Album: Dig Your Own Hole
Both singles had pretty ridiculous videos, but it was the music that was important, and not even the Happy Mondays achieved such a perfect fusion of acid house and psychedelic rock. Setting Sun's rave sirens also give it a modern feel, and the LP's generally hedonistic feel was the perfect soundtrack to my early university days in 1997-98. Dance music was still a vital force in the late 90s and this record traces some of the emerging genres, such as the electronica of Elektrobank and the acid house / techno fusion of The Private Psychedelic Reel, which is undoubtedly one of Dig Your Own Hole's defining moments. There's a rollercoaster feel to the album generally, with the intense and loud opening tracks giving way to the dreamy, ambient quality of Lost In The K Hole and the chilled out feel of Where Do I Begin, which features a brilliant vocal performance from Beth Orton. Groups like Orbital, Underworld and The Chemical Brothers were not only able to command huge audiences as dance acts in the 90s, but they also reinvigorated the album as a musical art form during the decade. Dig Your Own Hole remains one of my favourite electronic records.
Artist: The Chemical Brothers
Born: Herne Hill / Kingston, London
Released: April 1997
Genre: Big Beat
-Dig-Your-Own-Hole.jpg)
Influenced by Madchester and hip hop, The Chemical Brothers' big beat sound was one the most exciting developments in electronic music in the 90s. Building on the success of Leftfield and The Prodigy, they helped complete the process of making dance music popular with a wider audience, with Dig Your Own Hole becoming a No.1 UK album just after its release in 1997. At the legendary Turnmills nightclub in London, The Chemical Brothers would often top the bill along side other superstar DJs like Andrew Weatherall, and this was the fertile ground where tracks like Block Rockin' Beats were first played. Big beat is a mix of high-tempo breakbeats, acid house synths and classic rock guitar loops; I've always found it easiest to think of The Chemical Brothers' signature sound as Revolver with a dance beat, especially on songs like Setting Sun (1996) and Let Forever Be (1999). Both singles involve distorted vocals from Noel Gallagher and are among his best work following the release of Oasis' Definitely Maybe. Setting Sun, with its heavy nod to the Beatles, was one of two No.1 singles from Dig Your Own Hole, the other being Block Rockin' Beats, which with its incendiary beats and Schooly D samples, was one of 1997's most memorable musical moments.
Influenced by Madchester and hip hop, The Chemical Brothers' big beat sound was one the most exciting developments in electronic music in the 90s. Building on the success of Leftfield and The Prodigy, they helped complete the process of making dance music popular with a wider audience, with Dig Your Own Hole becoming a No.1 UK album just after its release in 1997. At the legendary Turnmills nightclub in London, The Chemical Brothers would often top the bill along side other superstar DJs like Andrew Weatherall, and this was the fertile ground where tracks like Block Rockin' Beats were first played. Big beat is a mix of high-tempo breakbeats, acid house synths and classic rock guitar loops; I've always found it easiest to think of The Chemical Brothers' signature sound as Revolver with a dance beat, especially on songs like Setting Sun (1996) and Let Forever Be (1999). Both singles involve distorted vocals from Noel Gallagher and are among his best work following the release of Oasis' Definitely Maybe. Setting Sun, with its heavy nod to the Beatles, was one of two No.1 singles from Dig Your Own Hole, the other being Block Rockin' Beats, which with its incendiary beats and Schooly D samples, was one of 1997's most memorable musical moments.
Both singles had pretty ridiculous videos, but it was the music that was important, and not even the Happy Mondays achieved such a perfect fusion of acid house and psychedelic rock. Setting Sun's rave sirens also give it a modern feel, and the LP's generally hedonistic feel was the perfect soundtrack to my early university days in 1997-98. Dance music was still a vital force in the late 90s and this record traces some of the emerging genres, such as the electronica of Elektrobank and the acid house / techno fusion of The Private Psychedelic Reel, which is undoubtedly one of Dig Your Own Hole's defining moments. There's a rollercoaster feel to the album generally, with the intense and loud opening tracks giving way to the dreamy, ambient quality of Lost In The K Hole and the chilled out feel of Where Do I Begin, which features a brilliant vocal performance from Beth Orton. Groups like Orbital, Underworld and The Chemical Brothers were not only able to command huge audiences as dance acts in the 90s, but they also reinvigorated the album as a musical art form during the decade. Dig Your Own Hole remains one of my favourite electronic records.
Comments