High Contrast ft Tiësto & Underworld - The First Note Is Silent

[Dirty0900]

Yes, I've seen the link/audio in the New Material thread, but the Faxed Invatation sound doesn't seem right for this possible collab:

BREAKING NEWS! Tomorrow on BBC Radio 1 will be the WORLD EXCLUSIVE first play of the new single - "High Contrast featuring Tiësto & Underworld - The First Note Is Silent". Tune in to the Annie Mac Mac SHOW from 7pm BST

Sounds like a weird collab.....

--------------

Here's the official music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOJyegyRbM

The single is due for release on October 31:

1. The First Note Is Silent (Radio Edit) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
2. The First Note Is Silent (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
3. The First Note Is Silent (Instrumental) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
4. Fearful Symmetry

iTunes US (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=xfg6zEPlSzU&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fu s%252Fpreorder%252Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%252Fid470507806%253FpartnerId%253D30)
iTunes UK (http://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=23708&a=1858036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fpreorder% 2Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%2Fid470507806%3FpartnerId%3D2003)

[BrotherLovesDub]

Donut featuring Cupcake & Waffles - The Breakfast is Killer

[the mongoose]

Barking 2: Electric Boogaloo;)

[testudo]

Anyone got a link for this?

[crank]

yeah, what is 7pm BST in EST anyway?

[scary man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX80cRydlRU

[mark3]

Terrible, as expected

[testudo]

Terrible, as expected

Like most High Contrast things, some great aspects, but I find myself being overcheezafied by it all.

[Dirty0900]

I don't mind it at all, I bought a load of High Contrast when I was younger so I do like this a lot after a few listens I think its harder to hear the Tiesto influence.

Each to their own, I struggled with downpipe until I saw it done live.

[the mongoose]

Thanks for the link!!!

I like it....had to give it a second play to really appreciate some of the production work.


Lyrics?;)

[BrotherLovesDub]

got 32 seconds into the youtube and shut it off.

[jose m]

bit of fun....something for the kids

[ThingInABook]

don't know. karl's voice is heavy on autotune and sound too high-pitched for my tastes. also, this is borderline happy hardcore, thank god there isn't a 10min breakdown in the middle of the track, which is a radio edit.

thanks for the youtube link tho ;)

EDIT: i hope there's a "underworld only" version of the track, i mean, knowing this is a high contrast track.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Been listening to quite a bit of hardcore/breakbeat stuff from 90-92 lately. Wouldn't mind if underworld pulled out a giant, raw, piano led romper.

[crank]

I miss the sweet spot underworld...

[the mongoose]

Got this tune stuck in my head today. Loving the "falling out of nothing into everything" part. :cool:

[Andrea]

Sweet disorder, mess and chaos but those typical "high contrast" drums keep it on track somehow.
Interesting track, never thought a man at 50+ could sound so young and fresh. ....ha...ha...Price the science!
The best part is Annie Mac´s shout at 2:55 though. It came in like a teacher´s shout in a chaotic and noisy class
Maybe not the very best of Underworld but definitely made me smile :)

[ThingInABook]

Been listening to quite a bit of hardcore/breakbeat stuff from 90-92 lately. Wouldn't mind if underworld pulled out a giant, raw, piano led romper.

PIANO RIFF! CHIPMUNK HELIUM LYRICS!.. oh, wait-

well, king of snake and push upstairs use piano segments...

[Dirty0900]

I wonder if this will get daytime radio play, would seem weird seeing Radio 1 didn't play ALAF because they deemed UW to old (so I've heard).

[TheBang]

MP3 rip download of the song from the radio broadcast:

http://www.mediafire.com/?b9ih399fv3s00u6

[the mongoose]

Better quality mp3:

http://www.mediafire.com/?n1mc6itgm2m1rge

:cool:

[Champiness]

Only two minutes in, just reached the drop, but if that much is anything to go on I don't mind it as much as I expected.
My main concern is, much like Barking, that they're losing some of their own credibility as producers in this sudden wave of collaborations (though their ability certainly hasn't waned). I mean, Barking was basically an Underworld album like any other, inexplicably filtered through a bunch of other producers. It was hard to find a note on that album that didn't come from them (apart from the atrocity that was Scribbble), yet most reviews of the album chalked it up to them being lazy near (God forbid!) the end of their career and just sitting back to let Mark Knight and Paul Van Dyk do the dirty work. I doubt many people outside this little community heard the Underworld magic that lingered on Disc 2 of the box set (and even that was an incomplete picture!). It seems ridiculous to me that they would hide behind other producers like that when they haven't lost their touch. As I've said on numerous occasions (if not on here), Barking was the best remix album they ever did. Shame we never got to hear the album it was based on.

