Instrumental techno may not have the zeitgeist by the throat as it did when Dig Your Own Hole was released in 1997. But on their sixth album, the Brothers are still some way from the run-out groove. Thunderous “big beat” has given way to a more mainstream motorik pulse, but the sample library still gets a proper airing, and the faders are back on full when necessary. Nobody does frenetic climaxes better than the Chems, and Burst Generator feels like 7 minutes of nonstop climax. A strong cast of guest vocalists, from Pharcyde’s Fatlip to Midlake, lends more character and colour. The Chemical Brothers may not be breaking new ground here, but they certainly aren’t repeating themselves.

Virgin XDUSTCD8

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