Rock and Pop: Review of Chemical Brothers, live at the Roundhouse
Published: 27 May 2010
by ALLAN LEDWARD
THIS wasn’t the chemical reaction the returning Brothers were hoping for.
The Roundhouse’s neighbours would have been expecting a few disturbances on Friday night, but in the end what they heard were rumbles of discontent.
The 90s dance darlings followed a proven formula of slow-burning stadium techno winding up to an explosion of sonic euphoria. It was all set against a backdrop of sub-aquatic psychedelia and a laser spectacular.
Eschewing their hits, the pair set their sci-fi stage stall out with stellar tunes from new album Further, delighting the 30-something ravers intent on reprising their well-spent youth.
Having proved their old-school mixing credentials all over again, Ed and Tom took a brief mid-set break before returning with a beefed-up version of the anthemic Hey Boy, Hey Girl.
But the superstar DJs exited leaving their bouncing audience wanting more. And it didn’t come. After 15 minutes of waiting the reluctant Chemicals devotees shuffled into the Chalk Farm night like big beat orphans.