The Chemical Brothers ‘Push the Button’ (Virgin)

Dance music has, by most ex-clubbers standards, died a death in recent years. Slated for its lack of ingenuity and droning repetition, it’s not been an easy time for the music of the dance lords (the Fat Boy Slims of this world).

The tunes that used to inhabit the bedrooms of fucked up, gurning teenagers and twenty-somethings everywhere have all but vanished into a hazy, hallucinatory vacuum. But wait! Two familiar funny-looking guys are fighting their way through the Narcotic mists…..it can’t be…..it is…The Chemical Brothers!

Ed and Tom are back with what can only be described as a cracking set of tunes. ‘Push the Button’ is basically a brilliantly entertaining and freshly squeezed fifth album. Ok, so they’ve employed some of the classic Chemical Brothers block rockin’ beats we’ve come to know and love, but they’ve mixed it up with tracks that have a real magical quality to them – like ‘Hold Tight London’ and its swirling, whirling softer side, ‘Close Your Eyes,’ which feels almost like a lullaby knocked out by a female android and ‘Surface to Air,’ a New Order hybrid with a driving hi-hat that takes it that little bit further than you expect.

The opener ‘Galvanised,’ also doesn’t disappoint. It begins with what can only be described as the title music to a cheesy Japanese TV show and then gets even better when a funky little beat is introduced and the smooth, sumptuous voice of guest rapper Q-Tip enters the arena. Basically, it does what it says on the tin and excites, drawing you into the next tune ‘Boxer’ a real catchy little Daft Punk-esque style ditty where the boys team up again with old friend Tim Burgess.

Later, ‘Come Inside’ and its sultry, smutty come-ons harks back to 1995 when The Chemical Brothers, would you believe it, released their first album. If you like a real banging track then ‘Believe’ with its dark, driving beats and standard high pitched bleeps is set to be a real dance floor classic.

There are some real gems on this album but you can bet the music press dismiss it as just another attempt to revive the flagging dance scene. If I’d never heard of The Chemical Brothers and thought this was their first album, I’d definitely be in the shops as soon as their second was released.

words: Rachel Bristowe

Have your say here