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‘Different’, released March 13, demonstrates Barry Can’t Swim’s unique contribution to the UK’s ever-evolving dance music scene. The jittery club track teeters on the edge of chaos, driven by choppy breaks, piercing synths, and distorted vocals that audibly appear alongside percussion of unusual inspiration – including sirens. Meanwhile, ‘The Person You’d Like To Be’ represents a reflective side to the genre, pairing spoken-word vocals to a slowed garage-inspired beat. The opening line ‘there is nothing permanent, except change’ sets the eerie tone, showcasing the sonically interesting sound that the producer skillfully brings to the table. 

Previously released single ‘Still Riding’ (2024) is also set to appear on the upcoming record, having been launched last September under an EP of the same name, featuring other singles such as ‘Kimbara’ and ‘How It Feels’. The album’s preview tracks are also accompanied by an album trailer that shows an unenthusiastic Barry Can’t Swim dotted about various locations in a public building setting, exposing a nostalgic colour palette that purposefully contrasts the exuberant beat. See below for the visual preview. 

In a press release, Mainnie spoke about the second album, saying, “If my first album was a collage of all the music I loved and was inspired by growing up, then this album is the most authentic expression I could offer of myself and my life over the past year.” The press release dives deeper, expressing that the LP will see the DJ “navigate and explore the world he’s found himself in, a highly personal album that asks profound questions of its creator and his audience.” 

The 12-track LP marks the next steps forward in Barry Can’t Swim’s promising career within contemporary UK house music. Following the acclaimed ‘When Will We Land?’, the Edinburgh-born producer has since been nominated for various awards including the Mercury Prize, Scottish Album of the Year, BRIT Awards and BBC Sound of 2025. The debut’s standout track ‘Sonder’ (released as a single prior in 2022) reached the peak position of #22 on the UK Official Charts. The upcoming release of ‘Loner’ coincides with Barry Can’t Swim’s scheduled sets at numerous UK festivals this summer, such as All Points East, Bristol’s FORWARDS and Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool – Fans and club-goers alike eagerly anticipate the forthcoming material from the DJ.

See below for the tracklist to ‘Loner’:

1. The Person You’d Like To Be
2. Different 
3. Kimpton (with O’Flynn)
4. All My Friends
5. About To Begin
6. Still Riding 
7. Cars Pass By Like Childhood Sweethearts 
8. Machine Noise For A Quiet Daydream (feat. Séamus)
9. Like It’s Part Of The Dance
10. Childhood
11. Marriage
12. Wandering Mt. Moon

‘Loner’ is available for pre-order now. 

The new single from @chembros is here! Listen now to ‘Live Again’ featuring @HALOMAUD: https://t.co/y29Bsf069K #LiveAgain #NewMusic @eddychemical #thechemicalbrothers pic.twitter.com/jRc7fOxACS

— The Chemical Brothers (@ChemBros) June 28, 2023

Both tracks will feature in The Chemical Brothers’ upcoming tenth studio album, as yet unnamed, that is due to be released later this year. The album announcement was made back in April, 2 days before their performance at this year’s edition of Coachella.

Listen to “Live Again” below:

“Live Again”, according to an affiliated press release, “begins simply with a descending, filtered riff and a pair of contrasting vocal lines – one razor spliced to pieces and reconstructed, the other an angel’s sigh. And then it all kicks off. What follows is a speeding rollercoaster of skittering rhythm, monolithic noise and blissful harmony, of ping-ponging analogue noise and cascading voices. It’s a perfect Chemical Brothers track – unstoppable, resolutely hopeful and, once heard, utterly unshakeable“.

Quite the introduction, and quite accurate too. The classic Chemical Brothers big beat sound does meet with blissful harmony the wonderful vocal performance of Halo Maud; indeed, her ever present vocals send the pulsating electro walls of music into overdrive, the track in essence a locomotive of noise and splendour.

Big beat pioneers The Chemical Brothers, made up of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, formed in Manchester in 1989. Formerly known as The Dust Brothers, they changed their name prior to the release of their debut album, Exit Planet Dust, in 1995. This initial release proved successful, entering the UK Albums Chart at number 9 and going on to sell over a million copies. Signing with Virgin Records soon followed, as did supporting Oasis at Knebworth in 1996.

Their next album, Dig Your Own Hole, released in 1997, furthered the duo’s success, topping the UK Album Charts and cementing their place amongst the best in the UK dance music scene. The Chemical Brothers have gone on to release nine albums in total, six of which have reached number 1 in the UK. Their tenth, scheduled for release later this year, will undoubtedly prove just as popular.

Watch the music video for “Hey Boy Hey Girl” below:

The Chemical Brothers will also be commencing a summer tour, including a headline show at this year’s Glastonbury.

See below for tour date:

06/07/2023 – Bilbao BBK Live – Bilbao
08/07 – AMA Music Festival – Romano D’Ezzelino
21/07 – Electric Castle – Cluj
23/07 – Lucca Summer Festival – Lucca
04/08 – Wilderness Festival – Oxfordshire
12/08 – FEST Festival – Chorzów
18/08 – Caberet Vert – Charleville-Mézières
26/08 – Rock En Seine – Saint-Cloud
09/09 – The Bay Series – Cardiff
26/10 – OVO Hydro – Glasgow
27/10 – AO Arena – Manchester
28/10 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
01/11 – 3Arena – Dublin
03/11 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham
04/11 – The O2 – London

Purchase tickets here.