Chemical Brothers
Singles 93-03

THE REVIEW

This collection made me discover who the Chemical Brothers are. But above all, what their music is like.

In this collection, there are, in fact, what are probably among their most successful tracks: some taken from "Surrender", quite a few from "Dig Your Own Hole", and more ("Push The Button" is not included because it would have been released in 2005, while this is, as the title says, a decade-long collection up to 2003). "Song To The Siren" opens this overwhelming acid-dance whirlwind, with authentic alarm sirens. Then we move on to true acid with "Chemical Beats"; in the following "Leave Home", the same "Ohhhmmmm" from "Ohm Sweet Ohm" by Kraftwerk (!) is even pronounced at the beginning, testifying that the latter were imitated a lot, even by the Chemical Brothers. "Setting Sun", "Let Forever Be", and "The Test" finally have lyrics, off-key just enough to create what paradoxically is a sweet melody. "Block Rockin' Beats" highlights the bass and (not for the first time) the shouts.

But a track that truly stands out is "Star Guitar": full of "foamy", filtering melody, it is a pleasant (but also melancholic) musical journey; just like the equally splendid "The Private Psychedelic Reel", one of the best along with the hyperbolic "Hey Boy Hey Girl", brilliant and overwhelming.
And what about "Out of control"? Perfectly described by its own title! There are two unreleased tracks ("Get Yourself High" and "The Golden Path") not too different from the rest of the list, yet still up to the mark.

In conclusion: if you have no idea who the "chemical brothers" are, start here, with this anthology.