We Are the Night (album)
We Are the Night is the sixth studio album by English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers, released on 2 July 2007 by Freestyle Dust, Virgin and Astralwerks.
We Are the Night
The record entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1, becoming the band's fifth consecutive album to top the chart, and debuted at number 65 on the Billboard 200. It was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry.
The album won a Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 50th Grammy Awards.[1]
Background[edit]
In June 2006, it was announced on their official website that the Chemical Brothers were working on material for a new album, then-codenamed "Chemical 6". Ed Simons of the duo was also quoted as saying that they would hope to "put a battle weapon out for the summer",[2] a reference to their Electronic Battle Weapon series on white label.
"Electronic Battle Weapon 8" and "Electronic Battle Weapon 9" debuted on Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 show on 8 December 2006. The two tracks were later released as a double A-sided vinyl record prior to the Chemical Brothers' New Year's Eve appearance at Turnmills in London. A version of "Electronic Battle Weapon 8" is featured on the We Are the Night album under the title "Saturate". At the same Turnmills appearance, the duo debuted a track at midnight to welcome the new year. This track was eventually released as "Burst Generator", found on the album.
The Chemical Brothers officially announced We Are the Night at their MySpace page on 21 March 2007. It suffered a delay in release due to an issue during production of the artwork. An online "old-skool" Chemical Brothers computer game by EMI was subsequently released as an apology.[3]
The album cover art was inspired by "Lonely Metropolitan" by Herbert Bayer. Reissues of the album omit the influenced artwork from the cover.[4]
Structure[edit]
Used throughout the album is the classic technique of sampling the Chemical Brothers used on other albums. For example, the song "We Are the Night" uses a direct sample from "The Sunshine Underground" from Surrender. The album also includes a sample of a reading of Ode to D.A. Levy by Bill Bissett.[5]
Singles[edit]
"Saturate" was released in 2006 as "Electronic Battle Weapon 8" exclusively for DJs to use in clubs. "Do It Again" was released on 18 June 2007.[6] It reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] "The Salmon Dance" was released on 10 September 2007 and reached number 27 in the UK.[7][8] "Battle Scars" was released as a download in remix form in late 2007. Subtitled "Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve Re-Animation". It is also a double A-side with the "Heavily Smoked by the Glimmers" remix of "The Salmon Dance".