The ChemiBros depress ‘back to the future’ button and land safely

In the sophistry we consume as pop-culture, market demands are satisfied more often than the artistic ones. But, one could always rely, among very few others, on the Chemical Brothers to produce music that is not of the stock kind… Or, so it seemed until now because ‘Come With Us’ is a fine album but a tad too settled in its own groove. And, further from a dance floor’s vibe.

It is a celebration of the achieved, even the guests are returnees, it is a reprise of sorts with refreshing touches added on. It is a very ear-pleasing record commencing with the title track’s classical string sample that grows into a cyber-version of Emerson Lake & Palmer. It does sound like a plugged-in prog-rock and that is certainly… erm, cool? It actually sounds more French than an English track, taking in consideration the across-the-Channel’s love for retro noises.

Former hit ‘It Began In Afrika’ succeeds it before ‘Galaxy Bounce’ stalls at the launch-pad. The current single ‘Star Guitar’ continues the parade of sub-sonic journey that is taking one back to favourite places. ‘Come With Us’ is a reactionary record in a sense that Tom and Ed have stepped back from the current trends and re-employed what had served them well in the past. It is a diverse record that has potential to attract a plethora of listeners.

The selection thus contain psychedelic cut (‘My Elastic Eyes’), a Kraut-rockish one (‘Hoops’), a dirty funker (‘Denmark’), a mutated ballad (‘The State We Are In’) sung by Beth Orton and the epic-dimensioned closer with Richard Ashcroft on the mic, ‘The Test’. There is also a track named ‘Pioneer Skies’ but its title’s aim is slightly off the bull’s eye.

The verdict is fair but safe. This is an album made for people who don’t go to clubs anymore but entertain at home. The best way to describe is – mainstream dance-music, on par with Faithless, for sure… Watch it sell container-loads.

7/10