The Chemical Brothers – Surrender

Much like "Paul's Boutique" is the favourite album of many crate diggers, "Surrender" is in the top five list for so many of the synthesiser fanatics and studio producers that came up with and followed the 'Brothers work.

Throw in a mix of clever samples, classic analogue synths (including an unruly Synthi) and add the mixdown magic of Steve Dub, and this is a a timeless example of an era where albums were a daring move out of pure club scene 12" releases (or major label Big Beat banality).

For those really digging into the era, this album is a waypoint of an evolving club scene but also a good mix of London and Manchester music history. The Hacienda, New Order, Madchester, etc all underpins the psychedelic aspects that makes this a timeless album, versus a throwaway collection of dance floor bangers (e.g. as great as the Electronic Battle Weapon cuts are, they wouldn't be half as accessible). A timeless album, with Kate Gibb's stunning artwork adding the extra flair on top.

The album that brought The Chemical Brothers at the peak of their career.

After both sonic missiles "Exit Planet Dust" and "Dig Your Own Hole", "Surrender" offers a lighter and more accessible atmosphere while trying to maintain their creativity trademark, allowing one to imagine a music studio where you'd do laboratory manipulations. That's the "chemical" idea right here.
This accessible, more "pop-oriented" ambiance is concretized with loads of guest stars including Bobby Gillepsie of Primal Scream, Bernard Sumner of New Order and Joy Division, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star and Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev. All musical genres represented here allowed Tom & Ed to create a pay-tribute LP retracing an important part of British music history.

So, Surrender starts with “Music: Response” and its minimalist, yet funky techno-pop vibe of the 70s. One of the few true big beat songs of this CD. I especially like the last minute where one and its dark experimental vibe that is sort of a continuity of "Dig Your Own Hole".
- "Under The Influence" then follows to confirm if the bass setup of your speakers is OK.
- “Out of Control” recalls the glory hours of the new wave with Bernard Sumner on guitar and vocals.
- "Orange Wedge" has a less pumping rhythm than the 3 previous tunes, however the keyboard loops are quite contrasting with the chill-out instrumental. Such loops make me think of those heard in "The Boxer" that will come out 6 years later. Anyway, still a very good song as well as one half of the chemical citrus combo with "Morning Lemon".
- “Let Forever Be” might have been a Beatles title if the quartet from Liverpool had access to electronic music tools. I really like Noel's vocals here, more than "Setting Sun" and many Oasis songs.
- Coming after this is the heart of this CD, the almost 9-minute long “The Sunshine Underground”. People who know Death In Vegas will appreciate it very, very much. Its hallucinating and psychedelic rise is an irresistible hymn to dance. With its slow gradual climb lasting for almost 4 minutes before reaching its cruising techno pace and becoming really nasty from 5:15 onwards. Also, the background bleeps from 1:55 to 2:15 will be heard again as the intro of "We Are The Night" in 2007.
- After all this mess, "Asleep From Day" slows down the pace drastically... but not very fantastically. If this song is undoubtedly beautiful with the heavnely vocals of Hope Sandoval, I've always found this song too contrasting with the rest of "Surrender". Even "Dream On" sounds more dynamic.
- Now, here comes my favorite "Got Glint". The hand-clapping beats, the funky bassline, the Minimoog sounds, the irrestistible trumpets sampled from "Earth Message" by Bernard Fevre and especially the part at 3:40.
- "Hey Boy Hey Girl" is the absolute party banger. No wonder it's one of the Chems's most well-known tunes worldwide. The minimalist house rhythm and the famous "Superstar DJ's, here we go" has made the ground shaking on every continent for more than 20 years.
- The follow-up "Surrender" brings some oriental vibes and is the definition of electronic psychedelia. A magnificent journey without shrooms needed.
- At last, "Dream On" begins smoothly but doesn't hold back the beats from 1:25 to around 4:40. Both guitars and beat pattern make me think of a Blur song for some reason, mostly during from minute 3 to 4. It's a cool preview of the following "Come With Us" in my opinion.

In brief, "Surrender" symbolizes the always increasing quality of productionand creativity. Nonetheless, it marks a transition from a race for the phattest beats or the noisiest synths to a more conventional but accessible era.
As being showed in the video clip of "Let Forever Be", this album is a kaleidoscopic soundscape of upbeat and dance-inducing tempos that pulls you out of your seat and shakes away the pains and aches of modern day monotony, erasing the bad thoughts from your memory through the various colors and shapes scrolling in front of your eyes as you're enjoying this LP.

Interesting how little either Tom or Ed had with writting any of these tunes, especially Hey Boy, Hey Girl..

Interesting that there's music recorded on last lead-out groove on vinyl version. Like it was with the Beatles Sergeant Pepper record. Wicked!

Average! apart from the Hanna soundtrack this is their best album imho. 5 stars easily.

average album. the first 3 tracks (music response, under the influence, and out of control) are excellent but then it all goes downhill from there. I dont think it's a coincidence the brothers put the top 3 tracks as the first 3 tracks on the album. the next good track was hey boy hey girl and that's pretty much it. those boring ambient tracks alseep from day and dream coincidentally put me to sleep.

arguably the Brothers' best work - or at least tied with Dig Your Own Hole. every song is really well done and each carries it's own unique sound; from the heavy-bassed-rave-sound of Under the Influence, to the mainstream rave anthem, Hey Boy Hey Girl, to the pop-charts topper, Let Forever Be. the entire album is put together perfectly in a continuous mix, and makes this release important to the electronic scene.