[Mike]

I doubt many people outside this little community heard the Underworld magic that lingered on Disc 2 of the box set

"Magic" is not the first word that springs to mind when i listen to a bunch of unmastered, unfinished demos....

[bazwint]

Got this tune stuck in my head today. Loving the "falling out of nothing into everything" part. :cool:

Ditto.

[joethelion (made of iron)]

wait... I 'go away' for a little bit

and THIS is what I come back to?!?!??!?

I seriously cannot fathom Underworld having anything to do with Tiesto at all *shudder*

at least this doesn't seem very Tiesto-y at all... it really just seems like a High Contrast track.

I can't stand the intro - but it at least gets a little better as it moves forward

(BTW - I can't seem to be able to log into my original name... and even when I sent the 'forgot password' request... I never got one of those 'password reset' emails - and I tried doing it multiple times)

(yes, this is Blake aka "joethelion")

[Dirty0900]

Liking this track a lot, can't hear the Tiesto element at all, I'd go on a limb and say I'd have taken this on Barking instead of Scribble and let the demo be worked into a version of You Do Scribble for another album.

*Avoids bricks*

[Champiness]

No, I agree with you completely. Scribble was like watching my favorite song gutted in front of me; at least this song isn't a constant reminder of what could have been.


Also:
"Magic" is not the first word that springs to mind when i listen to a bunch of unmastered, unfinished demos....

(and even that was an incomplete picture!)

[Sappys Curry]

I've come to accept Scribble and I think it is okay (sometimes I like its total poppiness), but I really wish You Do Scribble was on their instead.

[Strawman]

I miss the sweet spot underworld...


YEAH!!!!!!! Where is it at?

[ultradave]

I wanted to "LIKE" this, but..... meh... :(

I"ll have to give it another listen.... but I don't know... BUT, I just finished my 2nd pint of Chimay, so perhaps another listen will change my mind... but it does sound too commercial and "POP" clubby to me...

[Mike]

I once bought a latte in Starbucks but it tasted too much like coffee to me.

[SappysCurry]

I concur with the other Sappys Curry. I've come to accept Scribble for what it is and will always prefer the original better.

Now on to this...uhm....well, I don't know what the hell this new track is. I think if I heard this in a club I'd be heading to the outdoor patio for a cigarette, and I don't smoke. As I was walking out, I'd say to myself, "Weird, that voice sounds like Karl..." and then I'd be outside.

Barking hasn't settled in well for me, with the exception of a few tracks (Moon in Water first and foremost. LOVE that.) But I figured it was just a "phase" they were going through. Get some big room play to a changing crowd of clubbers who demanded something different in their music...something those of us who are slightly older (and wiser?) did not. Personally, I despise what I'm hearing in clubs overall, but that's another matter altogether.

Hearing this now. I'm beginning to fear for the future of Underworld and if I have any part in it. I love these guys. They have made some of the most thoughtful, emotional, incredible, gorgeous music I have ever heard and it has been a veritable soundtrack to the last 12 years or so of my life. Cliche but true.

But the shit that's being played today is soulless and gutless noise. That's all it is and I fear that Karl, Rick and Darren are getting sucked into the vortex of it. I sincerely hope not.

Jesus, what I wouldn't do for something that even hinted at another Riverrun Project.

[potatobroth]

i don't want to listen to this ever again. Initial reaction/feeling is that I'm watching an MTV showed aimed at 16 yr olds.

[ultradave]

I've always felt that UW have been pretty good at hitting the mark for all electronic genre's. I highly doubt this will be a segue into what we'd all fear as older fans.

For me UW has been highly experimental and creative and I think they will continue in that direction. Right now it seems like they're in a collaborative stage and for what it is, I think Barking was a great album. The funny thing is - my least favourite track is Moon in Water..

So we all have our favourites and least favourites.

