Nekosite had the chance to watch a preview today – so here the details….
The film is advertised as capturing the band’s biggest show ever, in Milton Keynes last summer; however it does actually start with footage from their shows in Brazil in late 2009, starting with the band discussing their experiences when touring – using live footage and sound from Spitfire as backdrop, very similar in style to the clips we have seen on the band’s web site. There are scenes from their surroundings, Rio and Sao Paolo, intense scenes from the live show, clips of their crew setting up the stage, the band talking about touring – all on big screen in the cinema! My first thought was this is a must for each Prodigy fan, it’s so different to see this in this environment! Brazil continues with Mescaline. Yes, the b-side track that is a live favorite of many fans. But cut back to the band and Keith is showing us their no expenses spared tour bus, which is definitely the funniest part of the whole film. It’s an old van and they call it ‘Bluey’. Memories of Electronic Punks…?

Soon we realize Brazil was an opener and the main part, the Milton Keynes show is due to start. It begins with the trailer we have seen online before the actual show last year, with the woman from the Milton Keynes tourist office discussing ‘the arts’ in MK and the huge contrast to the band’s live show.
The live show starts with Breathe. We get full live sound, multiple camera angles in quick succession, views of the huge audience in the bowl as well as the band. Omen, then Colours, Thunder follow and the sound is good, makes me notice elements of tracks I can’t always hear in a live environment. It’s all edited, but not too over-edited; each effect has a point and supports the live show rather than trying to change it.
The film continues through the live show and unlike in Electronic Punks and on the previous clips on the band’s site there are no further interruptions, no more shenanigans, its all about the band’s live show now from start to end.
Warriors Dance next; it’s great, but it’s weird, sitting in our seats in the cinema, drink in hand, sitting quietly watching this intense live show. I keep catching myself wanting to tap my feet and after each track I instinctively want to clap my hands and jump up; but then notice in the last minute I’m actually in a cinema in Portobello Road.
Firestarter is followed by Run with the Wolves – a live favourite of mine and the recording doesn’t disappoint. Just like when I was at the actual live show in Milton Keynes, Weather Experience is fantastic. I remember this being the first time it was played in a long time and it felt special – and still does in the recording.
Voodoo People is followed by Omen Reprise and Invaders, the latter another live favourite that works well on the screen too. Throughout the film we see shots of the audience from different angles, both close up and capturing the entire bowl and if the objective of the video is to make you feel like you missed a good party if you weren’t there it definitely achieves this. SMBU is another fantastic live track, but in this show Take me to the Hospital works especially well, one of the highlights for me. The show closes with Everybody is in the Place (yay!), Their Law and Out Of Space.
The show is finished; Milton Keynes Bowl experienced The Prodigy. The closing credits come on screen and are followed by one last clip; one we have seen online before of Keith running through Brixton Academy to SMBU being followed by his security guards, bringing the film to an end with a glimpse into the band’s excellent shows in Brixton Academy.

Overall seeing the film makes me want more. It is fantastic and good enough to make me remember what a great live band they are, but at the same time doesn’t quite satisfy in the same way as attending an actual show – nothing ever will – it makes me want to go see the band live now.
Those who expected more of the offstage scenes with the band, these are limited to the first part of the film in Brazil – after that the focus is on what the band is really all about; their music, their live show and the immense energy they create when playing live.

The Shows I went to

I have to say that, after I had been to 7 of the club shows in Europe earlier this year I was a bit sceptical of these huge arena shows! After the intimate venues of approximately 1k people in the audience, how would it work with 10k? But, as always, I was looking forward to it massively.

Manchester was my first one, but actually already 5 gigs into the tour for the band. And, like always when I haven’t seen them for a while (well, two weeks since Miami in this case), once more it all just blew me away. Even after having seen The Prodigy something like 150+ times live, it is still a huge event for me every time.
More about the set list later, but Manchester was unfortunately also the first night they replaced Thunder. Since they placed Thunder for the first time in New York (like Liam had promised in the interview) I managed to go to every show they did not play it. But instead we got Wind It Up! I went out with friends until something stupid like 5am in the morning afterwards so next day in Nottingham still had a huge hangover by the evening. I am so used to loud music but when you have a headache they are just so loud. Still, loved every minute of it too. And they played Jericho!

