Chemical Brothers - Come With Us
by Dominic Pettman

Well, they are back, with a CD cover as red and seventies and abstract as the Boards of Canada. Unfortunately, the similarities end there. I have always thought that, despite being one of the most popular groups around (or because of it), that the Chemical Brothers have had a bad rap. Obviously those people who diss them don't really dance very much, because their previous albums have always delivered the beats and adrenalin required, which is no mean feat. Especially Surrender, which has one of the most stonkin' first 25 minutes or so available. The Chemical Brothers have always proven themselves to be ahead of the competition (most obviously, Fat Boy Slim) with each release . . . until now that is. It seems they are finally treading water. It's not that Come With Us is a bad album, it just rests on its laurels. It's funky, but it's too familiar, and actually quite dated (in a non-deliberate, retro kind of way). If you haven't heard their stuff before, then this will probably be a fun listen, but if you already have Dig Your Own Hole or Surrender, then I suggest you look elsewhere for inspiration. In the meantime, we'll just hope that this is a hiccup, and not a case of "Samson losing his power after cutting his hair," as Tom Rowland has recently done.