The Beauty And The Chaos is the second album of EMF's current re-flowering following on from Go Go Sapiens, as James Atkin's once again leads the Ecstasy Mother Fuckers in the rave rock dancefloor battles, joined as ever by Ian Dench, Derry Brownson, Aid Todd with newish boy Stevey Marsh anchoring everything down on Bass. They have been re-united with Ralph Jezzard in the producer's chair, as he was on the bands classic Schubert Dip and Stigma albums, as well as the return of Stephen Fry as super special guest star on the video for Hello People and on the bonus white label 7" single Facts V Fear remix included with my copy of the album.
The A-side of the canary yellow vinyl album opens with Hello People the albums main single, that asks a good few questions about how we stop all the hate in the world, over a deep dance catchy indie rave song that should have you all shouting Hello People along with them, as they implore that we all learn to like each other, that is currently a crucial message to spread.
Reach For The Lasers as your ready to hit that dancefloor once more, letting loose and getting down once more, over a pumping beat to celebrate all the great rave Dj's, movers and shakers, as James gives shout out's to his dancefloor heroes in particular the late lamented Andrew Wetherall.
21st Century opens asking what's the time Mr fox, as they re-work several nursery rhymes into a rave rock anthem harking back to the golden days, hoping they might return, as they wonder if the modern age really is better than the 20th century.
Read the Room is telling you to take the hint, your ex will never want you back, so give it up and move on, as they make crystal clear everyone knows you have a particularly nasty personality. As the song builds Ian Dench lets rip on guitar set against the Northern Soul handclaps and the ever-pulsing beat.
I've Been Down takes a familiar club beat, building the rest of the song around it as they let us know they are back and headed for the top once more. Any depression will be banished as Derry adds all sorts of weird synth lines.
The B-side opens on a rave dancefloor as we all go wild to The Day The Music Died as they make clear they are here to breath life into a moribund scene, with this clubby dancefloor banger, complete with an appearance by the Haggis Horns for added dancefloor action.
Stardust has a mix of deadly club beats, with a slow build that explodes into total madness, unlike the song you might have expected this to be, they are not Stardust, Stardust is their currency.
Lookout Mountain is more reflective, hoping for a new age where the world changes for the better for once, as they look out from that mountain top eyrie as Awsa Bergstroms backing vocals come magnificently to the fore.
Red Flags are all around surrounding us in these fearful times, as they warn of some of the dangers of modern life, as you go on one more thrill ride with the Ecstasy Mother Fuckers, just be careful not to overdo it.
The album closes with Do It Again full of memories of being at a huge rave that goes a bit pear shaped, as you crave more drugs, search them out, even though you still haven't come up on the last lot of drugs you took, as the rave takes over, things get increasingly messy.
The Bonus white label 7" singles first side that I played, was the bands cover of the Neil Diamond classic I'm a Believer, a song made famous by The Monkees, this version goes rave with loping beats and a lazy hazy feel, that really kicks off for the chorus becoming a gloriously messy cover, with lots of unexpected elements as they make the song there own.
The other side of the bonus 7" single is the Facts V Fear remix of Hello People featuring Stephen Fry as this version sounds more indie than dancefloor, as they make clear we all need to get along with each other, stopping all the pointless hatred, yes they really do like us all, watch the video and really get the message properly.
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