So Out of Space, Death of the Prodigy dancer, Wind it Up and Jericho makes four tracks of Experience on this tour. This makes me think back at the interview I did with Liam in 2004 where we first breached the subject of whether he would potentially ever play anything from Experience, months before they then started adding Out of Space to their set list! This is quite amusing to read now:

http://www.nekozine.co.uk/2004/10/14/liam-howlett-talks-to-nekosite/

Next for me was Brighton, headed down in the late afternoon with two friends and were hanging around seaside pubs until making our way to the venue around the time of Dizzee Rascal’s last song. The venue was Brighton Centre and a bit smaller than the others on this tour, but so so hot! I was still hoping at that point Prodigy would play Thunder again but again that didnt happen. Jericho again though made more than up for it.

Next was one day off and then two shows in Wembley followed by Brixton Academy. Prodigy playing Wembley initially just sounded so wrong to me! Wasn’t their spiritual ‘home’ in Brixton? (although I usually find North London much more pleasant than south of the river, but that’s a different story…) So I somehow had some doubts as it just wasn’t the same as Brixton. But then they played and it was huge. I don’t know what it was with the band, but there was certain energy that just gave them that extra bit that made both those Wembley shows just even better than the previous shows on the tour. They just seemed in top form.

The last gig on the tour then was a late show in Brixton. Oh my god. I don’t know, but truly think this was the best gig I have ever been to. By that point I was exhausted an tired from going out late after both of the Wembley shows, but the Brixton gig brought me back to life. On top of it being the greatest gig ever, they also added another track after Jericho: Rhythm of Life! I couldn’t believe it when i heard it but it was just so right and made this a very special show!

The Set List – Track by Track

The set list stayed pretty stable throughout the tour with a variation of tracks played right after Voodoo People. So here my thoughts about it, track by track!

The one most frequent criticism by Prodigy fans i hear about their live shows is always something about that their sets are too short. Well, look at this set list, how immense!! Also, there’s an argument that if you really really are into it and dance along, you will only last a certain amount of time! And for those who are still counting the minutes, it’s actually usually a good 90 minutes….

Each of the shows started with a brief intro that led directly into WORLDS ON FIRE. It’s a great track which I like as a live track too, but i find it somehow still a bit difficult as an opener. It takes me just that bit longer to get into the gig, unlike for example with when they had Wake the Fuck Up to open. So, while I like Worlds on Fire, it is in my view probably the least strong live track out of the new album.

Next on is THEIR LAW. I’ve always said this is my favorite track ever and it still is. It has always also been my favorite live track but I have to say that now, with all the new material I am actually not so sure anymore! The jury is still out, but some of these new tracks are definitely in the running for my own personal best of list of live tracks. Their Law is what wakes me up though and really gets me into things and I dont think this tune should ever get dropped from the Prodigy’s set list. It is still played in it’s same form as ever, which is just the right thing to do.

BREATHE is then next. I’m no longer hugely into Firestarter as a live track and Breathe was in danger of following the same path in my view, but the track has been saved by the addition of the BREATHE DUB STEP version. Downtempo and somewhat mellow this dub step remix just adds a fresh take on to Breathe, which I think it needed.

The first highlight of the set though for me had to be OMEN, the first single of the most recent album Invaders Must Die. At each gig this was the point where i got really really into it and started dancing along with no chance of ever stopping before the end of this gig. Already back on the European tour, and now here it’s been amazing watching the audience reaction to this fairly “new” tune and how each and every person in the room not only recognised the track but knew each and every word to it.

Those of you who follow the online world, would know that Prodigy had a vote for fans to vote for a track to be played on this tour (out of a selection). NO GOOD was the most voted track. I loved hearing No Good again in the set but, personally, i think some of the other tracks on the list would have worked better. It worked well in the arenas though where there are often more ‘casual’ fans as well who would all recognise a track like No Good (but potentially wouldn’t have known Rhythm of Life). I would have still voted for Rhythm of Life though!

POISON then next. Prodigy had briefly dropped both Poison and Their Law from the set and then quickly brought them back. Let’s hope they are here to stay, although I would probably miss Their Law even more than Poison. Poison is an all-time favorite of many hardcore fans so always get a huge reaction. It’s more downtempo than a lot of the rest of the set, but still there’s usually everyone jumping and dancing to this. I think it’s also a very unique track and there isn’t another one with a similar vibe to replace it.

WARRIORS DANCE is next. I am still thinking back just 11 months ago, at the club shows in May 08, they played this for the first time and gave us the first glimmer of hope that there was a new album on the way. Just look at how much has happened since then. Especially in ‘Prodigy time’ that is just amazing. Needless to say Warriors Dance is still a huge live favorite of mine. I love the album version a lot, but it cannot match what this tune does live. So old skool, yet so new!

The next track for me is usually where i have a little rest and a quick drink. FIRESTARTER. I feel bad saying this, but I honestly just cannot get into this track anymore as a live track. I know they have to play it as it is still somewhat their biggest most recogniseably track, but if you observe the audience after the first minute or so the huge reaction from the start of the track actually dies down a bit. It would actually be interesting to see what would happen if they reverted back to playing the original version again instead of the new remix of it and whether that would make a difference?

