Dig Your Own Hole

by

The Chemical Brothers

Edit

Much has been written about this album in the past 8 years since its release and it has been appraised by many people - they were right. However, this is not your kind of music, if you're not into experimental music or you turn away from unusual patterns. Anyway, this album is Chemical Brothers and techno music at their best.

The album's first part manages to mix big beat techno music with rock and it blows down your head. Tracks 1 to 5 are as exhasuting a trip as they can be. Most people know "Block Rockin' Beats" which was a hit single in the UK and in the US as well. The song really rocks and is a perfect starter. However, as we move towards "Setting Sun" the threshold is pushed forward (especially with "Elektrobank") and the album reaches its first climax in "Setting Sun", in which Oasis' Noel Gallagher sings with a electric-guitar-vocoded voice and the track rocks like nothing I've ever heard before or eversince.

The second part of the album, namely "It Doesn't Matter", "Don't Stop The Rock" and the remix of "Get Up On It Like This" are pure techno (repetitive, loud but still interesting), while "Get Up On It Like This" heralds a different sound. I didn't like this part for the first few times I listened to the album but it grew on me.

The third part is a trip into the unknown. It is a completely unexpected turn which elevates this album into an array where only the best albums ever made belong. It begins with "Lost In The K-Hole", a chiller that has soothing beats and relaxes you. Then comes "Where Do I Begin", a superb song that features singer Beth Orton. After a slow start and a surprise twist it is mixed into the closing track, "The Private Psyhedelic Reel". And this is the point where you will be stunned. This is pure psychedelic music, nevertheless it is techno. It has a mesmerizing effect and it makes you want to go back to Track 1 and start the experience once again. The sooner you do this, the better it will be.

So here is my opinion: this is the quintessential techno album, far better than the Chems' debut album, Exit Planet Dust (which is still damn good), it is a concept album with a concept that works. It surpasses even Orbital's Orbital 2 which held the throne before Dig Your Own Hole. This is a must have.

Allright, I just finished giving this CD a listen and I'm not too happy with it, when I compare it to the other Chemical Brother LPs... Let's go through it song by song.

Block Rockin' Beats - The music in it isn't really my style. Even if a lot of people like it, I think this song is just noise mixed in together... Not a very good song at all.

Dig Your Own Hole - I must say, I wasn't very impressed with this track at all. It seemed like the first one, a drum beat with noise mixed in... Don't like it.

Elektrobank - Even if this song is liek the prevous two, in the fact that it's just a drum beat with noise mixed in, there's something about this song that I like. It builds up nicer in my opinion, and my only real complaint is that it doesn't need to be 8minutes in length... Still an allright track. Not great, but not bad.

Piku - Augh... Sounds like Pokemon... Same as the prevous track, it's allright.

Setting Sun - Finally, a great track. The Chemical Brother's last good track was on their prevous LP, being the last song entitled Alive Alone.

It Doesn't Matter - Again, just like tracks 1 and 2, this just doesn't have anything stand out in it that will make you remember the song.

Don't Stop The Rock - Good song, but not great. It's a unique song....

Get Up On It Liek This - It's allright at best. Simular in style to Block Rockin' Beats.

Lost In The K Hole - I really love this track. It just takes over my mind and I seem to travel to far off places... I think the reason is because this song changes and has substance to it, like The Sunshine Underground on Surrender.

Where Do I Begin? - Fantastic song, for the first 4 and a half minutes... Includes some real vocals in it, so that's a plus. This type of music made me liek the CBs... After 4 and a half minutes the mess it up with noise.

The Private Psychedelic Reel - This track is a good ending to a par cd. EVen though it's long and redundent, it is very heavy in sound and should keep you satisfied.

All in all, it's got a few keeps, but only about half of the cd is good, while the rest seems like it's just filler. If you have the other CB stuff, but this. If you don't... Try their other stuff first.