It seems rather odd for a "dance" band to have something as boringly conventional as a "greatest hits" album, but when the dance band in question is The Chemical Brothers, there's an embarrassment of riches to choose from. As the title suggests, this album traces a chronological line from their arrival on the scene in 1993 with the still-stunning "Song To The Siren", through the commercial zenith of the "Dig Your Own Hole" and "Surrender" albums with the slightly formulaic rock/dance splicing of "Setting Sun" (arguably the best thing Noel Gallagher's ever done, including his work with Oasis) and the heavenly end-of-the-century track "The Private Psychedelic Reel" and the punkish Donna Summer tribute "Hey Boy Hey Girl".
It draws to a conclusion with only a dissappointing two tracks from last year's "Come With Us" (Star Guitar and The Test), arguably their most cohesive work since "Exit Planet Dust" and finishes off with two new tracks, the joyous religion-inspired Flaming Lips collaboration Golden Path and the rather less exciting Get Yourself High neither of which, while quality recordings in their own ways, add much to the Chemical sound which we haven't heard already.
All in all, this is a good story-so-far album, which may also serve as a fine introduction to the band for casual buyers.