Firestarter then leads straight into the ACTION RADAR LINK. It’s just a very brief visit to the Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned era, with no other track from that album played anymore. I alwasy liked Action Radar as a live track, now the link is barely a few beats and Keith going “A little action is all I need…”.

This then leads into what is in my opinion one of the biggest live tracks ever: RUN WITH THE WOLVES. I am still debating with myself about it but i think this has to be my favorite live track now. I love it on the album too, but again live just it is huge, from the start and follows right through. That riff! Massive! Just observe the audience during this track and coparing it with Firestarter, I would claim that Run actually get the bigger response. I still remember when I heard them play it live for the first time (which was the first time they played it) in Barcelona last October, right there I knew this was amazing.

VOODOO PEOPLE I still love very much as well and another track that is a long time favorite with fans. Ever since a few years agao they added the ‘it’s in your eyes, baby’ vocals on to it, but other than that this track still works in its true original form. A classic.

In the next spot then they played a variety of tracks, depending which show(s) on the tour you went to:
- In Cardiff they played DEATH OF THE PRODIGY DANCER. I wasn’t there but wish I was, oh man, I would have given a lot to hear this track live again!
- Then at a few next shows they played THUNDER. As I said before, I am dying to hear this live (it’s my favorite studio track on the new album) but I’ve not yet heard it.
- In Manchester then they played WIND IT UP, which came third in the fan vote. While it was amazing hearing this again, I have to say it felt and looked a bit like they didn’t really know what to do with it on stage.
- From Nottingham onwards then it was JERICHO. This worked out amazing and much better than Wind it Up. The beginning was the original leading into a second half that had been mixed up with some new beats. So so cool hearing this again. Loved it!

And as I said above, in Brixton only they also played Rhythm of Life right after Jericho. That was probably the highlight of the entire tour for me as this track had been played just once or twice in the last 12 or so years! Such a great live track!

Before the encore then COMANCHE, the live version of ‘The Big Gun Down’ on the Lost Beats EP. This is another huge favorite of mine live and not one you could ever stand still to.

After this, the band leaves, then come back for their encore.

On this tour for the first time they came back to OMEN REPRISE. Adding this instrumental to the set at this spot is pure genius. Works so well! It has that similar vibe to it that Action Radar used to have but lasts just long enough (probably not even a minute) before then leading into the full powerfull beats of INVADERS MUST DIE. And that’s another live favorite of mine (anyone still counting?). So powerful and strong, I only started to really appreciate this as a track after hearing it live.
DIESEL POWER then is next. As you would know since this spring Liam has been mixing it with this track from Pain (see the interview) and this brought just the right amount of freshness to it that it needed.
Another TFOTL era track is next then, SMACK MY BITCH UP. Nevermind what I said about Firestarter and Breathe above, SMBU is still one of my favorite live tracks ever. If only one track from TFOTL can survive in the set it should be SMBU. It always captures the audience right from the start through to the end.
Can it get any better? Yes, TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL! I remember we heard this track live for the first time on the UK tour last December and immediatly knew it was immense. It’s a great studio track as well and would be perfect single material. I love it’s space at the end of the set as well, as by that point if you’ve been dancing along you truly feel the ‘welcome to the scene of the crash’ around you…
The show then ends with OUT OF SPACE. This has been the standard ending now for a few years and still works just perfectly.

Truly great tour …So, when is the next show??!

Read more on the nekosite forum UK tour thread: http://www.nekozine.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1238756772

Throughout 2008 the band then introduced more and more of the new material in their live shows. ‘Run with the Wolves’ in Barcelona in October and then ‘Omen’ and ‘Take Me to The Hospital’ on their UK tour in December.

The big news soon followed, they had finished the album and it would be released on 23rd February 2009! Like most fans of the band, I couldn’t wait to hear not only the studio versions of the live tracks we were all so excited about, but was also eager to hear what the rest of the album sounded like.

Then, in early January 09 I got to hear it, the full new Prodigy studio album. In full length, from start to finish, one chance to listen to it all. Yay!

So here it is; my initial review of the album. And while this is an initial impression, one thing that’s for sure is that there is still so much more to discover on this album…

1. Invaders Must Die

The album kicks off with its title track, ‘Invaders Must Die’. We have all heard this one, as it was the first track made available online to everyone as a free download in late 2008, complete with professional video. (You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiqFcc_l_Kk).

