*EXCLUSIVE* #Review: Chicane – The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget ðŸ’­

Matt Wright - Muzik Speaks

   

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Chicane (aka Nick Bracegirdle) is a British musician, composer, songwriter and producer who has had a string of hits that have been massive on the Ibiza club scene, including ‘Saltwater’ (featuring vocals by Máire Brennan from Clannad), ‘Offshore’, ‘Don’t Give Up’ (featuring Bryan Adams) and ‘Stoned In Love’ (with vocals by the legendary Tom Jones). Now, 2018 sees the release of his seventh album, The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget (released through Modena Records and Armada Music); here’s what we think about it…

Chicane - The Place You Can't Remember, The Place You Can't Forget.jpg

I would go so far as to say that this might be one of Chicane‘s best albums to date; it’s diverse, eclectic and contemporary whilst not compromising on his instantly recognisable sound and style.

The album opens with the stunningly atmospheric ‘Running To The Sea’ which reverberates right through the chest, due to low rumbles and bass notes but meanwhile uses harmonic guitars, making it sound equally euphoric; it’s like the dawn of a beautiful day, but in this instance, the day is the album!

From there, 2017 single, ‘Gorecki’ (featuring vocals by Hannah Robinson), makes an album appearance; very much a classic Chicane track – mesmerising, hypnotic synth plucks, dream-like pads, echoing vocals and deeply rooted in the house genre.

Also, Tracey Ackerman makes a much anticipated return collaboration on single, ‘Serendipity’; a calm and ambient track.

Some of the other, most notable tracks, include: the instant, turn-it-up anthem, ‘A Love That’s Hard To Find’; definitely a song that provides room to breathe throughout but also includes some Daft Punk-esque vocals (from Paul Aiden) on top of a summery, deep house beat; ‘Rainbow’ keeps you in suspense all the way through with its calming vocals (provided by Tyler Lyle) and synths that teeter around the edge of something big, probably making it one of the most ambient songs on the album and two Rosalee O’Connell-sung tracks; ‘Nirvana’ – an EDM meets house affair that has some wonderful, broken falsetto vocals, with a touch of something old-school (like ATB‘s ‘9 PM (Till I Come)’ or York‘s ‘On The Beach’) and ‘I Came Here For You’ which serves up an exotic combination of cascading synths, heavy drums, rhythmic bass and dreamy vocals that sit in the centre of the mix, almost surrounded by the instrumentation.

Somehow this feels very different to some of his previous releases; it is uplifting, fresh, reinvigorating and really pushes the boundaries of what he can produce.

To be perfectly honest though, it’s incredibly hard to find something not to love about every track on the album; ‘Chord – Less Yacht’ slowly builds from a muffled, static-like intro to an angelic-sounding, deep house anthem with shimmering synths and thumping beats, ‘Judder’ sounds like the theme to an 80s fighting game (think Street Fighter) but with dramatic changes in tempo and barely audible vocal notes coursing through it, ‘Ten Deep’ sounds like the film score to a modern sci-fi movie, due to its soaring synths and bold brass sounds and ‘Fear I Must First Let You Go’ (featuring vocals by Chris James) is a positive take on looking to the future – a therapeutic song that has an almost sermon-like quality to it.

Without a doubt, The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget is still an ambient, atmospheric and deep house-filled album that is instantly recognisable as Chicane, but somehow it feels very different to some of his previous releases; it is uplifting, fresh, reinvigorating and really pushes the boundaries of what he can produce.

Lastly, I would like to make a special thanks to Nick and his manager Louis, for allowing us to be the first and only people to have had access to the full album prior to its release. It truly has been a privilege.

Rating

‘The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-place-you-cant-remember-the-place-you-cant-forget/1377444000

‘The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget’ on Spotify

Serendipity (Official Video)

A Love That’s Hard To Find (Official Audio)

We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of this incredible musician and producer’s latest album? Do you love it as much as us? What would you rate it? Please leave your thoughts in a comment below or share your views about it via our social media.

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16 thoughts on “*EXCLUSIVE* #Review: Chicane – The Place You Can’t Remember, The Place You Can’t Forget ðŸ’­”

  1. Thank you for including the names of the vocalists for each track. It should be mandatory for artists to credit all contributors. This album is incredible in every way.

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  2. Love Chicane. To me this is patchy…but with more upsides than down. Agree with most on Judder….its jarring (maybe that was the point?). Love chord-less yacht of the non-pre released ‘singles’ (which are all fantastic). Really warming to “i must first let you go” now. I think it IS definitely Chicane, but with an added maturity, complexity and melancholy appropriate to Nick’s (and my) age. Re: previous albums…something to love on all of them, but I have to say that (after Sun) I do love Giants. And ‘Far Away From You’ from Somersault is one I keep coming back to. It’s still a 7.

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      1. Perhaps im being too picky, some tracks are too short and i think Judder ruins the flow and some tracks feel like rehashes such as 10 deep ( going deep without the chords). Im between 6/7, very indecisive i know, but the more i listen the more im at a 7/7.5.

        I do think its the best sounding album since behind the sun. Chicane when he gets the song based stuff right is great. I came here for you is a grower, i like that. The vocalist selection is fantastic on all tracks.

        I think Nick should bring in some of those sound he used in easy to assemble in future, would go down well now, it was a bit ahead of its time.

        If you do read this Nick, great effort. Ever though of using the artist Szjerdine in future? Such an under rated talent. Was on the lapalux album.

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      2. Loving the blade runner /ariana grande ( love me harder) type of pads used in the opening track, should be used along with the signature chicane pad

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    2. Dropped tp a 6/7 as some tracks are just rehashes from old albums, when they could have been improved and added on here such as chord-less and 10 deep.

      Easy to assemble should be brought up to date with eh korg khaos effect being used in future tracks, again ahead of its time and would freshen up the current dance sound

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  5. tbh nice album 6710, not his best in my opinion but better then the last 4

    All nice tracks apart from Judder and noting to electro which is nice…. its a bit warmer if that makes sense

    Could do with some extended mixes of Nivana etc of which the latter is a great track.

    ten is a rip off of walking with elephants

    chord less yacht is tanks from ‘three’ thosand mile state, nice track though, minus the housey synth… that could have made the track better

    Judder, the most annoying track on the album skip this

    Could have done with the good old chicane pad but times change i guess

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    2. 7/10 from me just could have been a bit longer on some of the tracks. Its a better sound from the last 4 and has a bit more of an album feel where each track isnt folloing the trend for the sake of it

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    4. I appreciate what you’re saying and can understand why it might not be to everyone’s taste but I like that it’s something different. I’m a huge Chicane fan anyway but I think diversity to style gives an artist longevity and this is a superb record, in my opinion. I like your comments though. What’s your favourite album of his?

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      1. Would have to be Behind the sun of course. But then i’ve over played that now, Far from the maddening crowd then this album. Somersault was the only album i bought and then sold at a profit as it just wasnt very good…but good on him for trying something different.

        Easy to assemble was great, again using that influence with the khaos korg sound to make the wacky effects would sound bang up to date now

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