We remember well the anticipation and excitement that the release of a new dance tune from the likes of Leftfield and Underworld were met with in the mid to late ‘90s. The simply glory and ecstasy of the likes of Release The Pressure and Born Slippy were testament to their innovation and the glory days of progressive dance music. The Chemical Brothers, aka Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, were at the heart of this revolution, that is unfortunately, looking increasingly withered.
Certainly, the release of their recent LP Push The Button was met with mixed critical reviews, nothing like previous fervour, despite its number one chart slot. Indeed, neither excitement nor infatuation can be mustered for the release of this single.
The tune starts with a hammered piano riff, attempting a hook to grasp the listener, but all it does is grates in its lazy reminiscence. Tim Burgess's vocal attempts at repetition of the success of Exit Planet Dust but interest there is little, the vocals lack lustre and sound underworked. The beat is, as ever, rolling and thunderous but it lacks that simple 'wow factor'. It does not resonate, it irritates. Perhaps a poor choice of single release from the LP? Perhaps time for Rowlands and Simons to move on and innovate anew.
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