While some of us said it wasn’t a very accessible track when we heard it the first time, it has not only impressed me a lot at the live shows but it is a real grower and stays around almost like an anthem. It’s a great album opener and title track. And while it’s got a clear influence by Pendulum, it is of course also very Prodigy.
I noticed also that the album version has a different outro than the downloadable single of the track had, and was leading rather seamless into the next track, …

2. Omen

We heard ‘Omen’ for the first time at the live shows in the UK in late 2008 and it is set to be the first single off the album to be released mid-February 2009. The video is now available online as well on the Prodigy youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVTKOoy1uk.

This track is just so very melodic and the vocals by Maxim and Keith are much more ‘singing’ than any other Prodigy track we’ve heard. It’s such a mix of styles, from old school, to punk rock, techno and breakbeats – where do I even start! The result is a track that is in places heavily produced, but to the extent that it works just perfectly and as a whole is just pure energy.
Like on the track ‘Invaders Must Die’, effects are used over the voices and the combination of Keith and Maxim on vocals sounds fantastic. What a great single to return with!

3. Thunder

‘Thunder’ is a track not yet played at the live shows and brand new to us all. It starts with an initial build up leading quickly into its main reggae-like sample “I hear Thunder but there is no rain. This kind of Thunder breaks walls and brings pain” which leads into the main chorus “Thunder, Thunder”. It’s an amazing track. Great breakbeats with a real old school vibe that still sounds very fresh. The vocal sample sounds brilliant and makes it very catchy. I’m here almost two weeks later after hearing this track just once, and I still have it in my head!

4. Colours

There’s something in the beats of ‘Colours’ that reminds me in a slight sense of AONO, but in a very good and fresh way. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but there’s something here that bridges the style from the last album to this whole new sound in this track. It’s all electronic, sexy with a catchy melody in the instrumental and had some production work by Morgan from ‘Does it offend you, yeah?’. The vocals are by Maxim and Keith and they fit the IMD theme perfectly and go something like “I’m ready for the war, bring your colours to the floor!”. This track is a grower I think. It doesn’t have as much of that instant intensity when hearing it the first time as some of the others on the album, but you can tell it has so much potential and that you’ll get to love it.
When I listened to this track I just thought I’d gotten the full flavour of it when all of a sudden this amazing build-up just brings another new dimension to it, the beats speed up and it all releases in some amazing break down. In fact, this happens on many tracks on this album, and every time manages to keep the tracks fresh and keep surprising you, yet make them sound so Prodigy!

5. Take me to the Hospital

‘Take me to the hospital’ – what a track. This was played live for the first time at some of the later shows on the UK tour in Dec 08 and became a fan favourite then. The studio version just confirms what we knew then already – this really rocks.

Starts with these amazing old school synths just like taken from the early rave days, then erupts into these rocking beats. Throughout the track there’s a play on the siren sounds, which suits the “welcome to the scene of the crash …” lyrics.

6. Warriors Dance

Now this is a tune we’re all familiar with in its live version since it’s been played at the live shows most of last year already. It’s such a danceable summer tune, so easy to get into, I can’t imagine how anyone could not love this track.
Of all the tracks we’ve heard live, the studio version of this one is in some ways the most predictable as it’s still so very close to the live version. Which is a good thing. The massive bass, the female voice sample, the horns, it all works so well.
Towards the end, like with other tracks on the album, there is a break and then the horns come back in, breaking the silence, building up once more to the voice sample and full on beats.

The outro of the track is a spoken sample, which I couldn’t make out if it was taken from a film or someone talking.

7. Run with the Wolves

‘Run with the Wolves’ is another real favourite of mine on this album, it’s the most punk rock of it all and a really fast tune.
Keith’s vocals work amazingly and to me this is the track ‘Warning’ never got to be, it’s even better and more dark and dangerous, pure adrenaline, the kind of track you can’t sit still to.
And once more, just towards the end as you think you’ve got this track figured out; it leads into a soft synth line that adds a whole new touch to this tune, before it continues again with its heavy military beats.
Rocking!

8. Omen Reprise

‘Omen reprise’ is obviously as its name suggests a retake on ‘Omen’. Starting off with siren it contains distorted samples from ‘Omen’ but yet is different than a remix. It’s almost cinematic in its feel and purely instrumental. Works very well and after the loudness of ‘Run with the Wolves’, this track brings you back down to earth.

9. Worlds on Fire

“3 – 2 – 1 – 0….” Many of us have heard this track live now as it was played at most all of 2008’s shows. The studio version has even more of an edge than what we heard live. It builds on a repetitive voice sample of “Worlds on Fire” with clever piano lines, vocals by Maxim and yet again some old school influences that pay tribute to Prodigy’s roots.

