Surrender

by

The Chemical Brothers

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What do you do when everyone tries to sound like you? What no one would expect, that's what. The Chemical Brothers' third album "Surrender" recaptures the same vibe they found mining old-school hip hop on the "Loops of Fury" EP, only this time they find it in mid-1908s house. And, midway through the disc, you'll find some of the most adventurous psychedelic electro-pop ever assembled--even a collaboration with Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval that'll leave you feeling buzzed all day long.

With the Chems forsaking their trademark block-rockin' beats for the traditional 4/4 of the dance floor, it shouldn't come as that much of a surprise to anyone who bought DJs Tom Rowlands and Ed Simon's mix album "Brothers Gonna Work It Out"--this is just the boys going back to their roots here. Only, instead of simple club-ready retreads, they lay down some impressive sonics that simultaneously seem dated and futuristic, familiar yet not too accessible. Even the blatant Beatlemania of "Let Forever Be," with Oasis's Noel Gallagher, is forgivable since it's such a wonderful reminder of what these three did when they attacked us with that trippy ditty "Setting Sun" two years ago.

The Chems fancy themselves as album-making artists, not merely single-pressing DJs. At the expense of underground credibility, what the Chems have done here is bold and enticing. Track after track unfolds almost delicately, without the industrial onslaught of "Exit Planet Dust" or the heavy funk of the gold-selling "Dig Your Own Hole." The bottom line is, any Chem album is going to be bliss, but this time they've created something that absolutely commands repeated listenings to fully appreciate--that's not a chore, but a gift that keeps on giving.

Alas, one small complaint: "Out of Control," a collab with New Order's Bernard Sumner, is the only cut that's out of place here--it sounds a lot like one of New Order's weaker cuts, "Fine Time." Since this session was released as a single anyway, it would've been a wiser marketing and arranging move to keep it off the album--since it's lumped in with other, more mature-sounding tracks, the song just comes off as dull. Still, a small price to pay for such otherwise crafty and creative, pop-based musicmaking.

(Note before i go on with this review I rate things lower than others)

This Album has got some great tracks and a bunch of crap too. 'Music:Response' is moderately paced with beep like noises. While not that intricate the tune is nice and fits the name 'chemical'. 'Under the Influence starts' off with some great lunar like sounds and progresses into some rather evil high pitched short notes in a well structured tune. Even though this is repeatitive you don't get sick of listening to the track. 'Out of Control' the third single released is good with some rolling slightly machine like sounds and good vocals (for techno). After time though it gets rather dreary, but still listenable.

Switch over to side B and 'Got Glint?" a very 'chemical' sounding song that has, in my words 'all the bells and whistles'. It has a wonderful trance (anybody who has listened to York or ATB should no what I'm talking about) chorus, though the main body of the song is nothing spectacular, I find my self looking forward to the short lived chorus. 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' is a fantastic dark sounding song with chemical and machine like bits that sound great. The vocals are one of if not the best that i've heard on a techno song. The third greatest song of '99 (in my personel opinion).

The rest of the album is a dissapointment. "Who does it feel" is droney rubbish. 'Sunshine Undergrond' starts off with well done yet sickly asian tunes and carries into mucked up high pitched mediocre tehcno. Some aren't even dancey.

Buy the album for the good tracks. I don't regret doing so. Better yet, hire it and tape it.