Single14 January 2002Atomic number 18
Star Guitar

Ground #4A1D2CInk 1 #E4E9EDInk 2 #E0E6EBAccent #8B2733Plate colours (taken from the artwork)
Contrast body 12.4:1 heading 11.4:1
Pulse 127 BPM (measured)
Listen
The video embedded on the official site1 Open on YouTube
Record
- Released
- 14 January 20023
- UK peak
- No. 84
- Video
- Michel Gondry, Olivier Gondry4
- Notes
- Video by the Gondry brothers, synchronised on graph paper, with the scenery modelled from everyday objects3
- Notes
- Uses Tom's guitar, a Parker MIDI Fly, processed into the computer5
Tracklist
Music
- BPM
- 127 BPM
- Key
- Am (8A)
Technology
Context
Testimony
“Star Guitar and Pioneer Skies happened when we got bored with the machines”
Reviews
“it's really, really nice”
View (DJ Naoyaman)
This song begins where they got bored with the machines.
Released on 14 January 2002, it reached No. 8 in the UK.34 Ed later said "Star Guitar" came about when they got bored with the machines. The shifting sound is Tom playing a Parker MIDI Fly guitar, sent through an effect into the computer.5
Michel and Olivier Gondry made the video: scenery outside a train window appears and vanishes in time with the track. Michel is said to have plotted the synchronisation on graph paper and modelled the landscape from everyday objects before shooting.73
Pitchfork's Scott Plagenhoef first wrote that it didn't leave much of an impression, and later called it a fantastic track he had grossly underrated.3
Rewrites like that make me a little happy. In this site's terms, it is a delayed reaction on the critic's side.
Translated from the Japanese original.
Afterwards
Own
The link above is an Amazon Associates affiliate link.
- The Chemical Brothers, “Official site: Star Guitar (video)”
- The Chemical Brothers, “Official site: Star Guitar (release page)”
- Wikipedia, “Star Guitar”
- Wikipedia, “The Chemical Brothers discography”
- Diffuser, “15 Years Ago: Chemical Brothers Ramp Up Their Sound on 'Come With Us'”
- NME, “NME: Star Guitar review”
- uDiscover Music, “'Come With Us': Behind The Chemical Brothers' Unbeatable Offer”