In the Randomised Record series, I take us both on an adventure to (re)discover my record collection. Fate decides: whether it be that obscure grunge album I bought recently or that emo rap record from 2017. Nothing is safe from the hands of the randomiser! I will listen to the entire album and highlight my favourite song off of it here on the blog. Do I still enjoy my records as much as when I bought ‘em? Let’s find out. Today, episode 7: ‘Surrender’ (1999) by The Chemical Brothers.

Honestly: I didn’t remember I owned this CD. And, to be even more honest: I don’t think I’ve ever played it up until today. Haha! There’s a bit of a story behind this one. A fun story, though! Because even though I might’ve never heard this album in its fullest up until this moment right here right now, I do hold fond memories of purchasing ‘Surrender’ by The Chemical Brothers.

If my mind doesn’t deceive me (and I like to believe it doesn’t do that all too often), I bought this CD in a tiny charity shop in the English seaside town Whitby, known for being the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s legendary gothic novel Dracula and definitely not known for selling CD’s by The Chemical Brothers to some random Dutch guy, but here we are anyway. I actually bought ‘Surrender’ (probably for like, 1 pound or something) together with The Chem Bros.’ ‘Come With Us’, and Hard-Fi’s ‘Stars Of CCTV’, an album that I have since seen in pretty much every single charity shop I set foot in. It’s one of those albums, I guess…

Either way, that’s not the fun memory I was referring to. For that, we kick it back a few days when me and my partner drove off on a little road trip through the North of England. Via Manchester, we went up to the beautiful Lake District and after walking around for a while, we drove on to stay in an inn in an idyllic village called Nateby, with a lovely beer garden looking out over mile long stretches of fields and hills. The next day, we headed up to Carlisle where we went to see the football team I’ve been supporting for years – Carlisle United – draw 2-2 with Scunthorpe United. A late equaliser by the Blues made Brunton Park go ecstatic! Our trip went on to Durham via Edmundbyers, to head down to Whitby, York, and eventually back home to the Midlands. Not only was this 2021 trip one of the first ones we did in ages (COVID, amirite?), it made me fall in love with the North of England. The scenery, the people: it all made for so many special moments. Driving through the countryside with my partner, blasting out great tunes through the speakers of our tiny car and seeing some of the countries prettiest places. It was absolutely great! And I guess, even though I haven’t touched this album ever since, ‘Surrender’ by The Chemical Brothers will always remind me of that great holiday we had.