The Chemical Brothers feat Q-Tip - Go

I am extremely excited about the fact Chemical Brothers will release their new album "Born In The Echoes" on 17th July. They are now at that stage in a veteran act's career where a new album often can feel like an advert or an excuse for forthcoming tour or festival dates. And while Chemical Brothers will indeed by appearing at a number of festivals over the summer the 2 songs that have been displayed to the world as tasters for their new album are certainly adding tracks that will be worthy additions to their amazing live back catalogue. "Sometimes I Feel So Deserted" is a certain banging 4x4 thump track. There is a certain relentless to the track provided by the drum beat and the insistent hand claps and propulsing synths that are a wonderful feature of the track. And interestingly a few weeks later we get taste number 2 (also track number 2) which returns to familiar territory by featuring Q-Tip, who was utilised so amazingly on "Galvanise".

This track is certainly no carbon copy though. I love the drumbeat. When you have a house track that goes at 120bpm it often sounds really good I think because you maintain a sense of propulsion by having it at a relatively fast tempo, but by slowing it down from the typical house bpm of 128 you can give tracks an extra sense of funky momentum and that is certainly used here. Then to compliment that the bass line is funky, featuring lots of short little repeated notes in short bursts, followed by a rest. I love the effect it gives, like an exertion followed by a quick rest.

I love the bit where Q-Tip comes in, at first saying "can't think, can't sleep, can't breathe", then breaking into a beautiful flow, which emulates the insistent bassline, with a slight increase in tension as we hit the chorus. In that chorus there are some Euro-sounding synths, that isnt really a common Chemical Brothers thing, but here it gives the track an extra energy, with a subtle nod to some of the tracks we have heard in the intervening 5 years since Chemical Brothers last studio album; fresh, but classic sounding. If I were to take a guess it does feel like "Go" will be the track released as a single, whereas possibly "Sometimes I Feel So Deserted" is a track to start off the new live show. But whatever happens it's a near certainty these 2 tracks will be featured in forthcoming Chemical Brothers live sets and they are worthy and exciting additions.

The video is simple and effective, featuring women in what feels like a machine propelled around a futuristic district for indiscernible reasons. I like it as well.