Underworld
Second Toughest In The Infants
Junior Boys Own
Out March 11
I'm not going to preach about what an important band Underworld
are. Everyone knows by now that these press darlings were one of
the key elements in the smashing of the dance/indie divide a few
years ago. Everyone also knows that 'Dubnobasswithmyheadman' was
a wonderful, unique album which took elements from countless
genres and created a snapshot of a scene which was starting to
open its mind. But how will this second album fare three years
on, in today's diverse and eclectic scene which they helped pave
the way for?
'Juanita' kicks off proceedings, an epic symphony of solid,
pounding techno. Building up from a robotic, skittering
percussion loop with Karl's processed monotones and familiar
spiralling analogue motifs, breaking down into a rhythm workout
with reversed, out-of-control synths before building back up to
a blinding, searing climax. This is Underworld back on classic
floor-destroying form, and from here things can surely get no
better?
But they do. 'Banstyle' is the inevitable jungle track, a light
and crispy prelude to 'Sappys Curry', which emerges as the
breaks disintegrate. Slicing the tempo in two, subtle layers of
soft guitar evolve around a hypnotic, head-nodding groove,
building until the breakbeats are simmering just below the
surface. Never quite exploding back into jungle territory, the
tension is nonetheless maintained right the way through.
'Confusion The Waitress' follows, a minimal electronic groove
allowing Karl's intriguing lyricism to shine through. 'Rowla' is
a fierce dancefloor cut, with insane, tearing analogues and
slamming beats.
Things really fall into place again with 'Pearls Girl'. Kicking
breakbeat techno with more insane, distorted vocal ranting -
another classic, unique cut. 'Air Towel' is a more sedate,
Detroit-styled track, the influence of Darren Emerson's DJing
style shining through here the most clearly. The unmistakable
vocals blend with the endlessly repeating synth loop with a
mesmerising end result. 'Blueski' is a brief diversion into raw,
mellow guitar before the album closes with 'Stagger' - a
wonderful slow vocal-based track which builds from nothing to a
haunting, spine-tingling climax.
With this album, Underworld have showed once again their
effortless mastery of the dance genre. Working better as a whole
than 'Dubnobass...', it highlights the work of a maturing outfit
doing exactly what they please, both drawing from and adding to
the cream of the scene. Eclectic, diverse and consistently good,
'Second Toughest' is an oasis of quality grooves in a saturated
music world.
see ya
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tom churchill e-mail: tom@chrchfam.demon.co.uk
deep beatmeister extraordinaire
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