It is hard to ignore the impact that The Chemical Brothers' first two releases had on the music world. "Exit Planet Dust" was a near-perfect volume of blow-up dance music. The second full-length, "Dig Your Own Hole," defined the duo's -- and the rest of electronica's -- sound, all the while making the Brothers a household name. So, how do you top two incredible, ground-breaking releases? You don't. You "Surrender."
The reserved disc-opener "Music: Response" gives way to a chaotic beat onslaught ("Influenced" ). New Order vocalist Bernard Sumner teams up with Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie on the psychedelic disco romp "Out of Control." (Other guests include Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, Oasis' Noel Gallagher and Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue.) "Hey Boy Hey Girl" (the first single off "Surrender") buzzes around your head like a fly before exploding into funky-house mode. But could've-been-a-B-side "Racing the Tide" never really goes anywhere.
While there aren't any nasty block rockers on the new record, the Brothers' musical mind-trip still manages to entertain -- and feed your Chemical dependency.
