News

STREAM: Chemical Brothers – Velodrome

• 26th Jul 2012

‘Velodrome’ by Chemical Brothers (UMC) was composed specially for the Olympic Track Cycling events in the Velodrome. Facts and figures about the success of The Chemical Brothers over the 19 years since the release of their first single (Song To The Siren) come as thick as the Yellow Pages when collected together.

To highlight just a handful: millions of copies sold of seven studio albums, five of which went to number one in the UK. They have also won multiple Grammy and Brit awards over the length of their career. When approached to write the official theme music for the Track Cycling events in the Velodrome, Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons had two initial considerations: firstly there was the long and fascinating history of the sport, and secondly there was Tom’s own personal interest in cycling. Embracing this response they set about creating something that would reflect “the sense of speed, pace and drama,” of the sport as well as the “incredible beauty” (Ed Simons Q Magazine interview), of the new London 2012 Velodrome’s architecture.

The result is ‘Theme For Velodrome’, a thrilling, world-class track that will provide the soundtrack to six action packed days of competitive Track Cycling over the course of which 10 Olympic gold medals will be won.

Tom says, “I have loved cycling since I was a boy. I have always made a connection between electronic music and cycling repetition, the freedom and sense of movement. Kraftwerk obviously cemented this connection with their 'Tour de France' track. For us to create the theme for the Velodrome is a great honour and we're really excited to hear it in situ.”