Low expectations can sometimes be a good thing, as is the
case with The Prodigy’s new album “The Day Is My Enemy”. Following on from my preview review; The Essex firestarter’s sixth studio album is
better than expected, but that isn’t necessarily saying a lot.
Equipped with their usual battery of brutal breakbeats,
soaring synths and rock-laced riffs, the title track “The Day Is My Enemy” provides
a definite high point in the album. Opening with full ferocity a military-esque
breakbeat that sounds like rapid machine gun fire kicks in, interspersed with
guest Martina Topley Bird’s restrained vocals, borrowed from Cole Porter’s “All
Through The Night” and offset against angry cries of “Get down, get down!”.
“Ibiza” is probably the best song on the album, which
features Sleaford Mods cawing out the hook “Eye-beef-uh! Eye-beef-uh!” The
Prodigy are not renowned for songs steeped in lyrical significance – refer to
“Smack My Bitch Up” – but “Ibiza” offers a little more depth than usual, acting
as an ‘anti DJ anthem’ for The Prodigy, who are making a stand
against DJs who pre-mix sets - Even if
the message is “What’s he fucking doing?!” angrily repeated.
Other tracks worth mentioning include; “Beyond The
Deathray” for its ambient curveball and “Medicine” for the Middle Eastern
inspired synths running throughout.
Unfortunately, the rest of the songs on the 14 track album sound like
tired comparisons to predecessors that once basked in the neon glow of the 90’s
rave scene.
Liam Howlett’s buzzwords in recent interviews have
suggested that the new album will be rammed with “aggression” and “violence”,
but unless he meant the album would be based around Keith Flint repetitively roaring
song titles on a loop; his statement is sadly inaccurate and
unsubstantiated.
