It’s been more than four years since I published some thoughts on No Geography, the ninth studio album released by The Chemical Brothers. When I wrapped up my opinions on that collection of tracks, I was pleased to find that I still enjoyed the duo’s signature sound and vibe, even after I disappeared along my trajectory of listening to more bass music. Long after that review was published, I still enjoy a few tracks that I cite as standouts – the catchy title track, the smooth sounds of Gravity Drops, and MAH – a tune that seems like it could have just missed the shortlist of music for a soundtrack to the latest Wipeout game. Along with the likes of Leftfield and The Prodigy, Rowlands and Simons are another act who followed me in boom boxes, iPhones and the occasional Walkman – their long-standing appeal remaining evident in For That Beautiful Feeling, and after so many newer names and faces have shown up on the scene.
For That Beautiful Feeling – the journey
I had been following news of the latest album on social media and through streaming services – as tracks such as No Reason, Skipping Like A Stone and Live Again were unveiled online earlier this year, in a drip-feed that sated the appetites of fans over the months that would lead up to the album’s release. What I heard at the time seemed pretty solid, with Live Again developing nicely as various effects and layers come in and out, and Skipping Like A Stone benefitting from the warm lyrics of Beck. For That Beautiful Feeling succeeds in respecting the fans of the uptempo bangers whilst also providing some calmer earworms for the person listening on their commute. Feels Like I Am Dreaming deserves to be played loud in a dark room with lots of space to move your feet; busy crescendos transition into into slick beat drops and a whole journey of intertwining melodies only offers respite at its conclusion.
Other honourable mentions
The Weight is a slower offering with a catchy bassline that evokes memories of the best moments found in Dig Your Own Hole and Exit Planet Dust. Live Again continues to return to my rotation even though I had played it a lot before the album’s release; it might not have the variety of some of my favourite older tracks by the brothers, but the tune is still pleasant enough for the ears. At the time of writing, Fountains is an early favourite of mine; beginning with some twangy melodies in the intro and a hypnotic beat that commands the head to start bobbing, shortly before an awesome vocal is introduced and the ingredients coalesce into something unique but clearly identifiable as a Chemical Brothers sound. Even after so many repeat listens, I can tell that Fountains will have a place in my playlists for a while.
For That Beautiful Feeling – a confident release
If I wanted to be picky, I don’t think that For That Beautiful Feeling takes many risks or subverts expectations to a great degree, but I feel like with ten studio albums to celebrate, the Chemical Brothers definitely know where they excel, and they know the kind of sounds that their fans are going to appreciate. It’s going to take me a while to think about how this compares to No Geography (and, indeed, where this album sits in my vague mental list of favourite 2023 music releases) – but I think that anyone who already enjoys the recent output from The Chemical Brothers will have already played this album to death and enjoyed it. If you want that Beautiful Feeling as well, it’s only a few clicks away.
For That Beautiful Feeling is available now on all good streaming services, and can be bought on CD, cassette and vinyl at https://store.thechemicalbrothers.com/