What does it sound like?:
By no means a bad album – I doubt Underworld are capable of producing such a thing – this is still the sound of a band punching way below their weight. It has a curiously flat sound, devoid of their usual euphoric peaks and life-affirming melodies, while anybody looking for a repeat of the sparkle High Contrast brought to ‘Barking’ will be sorely disappointed. All concerned sound curiously distracted.
The opening couplet of ‘I Exhale’ and ‘If Rah’ is reminiscent of ‘Bruce Lee’ from Beaucoup Fish and ‘Ring Road’ from Oblivion With Bells, which isn’t a good sign: they’re hardly highlights of the canon. As well as sounding overly familiar, they both suffer from a certain sameyness, with a similar chugging rhythm and chanty vocals. They’re not bad, but we’re a long way from classic openers like ‘Juanita’, ‘Cups’ and ‘Crocodile’.
Things don’t really pick up from there. It’s only a seven-track album and the mid-section passes virtually unnoticed before a closing triptych of ‘Motorhome’, ‘Ova Nova’ and ‘Nylon Strung’ finds Underworld at its most thoughtful. Good though these songs are, I don’t think they’ll be muscling in on your Underworld Best Of’ compilation any time soon, and they’re not nearly as great as over-optimistic reviews elsewhere have suggested. They also suffer from a sense that the preceding album hasn’t done nearly enough to earn its right to what is basically an extended, ruminative outro.
In conclusion, then, a good album but not up there with the best.
What does it all *mean*?
The bar is very high.
Goes well with…
Lowered expectations.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
A vague sense of disappointment.
It’s a very understated record. I’m hoping it’s going to be a grower, but as the days go by I’m not so sure.
I’ve been looking forward to your review, Poppy. As ever, you don’t disappoint. Great review. The hardest review to write is for a middling album that you neither love nor hate. At least, I think so.
I enjoyed your review. Thanks
I loved Karl Hyde’s recent-ish solo album, and his collaborations with Eno, so I was getting my hopes up for this one.
Having front-loaded on disappointment following Poppy’s excellent review, I’ve been listening to the album on Spotify this morning. First impressions are that the album is lacking a distinct identity. Little to suggest the here and now of 2016. The last three tracks remind me a lot of 90s ‘Sweet harmony’ hitmakers The Beloved. Going to give the album a full test drive on a big hifi before dismissing it.
I eagerly ripped this from the jiffy bag and played it immediately. Three quarters of an hour later I wondered why I hadn’t just played one of the earlier albums. As has been said, I hope it’ll be a grower, but it didn’t impress from the get-go.
Curate’s egg, really, an off-one, and I had ordered kippers. It seems to be trying too hard. After the hittheroadbanging of Leftfields re-entry last year, I guess I was hoping for the same. Instead it struck me as a BBC2 history of british electronica, “interpreted” by one band, starting with Gltterband stomp and ending up with almost FauxMD (in the Dark). Where were the guts? And the Luna Luna Luna chant, I guess a pale echo of the song Hyde now regrets/despises. Frankly, I’d sooner have the Lager Lager lager. I found the Hyde/Eno disappointing, but this just wasted my time.
I haven’t really been paying attention since A Hundred Days Off. Did I miss anything?
Had a quick skim through – I like the first track – good stomp to it – not sure what to expect of a band like this so far into their career – probably needs a few listens but trouble is as new releases hurtle past at the rate they do nowadays (never mind reissues/new ‘old’ discoveries ) who has time to ‘get really into’ the new Underworld album?
They’ve come a long way since this though haven’t they?
I’m nowhere near as pitiless as you two. I though ‘Barking’ was a great album and ‘And I Will Kiss’ from the Isles Of Wonder soundtrack absolute perfection.