prochem : why not ? lol... Anyway, you're right, whatever they could do, we'll go buy it.

But "Hey Boy Hey Girl" is probably the Chemical track you have the most chances to hear played by other DJ's, or in clubs, so I think it could be interesting to ask them a question about its succes, but, of course, not "What did it changed in your life ?" but rather a question like "Has "Hey Boy Hey Girl" become a kind of hymn ?"...OK ok, I know, that's not a very useful question... -_- But the fact that they answered that, wherever they play, they feel obliged to play it, means that it really changed something in their DJ career...

I didn't think it was the greatest interview--they were uncomfortable and the language barrier created some awkward hurdles which weren't completely breached. The questions weren't well thought out, either, and I think the language barrier possibly had something to do with it.

It was never meant to be peabody award winning interivew - clocking in at only a few minutes it was little more than a blurb and it wasn't *that* bad. True, the language barrier was a hurdle but I didn't think they looked too uncomfortable. If it's any consolation, they appeared more comfortable in that interview than they did with the one they did shortly after they went to Russia - which was almost painful to watch (where they were asked about girls and Ed kept talking about getting some food cuz he was hungry)!

7 is a lucky number!

sammy the salmon episode part II

Oh yea, and we shouldn't expect any battle weapons. They're all done with. So maybe some kind of new way to introduce some new material? Maybe an earlier than usual single or EP.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

wow, where the fuck have i been? when did they announce that???

I know, finishing the Battle Weapons at number 10 looks nice but I personally think it's, well, hm dunno, weird. What would that mean? Whats the consequence? No releases of test-tracks to DJs anymore? Or will they continuing with those test-track but don't lable them as "Battle Weapons"? Or did they run out of colors for the vinyl cover? Questions over questions... and no answers on the horizon...

To fill those who don't know in, apparently Brotherhood completed the set of EBWs. There supposedly going to be no more cause it was all nicely finished.

We shouldn't doubt that they will find some new way to impress us with their material.

"They're." :-p

"impress us with their material" => are you talking about music or...something else ? :p

why would they stop ebw's? making a compilation does not indicate the end. I think they made that disc as bonus material to get the fans who don't need a best of to go out and get it. Plus the 10 fit nicely on to a cd.

The problem is that Brotherhood will become totally useless...All the tracks, except "Keep My Composure", were prevouisly released on the different albums, or on singles. And personnaly, I prefer the "Single 93-03" compilation, because it contains better tracks. So if the Bonus disc, which wontains EBW's doesn't contains all...Brotherhood will become totally useless.

Nevertheless, I hope for new Electronic Battle Weapons because it became a kind of chemical trademark...

How the Chems 'Electronic Battle Weapons' keep a multi million-selling chart act connected to the dancefloor

Ed Chemical:

"The first one was 1997, 'It Doesn't Matter' and 'Don't Stop The Rock'. We'd done the first album and 'Setting Sun' through Virgin, a major, but we found that as DJs we were less inclined to listen to records sent to us by a major because we knew everyone else was getting them. So we wrapped these new tunes in an enigmatic cover without our name on and pressed them really loudly. We wanted to bypass making a big deal about putting our records out, to just get vinyl straight to DJs and remain part of the culture of record shops like Eastern Bloc. I remember Carl Craig became a big fan of'It Doesn't Matter'. Because we'd already had a No.1 record we felt maybe that record might otherwise have passed him by. These things like that don't matter so much anymore but at the time they did. The name comes from the hip hop battle weapons we used to play which are 30 tracks a side of breaks and mad vocal samples. Q-Bert, the West Coast hip hop DJ, did a series of battle weapons loaded up with 'rock the house' vocals and that kind of thing. Our first two appeared pretty much as they were on 'Dig Your Own Hole' but of the next two 'Freak Of The Week' only ever appeared as an Electronic Battle Weapon while 'Under The Influence' became part of'Surrender' in a different mix. Five and six were 'It Began In Africa' and a track called 'Hoops' but different versions from the ones on 'Come With Us'. Some tracks became battle weapons, others now gather dust. With our latest, number 10,'Midnight Madness' there wasn't so much point in pressing vinyl but we did anyway as we still use it. The issues battle weapons were initially addressing have now faded. For underground DJs that snobbery is a thing of the past, they're just happy to get a well-produced exciting piece of dance music. I'm not sure about an Electronic Battle Weapons 11 and 12, the set feels quite complete, but who knows what will happen in a couple of years time when we want to give our momentum a boost..."

Nice read! Thanks for that, Sneaks.

It's way too much of a tradition though. I never heard that interview (otherwise I wouldn't of been so wtf). I think/hope they'll keep releasing them because they make excellent promotional tools for their works and are able to get a unique feedback from a variety of djs though it. But, they're definitely serving a different purpose than they initially did..

That interview was from Mixmag a few months ago, IIRC correctly. I hope Tom & Ed don't stop making EBWs but I also hope that the tunes continue to receive B-side releases on the singles as well.

I look forward to Chemical 7 whenever it comes out. I've long since stopped having expectations or hopes for what the lads put out (WATN being a perfect example of why you shouldn't lay money down on what to expect) but just hope they continue to feel as inspired and innovative as they ever have.

At the beginning, EBW's were made for Underground DJ's who are, nowadays, getting rare. So, the EBW's became jowels for fans...and they still have fans as long as I know ! :p

Anyway, the best thing to do is wait & see...

That October issue is totally collectors item!

Good article on the peeps that know the bros and some good tidbits of info.

More B-sides will do fine though!

Yea, the Electronic Battle releases became so popular that their initial purpose was no longer applicable. Most normal fans (not djs) would try to get a hold of it right away. It pretty much just became like a single release.

I can see where they are coming from with this ideology.