The Science of Things
The electronic pulse in The Chemicals Between Us suits Bush surprisingly well. It gives the familiar guitars a firmer outline and makes Gavin Rossdale's vocal sound part of the rhythm rather than simply a large emotional presence above it. The Science of Things is most convincing when those added textures change how a song moves.
Warm Machine starts with a broad guitar sound and a chorus direct enough to survive the weight around it. The drums have a large presence, but the track still leaves space for its melody. Jesus Online introduces a more flexible groove, although the vocal hook is less persuasive than the opening rhythm suggests.
The Chemicals Between Us remains the clearest success. The guitar riff and processed drum sound reinforce each other, producing a track that feels designed as a whole. It takes relatively little extra machinery to make Bush sound different. The change matters because it gives the performance a character beyond Rossdale's familiar strained delivery.
40 Miles from the Sun slows things down effectively. The looser movement and more spacious arrangement provide relief without making the song feel incidental. Letting the Cables Sleep is another highlight, allowing a clear tune and restrained singing to do much of the work. The added strings support the mood without having to announce the song's importance.
Elsewhere, the album is more uneven. The Disease of the Dancing Cats finds an interesting connection between heavier guitars and electronic detail, but some of the more conventional rock songs have less memorable melodic material. The careful sequencing helps the record flow even when the individual songs do not leave a strong impression. That smoothness can disguise the problem for a while, though it does not solve it.
The Science of Things is an appealing step outward with an inconsistent set of songs underneath it. Its strongest tracks make the additional studio detail part of the writing. When that connection is missing, the album sounds busy around a fairly ordinary idea. The singles and quieter highlights still provide a good reason to spend time with it.