[testudo]

i don't want to listen to this ever again. Initial reaction/feeling is that I'm watching an MTV showed aimed at 16 yr olds.

WATCH as Underworld RACE TO THE BOTTOM!

Honestly, I thought they learned/knew (remember 80s) that pure-pop (hyperbole) is not for them. I blame Rick, he has always been the one who wants to get mass appeal.

Reminds me of this post, by the infamous God(in) on the Top 40 and the Grateful Dead (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/06/the-grateful-dead-and-the-top-40.html)

[unwound floors]

Pretty average, I think. It's fun but disposable. Heh... Tiesto.

In case anybody's interested - I did an interview with London Elektricity last night (I'm a music journalist), and he told me that this is going to be released on his imprint Hospital Recordings in a month or two.

[Sappys Curry]

I really don't think UW are going to latch unto this "Barking sound" for too much longer. They did something different with Barking; in part what was so different was the number of collaborations, and apparently, they still want to do some more collaborations that have a pop sound to them. But I think they will move on from these things for their next album, or even before that if they do a spiritual successor to the River Run releases. Barking has its own unique flavor, but I really don't think they will just "stick to that from now on", or even that much longer.

As for Barking, I was originally underwhelmed by it, although I liked more than half the tracks on it. But I figured I'd like it more if I gave it more time. I was originally underwhelmed by AHDO, but some years later, I found myself liking it a lot more than I did when it first released. I figured the same would happen with Barking and I was right. I now like every song on the album, whereas at first I didn't. I had to warm up to it more. Honestly, I've been listening to Barking quite a lot lately, ever since late August. I like the album, but of the six studio albums (electronic albums) from UW, I'd still rank it last. But at least I came to like it more.

[//\/\/]

pony.

[stimpee]

Please remember that this is High Contrast featuring Tiesto/Underworld. Not the other way round. The main songwriter here is High Contrast.It sounds like the beats are High Contrast, some of the melody Tiesto and the vocals from Karl. It is what it is. If you like this sort of thing then good for you. Its a bit too poppy for me but I actually enjoyed it more than Scribble (see my previous comments on Scribble :p)

[Dirty0900]

just played on Radio 1.

[holden]

Please remember that this is High Contrast featuring Tiesto/Underworld. Not the other way round. The main songwriter here is High Contrast.It sounds like the beats are High Contrast, some of the melody Tiesto and the vocals from Karl. It is what it is. If you like this sort of thing then good for you. Its )

Good call. If this were truly the new UW single, i'd be a little (ok, a lot) scared. When Scribble was released last May, i was just happy to have something upbeat and new(ish) and out of nowhere. During the days when we thought David Lynch's "Good Day Today" could have been UW, that was scary.

Though i've grown to love it all, maybe 30% of UW songs take me quite a bit of time to get into. Such is change, such is new.

[DwarfeD]

Don't like this at all. I really can't stand that autotune sound. The times that I loved everything UW were putting out (some tracks took some time, but still..) are gone.

What's next? David Guetta ft. Underworld & Rihanna?

[potatobroth]

I liked how UW were different than most of the electronic crap that was out there. I'm not digging the fact that UW are teaming up with producers like this. It sounds ridiculous and cheesey. Or maybe I'm just getting old. When I read about this song being played on Radio1, my initial reaction was, "eh, so what." There was a day when I would have planned my night/day around hearing the first drop.

[Sappys Curry]

As someone pointed out, this is HC feat. Tiesto and UW, not UW feat. them. And UW probably did little else than contribute vocals (maybe the lyrics, too).

I just hope for their next album, they go back to their own kind of music. I don't want them to collaborate with very poppy artist for their next album. They did it on Barking and I like Barking just fine, but I like UWs music to be their very own music. That is when I like their music the best. Karl, Rick, and perhaps a DJ, like Darren Price. Karl and Rick are brilliant. I'd prefer that their brilliance just be left to work its magic on its own, save for some extra talent from talented DJs like Darren Emerson and Darren Price.

I think that they are enjoying working with these artists, though. Underworld are legends of the genre, and they probably figure some of these artists they worked with on Barking were thrilled to be able to collaborate with UW on Barking. It is like, Karl and Rick were pleased to bring that joy to those people. This new track; UW and HC probably really liked working together, and Scribble is one of the big hits off the album Barking, so perhaps HC wanted to work with UW on another track, and so eventually this song came about.

