In their omniscient wisdom, the Chemical Brothers have seen that the ’90s are back in fashion, and decided to return to the beats and driving grooves of their early LPs. This was nothing shy of a masterstroke.
Their new album, No Geography, plays as a continuous mix, focusing on solid beats, grooves and samples to make one of the best dance/electronic albums of the year. (Already!? You bet!)
Setting the throwback tone right away, opening track, “Eve of Destruction,” immediately recalls one of their first songs, “Leave Home.”
The standout element of this album is their choice of samples. “We’ve Got to Try” features a sample from the Hallelujah Chorus, adding a gospel element to this club banger. It sounds similar to the Ron Trent remix of “Citizen Kane” by Nightmares on Wax.
“MAH” is a song of our time. Utilizing a sample from El Coco, this song could become the dance anthem for those angry at the current system in what ever country it’s played in.
Thirty years into their run, and after a few middling albums, No Geography is a grand return to form for the Chemical Brothers. Let’s hope they continue this rich vein of creativity into the future.
Score: 🌍🌍🌍🌍/5
Brendan is an avid record collector from Adelaide, Australia and the man behind the @ridges_and_grooves. There are few genres he won’t listen to. His search for the best album of all time through process of elimination continues.