracted myself by listening to the previous albums, in the order they where released, so that I can get a better context for the new material and how their music developed over time.
Exactly the same thing for me. Cycling around town with Chemical History in the ears was a true pleasure.
QuoteAs suggested by material such as 'Eve Of Destruction', 'Free Yourself' and 'MAH', and by the Godley & Crème-indebted sleeve art, The Chemical Brothers are facing the apocalypse head-on, with peace, love, unity and respect as their electronic battle weapons. Whatever territory they conquer next is up to them, but it will likely start with their triumphant worldwide tour this year.
https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/chemical-brothers-no-geography-album/
I received my Electronic Sound issue dedicated to Amon Tobin and they have a (really good) review on No Geography
Are there any technical interviews out there? I haven't come across much. I guess it's not like the old days of CWU when there were more electronic music magazines that they'd go into detail about production technique.
A bit late post.
The editors of the newspaper distributed in the Moscow metro think that Bango is #9 among the songs released last week.
(https://pp.userapi.com/c853424/v853424725/2580a/oFL7VQCs0XQ.jpg)
Every Chems record from Further onwards has been broadly hailed as a thrilling return to form by these outlets
Like, I'm not demanding that professional musical critics busy themselves with concern over the career trajectory of one of several 90's electronica survivors, but, you know, just statistically, at what point does one of them come to the conclusion that The Chemical Brothers have been pretty consistently good over the decades
(Also you're living a pretty sheltered fandom existence if you think any of these near-rave reviews are something to get bent out of shape over, no matter how callous the WATN slights or myopic the use of "No Path To Follow", a minute-long intro track consisting of vocodered vocals from a later song on the record, as as a microcosm of the Chems' ostensible wilderness period is.)
Quote from: Champiness on Apr 17, 2019, 00:16
Every Chems record from Further onwards has been broadly hailed as a thrilling return to form by these outlets
Like, I'm not demanding that professional musical critics busy themselves with concern over the career trajectory of one of several 90's electronica survivors, but, you know, just statistically, at what point does one of them come to the conclusion that The Chemical Brothers have been pretty consistently good over the decades
(Also you're living a pretty sheltered fandom existence if you think any of these near-rave reviews are something to get bent out of shape over, no matter how callous the WATN slights or myopic the use of "No Path To Follow", a minute-long intro track consisting of vocodered vocals from a later song on the record, as as a microcosm of the Chems' ostensible wilderness period is.)
Thank you! It's become so tiresome to read this 90s refrain over and over again.
Quote from: Champiness on Apr 17, 2019, 00:16
(Also you're living a pretty sheltered fandom existence if you think any of these near-rave reviews are something to get bent out of shape over, no matter how callous the WATN slights or myopic the use of "No Path To Follow", a minute-long intro track consisting of vocodered vocals from a later song on the record, as as a microcosm of the Chems' ostensible wilderness period is.)
Since I think this was somewhat directed towards me, It was my impression that the writer was targeting 'No Path to Follow' the title, rather than the song itself. He was mocking the title of the song to supplant further criticism. (Keep in mind Pitchfork paned WATN and just about all the other "collab-heavy" material they laid out throughout the 2000's. Thus, "the less said, the better.").
Me being filthy about posting the review is a nod to Pitchfork being
so crafty and giving their writers liberty to use made up hot words like "miserabilia". You got to be an epic sized smug asshole to try and create a term like that, let alone cram it into a music review.
Quote from: Bosco on Apr 17, 2019, 21:35miserabilia
It is actually a word. Latin, if memory serves. Nominative, plural, neuter.
They are still assholes, though.
Quote from: Champiness on Apr 17, 2019, 00:16(Also you're living a pretty sheltered fandom existence if you think any of these near-rave reviews are something to get bent out of shape over, no matter how callous the WATN slights or myopic the use of "No Path To Follow", a minute-long intro track consisting of vocodered vocals from a later song on the record, as as a microcosm of the Chems' ostensible wilderness period is.)
I think they actually mistook / misremembered Battle Scars as No Path To Follow, which is funny.
Ok it's not a review but I thought it be a good fit here.
"We'd spent ages working it out," says Rowlands. "'This will be amazing, playing Barry White and stuff at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning, outdoors' – and people were crying, literally crying because they hated it so much. I remember one girl, just in tears, going and getting the manager, and him saying: 'You have to stop now.'"
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/18/the-chemical-brothers-people-were-crying-because-they-hated-us-so-much
Lolz! :)) Never heard this story before. Great read as it touches history of the social, and back again, while living thru the changes of music for the people. Great last paragraph by Ed!
there are some terrific quotes in that interview, thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ZD6BYKrGY
I enjoy most of his reviews. The only thing I can definitely agree with this reviewer is that the first leg of the album is brilliant!
Thinks TUSM is worst track on the album? Wrong.
Doesn't like MAH? Needs to be dragged to a gig and have Mad King Puppy blast light spells out of his giant hands straight through his brain.
Take a look at the comment section :)
Let me start by saying that every Chemical Brothers album has 'high' lights and some tracks that I tend to skip.
The thing with their music is that one day I will keep 'Marvo Ging' on repeat for about twenty minutes and then play 'Three Little Birdies Down Beats' afterwards for nostalgia.
My favourite all time tracks though consist of 'Star Guitar', 'Galvanize', 'Hey Boy..', 'Surface To Air', 'It Doesnt Matter', 'Acid Children', and yet immediately.......
'Got To Keep On' has entered that all time favourite list. It is such a tune. I love the bass line. I love how the two clap claps keep the track disco oriented and funky as hell. A classic instantly. The bells that accompanied the dancing pink blobby figures chime in quicker than the live version but even after repeated plays this tune never goes stale.
After my very first listen of 'We've Got To Try', I hated it. HATED. But after four or five repeated plays, I gradually started to warm, and now I love it. The switch to orchestral then straight into the trippy section heavy on cymbals blows my eardrums and I love it.
Where to rank this full length?
Personally I love 'Push The Button'.
'We Are The Night' is , also in my humble opinion slightly better.
'Further' and 'Born...' were not classics but DID produce fantastic tracks individually.
Its all about preference though right?
I mean, I can't say that I love Noel Gallaghers vocals and I will get lambasted for even suggesting that.
But as long as Tom&Ed keep producing new music, I will keep on enjoying.........
People like that guy from yt are reason I don't care about music reviews.
Fantano! People enjoy Fantano since he covers indie/alternative music, but speaks from the gut and is self-aware while still being articulate - HUGE contrast to a lot of pretentious indie reviewers out there. But his reviews are almost always surface level early impression opinions, and he's really influenced by what the general "indie public" think of an artist.
With music being so easy to test drive you hope a reviewer can give you a perspective on an album you wouldn't otherwise have. Fantano only really pulls that off with artists he really cares about. Mostly, you just think "yeah that's about what I thought too when I listened to the album once or twice" and sometimes that's nice to hear from someone else.
Also Fantano was one of those YouTube personalities who went edgy for the money before journalists started picking up on the /pol/ dogwhistles on his side channel and he backpedaled hard, so even when I agree with him on matters of taste (which isn't uncommon - he introduced me to clipping. several years before Daveed Diggs was a household name & I'm glad to have trusted him on that) I don't see him as a particularly discerning thinker on any issue musical or otherwise