10. Piranha

‘Piranha’ is the track that contains the most vocals and is the typical Maxim track. While he performs vocals on ‘teeth gripping’, the pounding beats are a just setting the right tone to visualise the piranha’s power . “P-P-P-Piranha” is pure attack.
Towards the end again a sudden unexpected breakdown, that goes quieter on you for just a bit before then leading to even faster and harder beats, bringing this powerful tune to its end.

11. Stand Up

I said a number of times in this review that parts of tracks just went down an unexpected path. But nothing could have prepared me for the surprise ‘Stand Up’ would be.
The intro begins like an atmospheric theme but then leads into this completely different track. It’s a happy track, with chilled, slow beats and melodic synths that will just bring a smile to your face.
Some people said they were hoping for another ‘Narcotic Suite’ on this album. That’s not what this is; instead think something like David Holmes’ 69 Police, but with an edge.

And so it ends. Wow.

The album flows perfectly from start to finish. It’s one where you should disable your shuffle features for a change and play it from beginning to end. At the same time I think each of the tracks can stand their own and there aren’t really any fillers. Be prepared for a sudden rush of energy and excitement, too …

Welcome back, The Prodigy.

[Discuss in the forum]

By Andrea Schnepf

Note: Change on 25 Jan to reflect that vocals in Colours are by Maxim and Keith, NOT the guy from ‘does it offend you, yeah?’

Via their official newsletter from www.theprodigy.com Prodigy have today announced the release date of their fifth studio album ‘Invaders Must Die’ for 23rd February 2009 (UK). [pre-order]

The first single ‘Omen’ will be released on 16th February 2009 (please note this was incorrectly stated as 16th January in the newsletter), which means we should watch out for the first airing of the video soon as well.

And to keep us going until then, The Prodigy have just released the album artwork to their fans too.

The track listing has also been announced:

Invaders Must Die
Omen
Thunder
Colours
Take Me To The Hospital
Warriors Dance
Run With The Wolves
Omen (Reprise)
World’s On Fire
Piranha
Stand Up

Exciting times ahead! And, make sure you keep your eyes peeled on nekosite as we’ll be posting a review of the full album soon…

You can find more info and discuss the new album here: www.nekozine.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1225879444

Prodigy Take Over Radio 1!

Make sure you tune in to Radio 1 on Monday 12th January for an evening hosted by The Prodigy 7pm – 9pm (UK). You can listen to the show online on www.bbc.co.uk/radio1.

Discuss this here www.nekozine.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1229505359

I’m hoping to keep this going many more years and especially as we enter another exciting phase in The Prodigy’s chapter, with their next studio album rumoured to be released in 2009.

For now, keep your eyes peeled on the forum for discussions about the latest and greatest.

To keep things exciting, we have also just recently openened a new board on the forum called ‘prodigy music’, where all you geeks can discuss origins of samples in prodigy songs and your thoughts about Liam’s newest equipment. Have a read here.

And on this note also a big thanks to my two reliable moderators ant4000b and James Jupiter who have been keeping things going on the forum.

neko

You can find the Nekosite photostream at this address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26508649@N02/ – keep refreshing every couple of minutes or subscribe to the RSS feed!

Now all we can do is hope that all this technology will work! *fingers crossed*

We need volunteers for Saturday’s gig in Birmingham – here is how you can help us:

If you are lucky enough and have gotten a ticket, then you can help us keep the rest of the fans up to date, real time!
We’re looking for a couple of people who are going to the shows with a camera phone that they can send emails from. If you are willing to take pictures at the shows and upload them to nekosite via email live during the gig, then please get in touch!
Please contact Ant (ant4000b@beatrocker.net) – He will give you instructions on how you can help us out provide some exciting updates to the rest of the fans.

Here at nekosite we’ve been thinking about how we can provide you with as much up to date infos from the shows as possible and we’ve decided to try out a brand new feature. But to make it work we will need your help!

You are going to one of the club shows:

If you are lucky enough and have gotten a ticket, then you can help us keep the rest of the fans up to date, real time!
We’re looking for a couple of people who are going to the shows with a camera phone that they can send emails from. If you are willing to take pictures at the shows and upload them to nekosite via email live during the gig, then please get in touch!
Please contact Ant (ant4000b@beatrocker.net) – He will give you instructions on how you can help us out provide some exciting updates to the rest of the fans.

You are at home tomorrow or Saturday night:

Keep an eye on nekosite the next two evenings during the gigs (00:30 onwards)! It’s just an experiment, but the aim is to have a ‘live’ stream of photos and comments from the gig available in real time. I will definitely try to post some too!