Q Magazine August 2004
Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned - Track by Track
Spitfire
Massive opener and statement of intent, featuring vocals from actress Juliette Lewis. "I wanted to start with World War III", says Liam Howlett. "A friend saw Juliette's band, The Licks, in Los Angeles and said she had a shouty Patti Smith voice, so I sent her tapes. People are going to slag off a Hollywood star doing music, but she's for real."
Girls
The first single. Dirty electro-punk reminiscent of Smack my Bitch Up, featuring vocals from all-girl electro-punk outfit Ping Pong Bitches. Howlett: "There's nothing deep about this track or this album. It's what Prodigy does best: big, dumb, rocking tunes. You're not going to get any meaningful stuff out of it."
Memphis Bells
Bass-driven instrumental with a squiggly electronic motif. And lots of bells. "I wanted something to signal my change of direction.", says Howlett. "This sounds like Timbaland on acid".
Get Up Get Off
Dark brutalist electro featuring breakneck rapper Twista, who recently scored a Top 10 hit with Slow Jamz. Howlett: "I first heard Twista three years ago. He's got a really fast flow. I wanted a real London rap tune, and I think the street will respond to this."
Hotride
Juliette Lewis reappears for this outing that borrows from Fifth Dimension's uber-Kitch Up, Up and Away. "Up, up, and away in my beautiful balloon", sings Lewis, adding a louche "give me a ride". Suggesting that views of the countryside from a wicker basket aren't her prime concerns. "The Prodigy have been taking themselves too seriously," says Howlett, "This is quirky".
Wake Up Call
The Prodigy get the funk, as Kool Keith delivers the message "You better wake up!" amid a flurry of mad flute samples. Howlett: "A slap in the face to myself after [poorly received 2002 single] Baby's got a Temper. I needed to change, or we were fucked."
Action Radar
Kraftwerk meets Gary Numan, with a man screaming over the top. The latter is Paul Jackson from unsigned Essex punk band Dirt Candy. "I heard `em while I was in the bath," says Howlett. "I was like, Turn that fucking shit down! Nat's daughter told me it was her friend's dad, so I rang him up and got him to sing on this."
Medusa's Path
Cinematic instrumental with a distinctly Middle Eastern flavour. Howlett: "I'd love to play an Arab country, but we wouldn't really be welcome there. But still, I like the vibe...."
Phoenix
Jagged stop-start dance-rock hybrid featuring a sample from Shocking Blue's 1969 track Love Buzz, later covered by Nirvana. Howlett:"This is a complete jack of someone else's production and song. I'm not scared to do that even after 12 years in The Prodigy. You have to take risks."
You'll Be Under My Wheels
A one-dimensional slab of fuzzy techno. Even Howlett isn't keen. "Not a lot to say on this," he shrugs. "It's just an album filler."
The Way It Is
Built on a recreated sample of Michael Jackson's Thriller, this trades th usual sledgehammer approach for some welcome light and shade. Howlett: "I was drinking Red Bull and Vodka, and I wanted to chew Michael Jackson's arse off and spit it back out again."
Shootdown
Aggro-charged finale, featuring Liam Gallagher on vocals and brother Noel on bass. "Liam and I first agreed to do a track six years ago." Says Howlett. "A year ago, we ended up getting pissed in the studio, and this happened. It's quite punk rock. Easily more punk than Oasis."
PRODIGY ON MIXMAG
The latest mixmag has a small feature on Prodigy's AONO
THE LOUDEST BAND IN DANCE RETURN BUT WHERE'S KEITH?
The Prodigys next album has not only ditched mosh for bosh,but it sees them dumping their two main vocalists - KEITH / MAXIM. There latest album "Always outnumbered Never outgunned" is back to the dance and Mixmag has already heard SIX tunes, However on the tracks we did get a sniff of , keith was noticeable by his absence.
Liam says..."The album is definitely more Liam on beats again", that is a important thing to say. In the boys place are a screamy natural born killers star Juliette lewis as well as Siouxsie Sioux style vocals and clipped female samples. On keiths absence Liam says..."Were definitely leaning more to the electronic side than the Guitar side' cuz keith has done his side project and thats very important that keith does with his side thing is different to what we do"
The new album is a mish mash of next level Chems, Beastie boys electro voices, moody Gary Numan "Cars" style synths and Basement Jaxx esque Eastern noise clashes, plus stomping Zombie nation keyboards, Switch-style acid squelches and plenty of four bar guitar riffs a la fatboy slim and classic early 90's prodigy. Although Keith and maxim dont appear on the new album the trio will be performing LIVE album later in the year.
Heres a break down of some of the tracks.
GIRLZ
You all know this one so I wont bother
GET UP GET OFF
"All get up if you wanna get off" warns the bloke shouting over the top of an Eastern sounding female vocal. Its very Basement Jaxx with a male rapper over the top. (doesnt mention who!)
WAKE UP
If you still play Chems "Block rockin beats" on your pubs jukebox, this will please. A full on rocky bassline with pounding live kick drums throughout.
ICE
Garagey sounding beats but in the nicest possible way build up to a clangy melody, met with high pitched drum and bass style screeches. It makes a full throttle dub. RAW!
Phoenix (ex Love Buzz / 1965)
A clangy guitar provides a four beat riff that runs throughout this bouncer before it gets played backwards. This sounds like Fatboy slim if he played lead guitar for the Kinks.
HOTRIDE
This is a stabby roller with the kind of heavy bass that would keep our unsightly neighbours at Kerrang happy. We'll put our money on this being the second single