The Chemical Brothers
We Are The Night
Astralwerks
7.0 out of 10
By Norman Mayers

The Chemical Brothers have long been considered among the electronica elite, a place inhabited by the likes of Fatboy Slim, Moby, the Prodigy, and the Crystal Method. But more than any of those other artists, the Chemical Brothers have managed to change their style throughout the last decade, surviving the Big Beat boom of the mid-90s before moving on to Grammy accolades. On their latest release We Are The Night, the Brothers pull out all their tricks, delivering a satisfying album of euphoric psychedelic electronica, quirky guest appearances, and danceable grooves.

One thing is definitely true about the Chemical Brothers: they create some of the most original dance music out there. We Are The Night is evidence that the Brothers have not lost their edge. In fact, they seem to have gotten their groove back, delivering an album full of plenty of body rocking club joints that are sure to appeal to their long-time fans. “Saturate” stands out among the high energy cuts, crackling like sunbeams across the morning sky. Filtered bass is surrounded by spastic drums that build into a delightful crescendo. This one is sure to be a major underground hit! Electro-tinged grooves permeate the percussion-laden “A Modern Midnight Conversation” and the Sexy Back flavored “Do It Again” featuring Ali Love. But the Chemical Brothers have always been about sonic experimentation and there is plenty of that on We Are The Night. The tracks that leave the biggest impact are the ones that combine downtempo electronica with psychedelic folk rock. “The Pills Won’t Help You Know” featuring Midlake is a gorgeous number that rides a solid snare drum over waves of building strings and electronic pulses. Similarly, the album closer “Battle Scars” with Willy Mason offers up a slightly rock edge amidst all the electronic bleeps. The Pharcyde’s Fatlip turns up on the nu-skool breaks of “The Salmon Dance”, a light track with more sense of humor than anything else on the album.

As one of the artists that rode the initial wave of electronica success, the Chemical Brothers continue to make quality music a decade later. We Are The Night is proof that innovation and experimentation is alive and well within the genre.

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