The Chemical Brothers
We Are The Night (Promo Version)

I had the incredible honor of listening in preview to the new album by the Chemical Brothers, "We Are The Night"! Thanks to the "promo version" that a DJ friend of mine got by paying a fortune for it!! So as usual, I'll be the flagbearer of this great band (not to brag, but... when I was walking around with the CD player blasting my ears with Surrender, people in Italy were still saying "chemical who?").

I dedicate this review to all those who are impatiently waiting for the release of this album.

It's been almost 3 years since the release of "Push The Button," and I couldn't wait any longer! And those like me, lovers of electronic music and the chemical duo, can't wait any longer... so... let's cut to the chase:

"We Are The Night" is the least TUNZ TUNZ album of the Chemical Brothers! Forget the pounding techno rhythms and eardrum-busting acid house of previous albums, the beats are less straightforward, the music is less noisy, and the sounds are less deafening; this is an album dedicated to melody and technique! In fact, in terms of sound manipulations and mixing of chemical sounds, we're facing the best Chemical Brothers album! For this album, the chemical brothers have dedicated a lot of space to the revival of 80s sound effects combined with modern and cutting-edge techniques, pristine sounds, captivating melodies, and a psychedelic sound worthy of the best Chemical Brothers ever! An album with very few repetitive loops and samples and a sea of sound manipulations... exceptional! But let's analyze these 12 tracks in advance, which will surely be the soundtrack for summer 2007 (but I think they'll be played in the most IN clubs on the planet for another 3 years!!)

"No Path To Follow":

It's not a track but an introduction to the album, a dark, vocoded voice (the reference is always to Kraftwerk!) sings an a cappella refrain that gradually becomes more human and less robotic (but Daft Punk has nothing to do with it), a very short but excellent track to create the right atmosphere before starting our sonic journey....

"We Are The Night":

Here we go! The Chemical Brothers are back! After the relaxing introduction mentioned... the listener is immediately bombarded by a triumph of psychedelic and distorted sounds.. you expect the usual super pumped techno track... instead... here's a series of 80s computer sounds in a Commodore 64 style updated by very modern sounds and pure psychedelia! The song kicks off! Sparkling drums, psychedelic distortions, Super Mario Bros sound effects... with a chorus that continuously sings "we are the night"... a compelling melody that reaches very high peaks of psychedelia and musicality! Wild, nostalgic, and with an overwhelming rhythm! A pure sound journey!

"All Right Reversed":

A dark and moody start, whispered dark voices accompany a marked rhythmic base with a quite good pop chorus, and as usual, a sound work of great class... despite the dragging and danceable basic rhythm, the song seems somewhat melancholic and suffering.... The interlude is scary! The Chemical Brothers enjoy playing their synthesizers and computers, producing a mix of Rock, Trip Hop, and Break... nostalgia for 80s sounds also finds space here.

"Saturate":

A minimal start, it sounds like Nintendo 8-bit sounds! A dry melody played on the keys of a 40-year-old keyboard repeats continually... until a marked beat and a modern melodic embroidery join in, as usual, psychedelic... a remarkable blend of past and future... the 90s dance-style interlude and the obsessive melody make it a very interesting song. Beautiful sounds towards the end! Club style! (but not pumped)

"Do It Again":

The first single that we all know already. The album version is more pumped and elaborate compared to the radio version. The beginning slightly recalls that minimal Techno of the early 90s; it seems a little return to TUNZ TUNZ but actually is a fake minimalism! In fact, as the song progresses, the sounds become more elaborate, and Ali Love's voice gives that irresistible urge to dance, dance, and dance some more! The final part of this album version is phenomenal! Longer and with more sounds... in my opinion, the radio version is too minimal.

"Das Spiegel":

The first masterpiece of the album! Tears in my eyes! A mega electronic ballad in pure Chemical style, heavily played, heavily worked, full of sound effects and various distortions, a romantic melody, and an engaging rhythmic base, to be listened to hundreds of times! A ballad that will dazzle in the group's live concerts, a cheerful and fun cosmic journey... I am moved because besides making me dance, it reminds me of the 80s!

"The Salmon Dance":

A very amusing track! Nothing more! With this piece, the Chemical Brothers didn't want to amaze us but just entertain us and make us smile, the simple and catchy base makes you dance from start to finish; it's a light and carefree rap song sung by Fatlip, the sounds as usual are beautiful. And as expected... a nod to the sound of the past also in this piece.

"Burst Generator":

The second masterpiece of the album! Or rather, THE MASTERPIECE of the album and one of the greatest masterpieces of the Chemical Brothers! Fasten your seatbelts! "Burst Generator" is a pure journey into the world of psychedelia!!! In this piece, the Chemical Brothers reach their peak!!! The brain disconnects, neurons go crazy, particles start traveling, the soul detaches from the body! The definitive track that will drive crowds wild in the new world tour! Too beautiful! Frightening rhythm, mystical chorus, acid sounds, and small reunions of old-style Techno/Acid house... oh my... a bomb! However, don't expect a song that goes BOOM BOOM BOOM! Here we are faced with pure melody!!! The TUNZ is just a particular that inserts here and there. Do me a favor... even if you don't like the Chemical Brothers, buy this album just for this piece!

"Modern Midnight Conversation":

Beautiful! The perfect song to insert after that masterpiece I've talked about, a background of marked psychedelic percussion samples frames a soft melody sung by a beautiful female voice, a driving and at the same time sentimental rhythm, suitable for a hallucinogenic journey into the world of dreams (as usual joking! Don’t take anything!) a multitude of sounds!, some soft and velvety, others deafening and reverberant, synthesizer games where the Chemical Brothers seem to really enjoy themselves, it's a waking dream!

"Battle Scars":

Here is a nice electro/pop/country song! Relaxed, soothing, characterized by small keyboards, tambourines, an electronic country-style base, and the engaging calm voice of Willy Mason; if it weren't for the usual chemical sounds... it wouldn't seem a song by the duo. Very nice to listen to!

"Harpoons":

This track is an introduction to the following track... a pure moment of ambient music in the style of Moby, siren choirs, distorted and hypnotic sounds, harps, echoes, reverbs, and the usual electronic tricks make this short piece truly engaging on an emotional level.

Closing piece of this great album! A melodic, played, and sung track from start to finish, sentimental, emotional, tearjerking, engaging with interludes of true psychedelia... the ending becomes more rhythmic but never dance! We are faced with a true musical gem! Here we probably reach one of the highest peaks in the entire career of the chemical duo!

Summarizing it all, "We Are The Night" is not a Rave party album! Instead, it is a good collection of unreleased tracks all about melody and psychedelic rhythm. If in the past, the Chemical Brothers would place this kind of track between one TUNZ piece and another... with this album, they wanted to dedicate almost an entire space to melody.

Perhaps lovers of "Surrender" and "Come With Us" that is, those used to destroying the stereo systems with "It Began In Afrika" and "Hey Boy Hey Girl" might be disappointed! But for those who love the chemical brothers for their psychedelic and electronic sound, capable not only of making noise but also composing melodious tracks of great class like "One Too Many Mornings", "Where Do I Begin" and "The Private Psychedelic Reel" capable of making you dance but also move you... will love this new album!!!

For me, who is nostalgic for the old sounds but at the same time a lover of the new ones... "We Are The Night" deserves the highest rating!

BUY IT! ORIGINAL!

P.S.: I don't know if the actual album will be different from the promo version, but the songs are the same. We'll see the arrangements. I will definitely buy it!