[big screen satellite]

Don't like this at all. I really can't stand that autotune sound. The times that I loved everything UW were putting out (some tracks took some time, but still..) are gone.

What's next? David Guetta ft. Underworld & Rihanna?

Und-brella?

[DwarfeD]

Und-brella?

Made me laugh :D

Other option: "Only Pearl's Girl (In The World)"

[testudo]

I think there next album should have them collaborating with Prince... and that's... maybe just a whole cover album of Prince songs... I'd take also take an Underworld cover album of Kraftwerk songs as well. I wonder what song's they'd choose.

[SappysCurry]

Don't like this at all. I really can't stand that autotune sound. The times that I loved everything UW were putting out (some tracks took some time, but still..) are gone.

What's next? David Guetta ft. Underworld & Rihanna?

I just threw up in my mouth.

[Andrea]

The song is not the U/W song that I´m going to listen to over and over again but is it really so bad if a real musician want to test other things?
...apropos of ordinary day :)

[potatobroth]

The song is not the U/W song that I´m going to listen to over and over again but is it really so bad if a real musician want to test other things?
...apropos of ordinary day :)

not its not so bad to try different things: ala Barking. The crux of this debate has always been that UW aren't like those other bands, and thats why this message board exists: like-minded listeners. When they collaborate with those other bands that many of us thing sound awful, you get this reaction.

Yeah this wasn't an UW song, and I'm glad. Just hoping out loud that this isn't the direction.

[khouri]

Completely shit.

[darktrain]

There have been a small handful of underworld's songs I didn't like so much.
There have been a few that I didn't "get".
There have been some songs that didn't turn out the way I'd hoped based on early/live versions.

But this is the first thing they've done that I've down right hated.
:(

I know it's technically a High Contrast song, but with that much auto-tune and dilution of what makes uw great in the first place, why bother at all? Those who don't know underworld won't care that they're on the song, and those who do probably won't like it.

[froopy seal]

On second listen, I think High Contrast's music is ok, as new pop music goes. Karl's voice, on the other hand, sounds too artificial, squeaky, cheesy. Don't know what Tiesto's contribution was but so far the "Underworld" part in the artist name sticks out as the most unfavourable bit.

[testudo]

Karl + Autotune = pointless and sad... I blame Rick!

[DaddyAdv]

To quote the great Spike Milligan:

I don't like it.
I don't like it at all.

[Lx_Nen]

If only the rest of the notes were too.

[Strawman]

If only the rest of the notes were too.


haha...that really made me laugh....although after a few listens I find myself liking it.
I just really hope that uw just keep making their own music and this is not 'a new direction for them'. As I saw somewhere on Youtube, someone said that uw music should have it's own category called better than anything else!

[Sappys Curry]

As I saw somewhere on Youtube, someone said that uw music should have it's own category called better than anything else!


You know, I pretty much agree with that. :D

[joethelion]

I've listened to it quite a few times recently...

I really don't find the song to be THAT bad... but - the autotune vocal on the intro is horrible

I'm hoping that it sounds better on the 'proper' version (not recorded off the radio) b/c each time I've listened to the song, it becomes increasingly hard not to just fast forward over the intro

the beat's ok and once the track gets moving, I don't mind the vocals - but that intro ...ugh

[TheBang]

Here's the official music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOJyegyRbM&hd=1

The single is due for release on October 31:

1. The First Note Is Silent (Radio Edit) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
2. The First Note Is Silent (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
3. The First Note Is Silent (Instrumental) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
4. Fearful Symmetry

iTunes US (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=xfg6zEPlSzU&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fu s%252Fpreorder%252Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%252Fid470507806%253FpartnerId%253D30)
iTunes UK (http://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=23708&a=1858036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fpreorder% 2Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%2Fid470507806%3FpartnerId%3D2003)

[the mongoose]

The video is nice (!), and love the normal vox near the end too. Kinda strange finally hearing the track without that "ANNIE MAC RADIO ONE YOOOAAALP!!" sample and the crude cutoff mid-track.;)

[Champiness]

I found both this image and song to be very appropriate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J99EV6tp6X4&feature=related

