THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
Euphoric is just about the perfect way to sum The Chemical Brothers’ visual dance eruption, with classic numbers sending the night soaring and their latest release elevating further.
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
★★★★☆ (4/5)
The Chemical Brothers were at the forefront of the 90s rave explosion. Acid house had torn up the 1980s and paved the way for an electronic pop to shake the country, but, with the enforcement of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act which forbids such gatherings, the scene was backed further into the shadows. However this just forced the fleet of expressive celebrators to up their creativity and, united in their rebellion, ravers kept the party going. With an ongoing, three decade long career, The Chemical Brothers continue to prove that they are the past, present and future of this subculture.
Support for the night was Soulwax, the project of Belgians brothers David Dewaele and Stephen Dewaele. The pair is also known for their work as 2manydjs among other pseudonyms and their spangled remixes have more twists and turns than an advanced salsa class. The brothers, unsurprising, set the perfect atmosphere with their seamlessly mixed goodie bag of colourful beats.
The Dewaele pair impeccably started the night but it was only big beat pioneers Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons that could give the massive crowd what they needed. Early classmates Rowlands and Simons loved the electronic scene at a young age. Both studying in Manchester, by 1993 they had thrown themselves into their work as DJ duo The Dust Brothers. As they began to build influence, their remixes began to draw in prestige. Bands including Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, Primal Scream and The Prodigy received superb reworks by The Dust Brothers who then went on to play line-ups beside Orbital and Underworld in 1995. It was at this point when a trademark objection arose from the original Dust Brothers that forced the pair to rename, but they quickly came back swinging.
Going forward as The Chemical Brothers, they have released nine studio albums and might just have more connections in the industry than legendary DJ Carl Cox. Although their sound has certainly evolved from their early acid house days with a more commercially acceptable pop twinge; The Chemical Brothers most recent albums No Geography (2019) and Born in the Echoes (2015) rejoice in the modern electronica and they sound amazing. It’s no wonder the huge venue The SSE Hydro was sold out for their 2019 performance. In fact, most would only expect to see The Chemical Brothers playing the festival scene and club capitals but to have dance music displayed on such a stage shows how far they’ve come from shutdown gigs at The Archers.
When the lights darkened for the night’s main set, a sea of arms were chucked into the air and many attendees kept their limbs up all evening. It was almost a guarantee that The Chemical Brothers were going to put on the biggest dance party of the year. But quickly it was clear how much of an understatement that that would be. The 2015 single ‘Go’ opened the set, complete with visual of a geometric character exuberantly letting loose and this is format of punchy, song specific visuals matching every beat was upheld until the end. Next, new songs ‘Free Yourself’ and ‘MAH’ surrounded the early track ‘Chemical Beats’ and, despite decades between these releases, they melded effortlessly with each other.
Disconcertingly, it’s clear that the fans in the seated balconies had worked their way into the standing pit which quickly became packed full right back to the entrance doorways which meant fans quite literally were coming together. Another problem with the venue was the decision to close nearly half of the bars mid-set which resulted in 45 minutes long queues and widespread grumbles. But the rewards to resist the urge to quench the thirst included an amazing remix of New Order’s ‘Temptation.’
The crowd was frenzied when favourite ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’ was played after wonderful the wonderful new track ‘Got to Keep On.’ The Chemical Brothers layer dance track over dance track and nothing sounds quite as expected. Their visual display is the key guide for distinguishing when each production has ended and the next has started. The night included crazy, digital dancers, oversized balloons being launched, strobe displays that could be felt in your gut, scene of splattering colour and rapidly changing stain glass windows. This built up to the epic display of two large digital robots. Complete with moving limbs and lazer eyes, the crowd was left questioning whether they were actually there on stage or not.
As the night began to draw to a close, a run of some of their biggest was played including the most amazing version of ‘Wide Open,’ ‘Galvanize,’ and a ‘C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L’ mashup like nothing before it. They returned to the stage for an encore that included new track ‘Catch Me I’m Falling’ arguably the best of the album. Rowlands and Simons had barely been visible for the last two hours but now stood in front of the crowd and received some well-earned appreciation.
The Chemical Brothers may have been in the scene for a while but they are still leaders and they are still creating new waves instead of riding their old glory. To attend their show is more than a gig; it’s a cinematic, transcending experience that every electronic fan should aim to see.
SETLIST: | THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS. - THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 23.11.2019
Free Yourself
Chemical Beats
MAH
EML Ritual
Swoon
Temptation - (New Order cover)
Star Guitar
Got to Keep On
Hey Boy Hey Girl
Eve of Destruction
Saturate
Elektrobank
No Geography
Escape Velocity
Don’t Think
Under the Influrence
Dig Your Own Hole
Wide Open
Galvanize
C-H-E-M-I-C-A-L
Leave Home
Block Rockin’ Beats
Got Glint?
Catch Me I’m Falling
The Private Psychedelic Reel