Single Review: Chemical Brothers

Title: Galvanise

Artist: Chemical Brothers (Single)

Rating: **



by Simon Lock



The New Year sees the return of arguably the most successful producers of British dance music to date. Tom and Ed, aka the Chemical Brothers, join forces with 'A Tribe Called Quest' vocalist Q-Tip on 'Galvanize'; the first single to be taken from the duo's forth-coming studio album, 'Push the Button'.



The single, which is set for release on January 10th, is described on the bands website as 'a full blooded pulsing dance-floor anthem'. Unfortunately, the geeks putting together the Chemical's website have been sadly misinformed as to exactly what a 'pulsing dance-floor anthem' is. The track never really gets going and does nothing to send clubbers jumping for joy and reaching for their piggy banks. 'Galvanize' funky as it is, is nothing more than an average album filler and if this is a sign of things to come from the Chemical's corner then the only buttons the new album will be pushing is eject.



IM FURIOUS!, THIS REALLY UPSETS ME :( :x

Well, Simon Lock doesn't like the tune, OK then fair enough. But it just seems kinda funny, I wonder if Simon's issue is with the song itself, or the writers who coined Galvanize as a "pulsing dance-floor anthem"? Not really clear there, but I sense the latter is the bigger issue, the expectations that were built and all - not the song. I just have to wonder, what was he expecting of Galvanize based on that "pulsing dance-floor anthem" tip.



Bah.



I'd like to read more "professional" reviews that are a bit more positive...

I agree with whirlygirl on this one. I think that the reviewer was more dissapointed with the description of the song and all the fuss around it, rather than the song itself. I also must admit that when i saw the description 'pulsing dancefloor anthem' I expected something totaly different to 'Galvanize'. Not to say the galvanize is a bad song, but it is a far cry from 'dance anthem'.

Does anyone else have doubts about 'Galvanaze' being included in the live show for the upcoming tour?. I don't know, but i cant see it working live.

reading dan 069's view on the term 'a full blooded pulsing dance-floor anthem' i must say i do have to agree, this song is not 'a full blooded pulsing dance-floor anthem' as described, but to say the song is crap is very narrow minded. i wonder have you actually heard galvanize live? probally not. well i can tell you that played live it is a phenomenal song. played recently at turnmills for nye the atmosphere was electric when this song came on with the crowd singing along to the lyrics. was you just posting this topic as a way to look clever because if so it doesn't work. at least have some knowledge of the subject in hand before commenting. another note: a chemical set isn't how you hear it in the studio. i'm sure that the chemical's will play about with the song just like they did with get yourself high, another great live track

its a pity simon lock is a complete cunt and any review by him is like a mouthful of piss

I think you need to relax chemical_si. I don't understand why are you having a go at me (btw, are you having a go at me, dan_069 or the reviewer).

Anyways, firstly I'm not trying to be clever, I'm just saying that I have doubts about this song being performed live. Why? Well all of the Chems live performances have a certain flow to them. From funky beats, hardcore techno and dance, acid tunes, rock basslines to psychedelic, tripped out melodies.

In its current form, 'Galvanize' doesn't fit this flow. It's basicaly a commercialy sounding hip/hop song with the rapping lyrics throughout it. In my view, the only way they could include it live is to 'cut it up', the same way they did with 'Setting Sun' or 'Golden Path', but possibly even more so.

Secondly, none of us have heard 'Galvanize' live yet. Note- playing a record in a club is not 'live' in my opinion. Dj set and a live performance are two totaly different things. Personaly a I look at Chems as musicans, not dj's.

Just to make sure, I dont think galvanize is crap. Actualy its quite a good song, but I'm just not a big fan of hip/hop and even Chems cant change that.

it was directed at simon lock (although rereading what i just put i realise it is heavily directed at dan069-sorry) but good come back anyway. that was my point though when you said you haven't heard the track live. would you have said the same about setting sun or the golden path before it was released as a single, like it has been mentioned about galvanize. on the other point, you're right a live set isn't the same as club set, but my point was even in it's original form it was a big hit.

Alchemist Escribi�:

Does anyone else have doubts about 'Galvanaze' being included in the live show for the upcoming tour?. I don't know, but i cant see it working live.

i reckon the tour will start with galvanize and then into music: response. the to were made to go together, even there bpm are pretty near.

but what about hbhg as the intro. i think they will keep that gyh as the first two then music response then galvanize

na they wont start with hey boy hey girl this tour i reckon. it'll be something of push the button, and the only thing i can think of is galvanize, or maybe come inside

whatever they start with it will be cool. hopefully they include believe in the set with some cut up of the vocals.

to play Galvanize live, probably they will cut the vocals (except the main vocals "dont hold back", "times has come to", "push the button"), like Get Yourself High, and put strongest beats... I can't imagine the original version in a live concert.

i'm still running the vocals of believe in my head, they were so cool. i don't recon they will play tppr this time round but will end with surface to air. i know that tppr is a great finisher and will never be beaten but as it's new material being released (and surface to air might be released as a single come wolve night) i recon that surface to air will be the one. any one else agree with this.

doubt they will not finish with tppr . as for songs not played on this tour i could see the golden path being cut out to make way for new material and maybe under the influence/ it doesn't matter being excluded thought i think they both deadly live but due to time constraints being cut

They've gotta finish with TPPR, it's just the song to close. When it comes on, you know it's the end, the sprint finish, the time to use up the rest of your energy and totally have it!



If played, Galvanise will show up near the start, before the tempo gets hiked up. I hope they open with Come With Us, it's a great build-up song before the massive drums drop in. Classic.

i think, they will always and forever end with the TPPR. that's makes a chemical live set and is the best one to leave the audience speach- and breathless

Urm, but they don't and haven't always ended with TPPR :?

iguanapunk Escribi�:

Urm, but they don't and haven't always ended with TPPR :?

Only at festivals, as far as I know, they don't always finish with TPPR, due to time constraints.

GLAKO-FAHN Escribi�:

iguanapunk Escribi�:

Urm, but they don't and haven't always ended with TPPR :?

Only at festivals, as far as I know, they don't always finish with TPPR, due to time constraints.

of cos not. they started with TPPR in 97, i think (or 96 already? don't know) and usually, on regular tour gigs, it was the ending one. as there are strict time restrictions at festivals it would not make any sense to play a 10-minutes-one if you have just 45 mins of total play time, agree with glako