The Chemical Brothers pick up where 2019’s No Geography left off, with a nonsense-free reaffirmation of the dance duo’s greatest strength – making largely instrumental psychedelic house and techno somehow sound like pop music. For That Beautiful Feeling doesn’t deliver hits such as Go and Galvanize, but like each of the pair’s previous nine albums it contains moments that will claw into your lizard brain and refuse to leave, whether you last went clubbing yesterday or three decades ago, when their debut single, Song to the Siren, dropped.
If you like drums indistinguishable from hubcaps falling down flights of concrete stairs, head to Feels Like I Am Dreaming. Fans of vertigo-inducing drops and synths buzzing like bees trapped in a jar should tuck into No Reason or Goodbye, both of which have the ludic restlessness of the Chemicals’ best efforts. Nostalgists for their less oontz oontz 1990s era will adore The Weight’s deranged funkiness, and the cheery metallic bop of Fountains is gloriously sui generis. Beck and Halo Maud are the two credited vocal guests, but as ever, the brightest stars are behind the desk not in the booth. That beautiful feeling must be pure pleasure.
