The Chemical Brothers

For their seventh studio LP, the Chemical Brothers have broken their formula. While previous releases like Push The Button and We Are The Night could be counted on to include specific vocal tracks (hip-hop, an emotional ballad) and varied electronic tracks (with synths on the down low), Further adopts a new template. It's the one employed by their Electronic Battle Weapon series of singles, and which most closely matches the sound of their live performance. Referring to their live sound, Ed Simons said they realized "that sometimes it's the random things that cause the biggest reactions: a delay or a drop, something that no one is expecting." These are the sounds that can be heard on Further, and this record could seemingly break the boundaries of time, as Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons make music that could fit a nightclub or rave in any of the last three decades. First single "Escape Velocity" runs 12 minutes and represents the power of the ebb and flow of electronic sounds, as does Further.