KEY POINTS:
If the banging party crowd of thousands that Australian drum 'n' bass rockers Pendulum got at the Big Day Out last month is anything to go by, then the Qemists have a ready and raging market.
Although on the British act's debut album - sounding something like Rage Against the Machine meets the Prodigy doing drum 'n' bass - they also have a sparkling guest list to help make even more of an impact than the boys from Perth.
Grime star Wiley lends his piercing natter to the posturing Dem Na Like Me and voice-for-hire and former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton turns up on Lost Weekend (although it's hardly one of his more imaginative vocal outings).
As the title of the opening track suggests, Join the Q is a real Stompbox. Its incessant pace, noisy hooks, and climactic trajectory are like a firecracker of energy.
You have to wonder, though, about the shelf life of this rampant and booming break beat-driven stuff. Songs like the drum 'n' bass house of On the Run and the more sinister Drop Audio are perfect for cranking up a riotous gig but there's something almost too contrived about it.
Still, Stock Aitken and Waterman were contrived too and they were well loved. So it's great party music and they do what they do well, but some of it is more than a little throwaway, too.
Scott Kara