[Dirty0900]

Here's the official music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOJyegyRbM&hd=1

The single is due for release on October 31:

1. The First Note Is Silent (Radio Edit) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
2. The First Note Is Silent (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
3. The First Note Is Silent (Instrumental) (feat. Tiësto & Underworld)
4. Fearful Symmetry

iTunes US (http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=xfg6zEPlSzU&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fu s%252Fpreorder%252Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%252Fid470507806%253FpartnerId%253D30)
iTunes UK (http://clk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=23708&a=1858036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fgb%2Fpreorder% 2Fthe-first-note-is-silent-feat.%2Fid470507806%3FpartnerId%3D2003)

And UW are playing a gig then, wonder if they'll recreate it live like they did with Downpipe.

[holden]

And UW are playing a gig then, wonder if they'll recreate it live like they did with Downpipe.


Maybe that'd help the track!

Since "Downpipe" was played so regularly during the last tour, i have come to think of it as an Underworld track with additional production a la the rest of the tracks on Barking. Plus, it's dang catchy.

"TFNIS" strikes me simply as Karl loaning his vocals to HC's track. No idea what Tiesto contributed. In any case, its not growing on me.

[TheBang]

"TFNIS" strikes me simply as Karl loaning his vocals to HC's track. No idea what Tiesto contributed.
"Expect soaring, feel-good synths with the uplifting rush of Tiësto's trademark trance, euphoric piano keys, pounding drums and yearning polished vocals from Karl Hyde in "The First Note Is Silent", gelled together in with the expansive widescreen production for which High Contrast has become known."

[froopy seal]

The video is nice (!)Agree. Just glad they didn't focus on that guy setting fire to himself.

[vacant]

it looks like this is getting a physical release too

[ultradave]

"Expect soaring, feel-good synths with the uplifting rush of Tiësto's trademark trance, euphoric piano keys, pounding drums and yearning polished vocals from Karl Hyde in "The First Note Is Silent", gelled together in with the expansive widescreen production for which High Contrast has become known."

That's pretty spot on from my initial reaction to the track. At first listen it was kind of like oil on water. UW is like pure water - natural and refreshing. Add a little oil such as that from Tiesto and HC and you get this blend of purity with toxicity.

I've yet to play this loud in a lone dark corner to really analyze and see what my true thoughts are of it, but I did I have to purchase the single on iTunes because I cannot NOT have any track that features some aspect of Underworld. :D

[Champiness]

Sorry about the completely needless bump (though is it bumping if the thread is stickied?), but my ambivalence about this track has suddenly evaporated - I really like it!

[stimpee]

I must admit, i havent heard this more than a few times. Tiesto cocking his leg up and spraying all over the track makes it unlistenable.

[hypeless]

masa7315 has done a piano cover of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5qTshqYvhs&feature=digest_tue

his other piano covers are pretty great too.

[joethelion]

I must admit, i havent heard this more than a few times. Tiesto cocking his leg up and spraying all over the track makes it unlistenable.

...there's now also a "Tiesto Remix" of the track...
(not sure when it came out - I just happened to search 'Underworld' on iTunes


I haven't heard the full song, just the iTunes sample

it seems that the vocals are more upfront, maybe? And (obviously) all of High Constrast's percussion is gone...

[TheBang]

Yeah, the remix came out very shortly after the single did.

[Champiness]

Yeah, he just kind of put the vocals over a more generic Tiestoey track. For seven. Agonizing. Minutes.

[big screen satellite]

I quite like Tiesto - he's awesome :)

[froopy seal]

Please leave your proclivity for sun-tanned Dutch farm workers aside, Matt. We're talking about Tiesto's crimes against music here.

[Professor]

to be honest, I saw High Contrast on Friday... he actually had a great set. He dropped UW second tune in and everyone went bonkers. I wasn't hugest fan of the this new one, but in a club environment, it makes more sense. His set blew Camo and Krooked and Netsky's away.

[Andrea]

He dropped UW second tune in.... hmm what is that mean? A song from Barking? (sorry for my bad english).

I have never heard HC play live but I guess his style fits perfect at clubs.

[joethelion]

he's saying that -

the second song that High Contrast played when he dj-ed was 'the First Note is Silent'

[Andrea]

Thank you :)