Playlist 6: Brothers Gonna Work It Out

Playlist six is hitting you about the face and chin, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. The Chemical Brothers – possibly the most consistent and greatest-sounding DJ-led electronica band in the UK, if not the world – have created a remarkable back catalogue of tunes. You’re about to find out which ones make this week’s Spotify Sunday: Brothers Gonna Work It Out, compiled by Matt Gardner.

The playlist starts from the immediately recognisable intro to the pair’s first album, Exit Planet Dust, with the song ‘Leave Home’ – giving this collection its name. While not the best offering from the Chemical Brothers, it spawned three or four great hits, particularly the utterly haunting ‘Song to the Siren’, which distorts female vocals to send a chill through your spine as a drum beat overlay does the rest of the hard work. Additionally, ‘Chemical Beats’, which was used on the WipEout series of games, lives on as a firm favourite for many early fans.

It wasn’t until Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons recorded second album Dig Your Own Hole that the duo would land their first number one with ‘Setting Sun’, a tune memorable mostly for its vocal track from none other than Noel Gallagher, who was at the height of his fame with Oasis, having just released (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?.

It added to several other huge tunes from the pair, who arguably had their breakout year in 1997 with other tunes from the album including the title track ‘Dig Your Own Hole’ alongside ‘Block Rockin’ Beats’ and ‘Elektrobank’, the last of which was the basis for one of many excellent videos from Spike Jonze, who went on to create others for ‘Praise You’, ‘Weapon of Choice’ and ‘Wonderboy’.

Nonetheless, it was perhaps with Surrender that the Brothers created their most popular songs. It goes without saying that ‘Under The Influence’, ‘Out Of Control’, ‘Let Forever Be’ and ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ are utterly unforgettable, yet the additions of the noisy and brash ‘Music: Response’, the floating and funky ‘Orange Wedge’ and the relaxing title track ‘Surrender’ make it a nigh-on perfect album.

Despite the creation of the excellent ‘Star Guitar’, which garnered a perfect video from Michel Gondry, Come With Us seemed like a little bit of a step back from the Chemical Brothers, who did not seem to really break down boundaries as with previous outings. While ‘It Began In Afrika’, ‘The Test’ and the underrated ‘Denmark’ were all great additions, the rest of the album seemed lacklustre – particularly after three years off.

Another three years passed and in 2005, Push The Button did, indeed, push everyone’s buttons. ‘Galvanize’ re-established the pair as the masters of the summer song, flooding bars and clubs up and down the country, as well as most barns in Ibiza. ‘The Boxer’, ‘Marvo Ging’ and the beautiful ‘Believe’ – using the cracking vocals of Bloc Party legend Kele Okereke – all impressed, though not in the charts; ‘The Boxer’, for example, was the first single by the pair not to crack the top 40.

Finally, we arrive at We Are the Night, which passed under so many radars upon its release despite such great tunes as ‘Do It Again’ and ‘The Salmon Dance’, which uses Fatlip‘s excellent vocals to deliver an amazing learning experience about fish as well as YET ANOTHER excellent video (seriously, check YouTube. They’re unbe-f***ing-lievable). Still, the 80s-style synth of ‘Das Spiegel’, the woodwind of ‘Saturate’, the scary bass of ‘Burst Generator’ and the wonderful vocal work of ‘A Modern Midnight Conversation’ prove that We Are the Night is one of the best albums they’ve ever released and that they’ve still got it. Well done, gents.

And guess what? Further is released this month. Using no vocal collaborations whatsoever, it’ll deliver eight tracks with filmed accompaniments made specifically for the songs. Judging by previous video outings, it may be as good on screen as it is in the ears. I, for one, can’t wait – I hope that many others will join me, because they’ll miss out otherwise.

By Matt Gardner

Full track listing:

Leave Home
Song to the Siren (Live)
Chemical Beats
Block Rockin’ Beats
Dig Your Own Hole
Elektrobank
Setting Sun
Music: Response
Under The Influence
Out Of Control
Orange Wedge
Let Forever Be
Hey Boy Hey Girl
Surrender
It Began In Afrika
Star Guitar
Denmark
The Test
Galvanize
The Boxer
Believe
Marvo Ging
Saturate
Do It Again
Das Spiegel
The Salmon Dance
Burst Generator
A Modern Midnight Conversation