Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"

[mark3]

If DRIFT Episode 1: DUST was the spark and surge of a journey beginning, DRIFT Episode 2: ATOM explodes skywards before splitting off to explore multiple new paths.

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Sleeve Notes (https://underworldlive.com/drift/sleeve-notes/) are a new addition to DRIFT in this episode…
New link: https://underworldlive.com/sleeve-notes/drift-1-2-atom-sleeve-notes/
Other link: https://underworldlive.com/drift-old-version/sleeve-notes/
Archived link: https://web.archive.org/web/20190308223517if_/https://underworldlive.com/drift/sleeve-notes/

Rick and Karl in conversation and a bunch of other stuff from the past 6 weeks drifting through Episode 2…

The ATOM journey begins with a minimalist, hypnotic small hours techno glide (Appleshine), heads out past the emerging shoots of a spring green pastoral England (Molehill); onwards and upwards with 15 minutes of deep and occasionally discomfiting analogue machine music (Threat of Rain), down the tarmac of Europe endless all through the night (Brussels); crossing continents to wake up at a prismatic electro-carnival in the heart of New Orleans (Soniamode) before finally stretching out into mesmerising 47 minute long head trip that returns to the beginning of the journey (Appleshine Continuum recorded with Australian trio The Necks). It is unpredictable and uncompromising. It’s uniquely Underworld.

“The Drift experience is one of a torrent of ideas, with its own internal logic… (where) instinct, experience and chance lead to a strange kind of harmony.” Mojo

“Hugely ambitious and unimaginably relentless… each weekly release thematically bleeds into the next, creating a weaving storyline that threads through the whole. Watching and listening to this ever-evolving project feels like unpacking a Russian doll.” Q

DRIFT, Episode 2 Recap
Drift, Ep 2, Pt 5: Soniamode - A voice chants with the innocent menace of a 50’s playground rhyme, carried along by the tumbling celebration of a brass band playing Glitch
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 4: Brussels - almost impossibly beautiful music pulled together from what should be incongruous parts
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 3: Threat of Rain - a murky locked techno groove
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 2: Mole Hill - something of an unexpected gear change. A gleaming cascade of piano, guitar and wordless choral voices
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 1: Appleshine - a minimalist, hypnotic small hours glide; a techno pulse wound tightly around a daydream vocal

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Just a playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLehAq9SJvDGgDhU5ou2mh_iaUBomHYfJn)a tm ...

Still hoping for a continuous mix, this episode has been fantastic

[purlieu]

Fairly extensive sleeve notes (https://underworldlive.com/drift/sleeve-notes/). Mid-way through at the minute, really lovely reading so far.

[TheBang]

So, they've added a new 1.5 minute coda to Molehill. And they trimmed off the opening seconds of Threat of Rain, going straight into the beats.

Otherwise, no differences on the other tracks between this and what was released before. No track mixing on this Drift release either.

[saintrik]

Interesting that DRIFT Episode 1 has been retitled DRIFT Episode 1 "DUST" on most music services.

These notes (https://underworldlive.com/drift/sleeve-notes/) for Episode 2 are amazing. Makes me wish this kind of glimpse into their process was available for all of the releases!

https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music114/v4/d4/6f/fa/d46ffa3b-d7e3-3846-5ebb-e29eca670de6/00602577560613.rgb.jpg/800x0w.jpg

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

RICK
Yeah, Appleshine. One of the five or six jams that we recorded with the Necks. How did this start? You met the Necks quite a while ago now?


well then

[darkvoice]

Is it me, but Soniamode sounds horrible and way louder than the other tracks?

[potatobroth]

im pretty confused here. Assuming its not worth spending the $8US for this when we've already downloaded all the tracks for free, right?

[TheBang]

Is it me, but Soniamode sounds horrible and way louder than the other tracks?
No, you're right, something terrible has happened to the mastering on it. I hope they can fix it quickly. I think it's already been pushed out to the retail platforms, though. It's up on TIDAL (https://tidal.com/us/store/album/105063662) and I expect it will show up on others shortly.
Edit: Sounds OK on iTunes and Japan retailers. Sounds blown out on TIDAL, Google Play, Amazon, and Spotify.
Edit 2: UW HQ are looking into the issue.

im pretty confused here. Assuming its not worth spending the $8US for this when we've already downloaded all the tracks for free, right?
Up to you. The main reason to buy it is if you want lossless or 24-bit lossless. Also to support the band. The other reasons would be to get the extended version of Molehill and shorter version of Threat of Rain.

[TheBang]

RICK
Yeah, Appleshine. One of the five or six jams that we recorded with the Necks. How did this start? You met the Necks quite a while ago now?

AIR Studios session with The Necks, April 2-4, 2018:

http://karlhyde.underworldlive.com/2018/04/05/thursday-5th-april/

BhGgBoSnPu5BhHiClGHd72BhJlYyTnNq1BhJqTz0Hvi7BhKTqc indC5

[WhiteNoise]

Fairly extensive sleeve notes (https://underworldlive.com/drift/sleeve-notes/). Mid-way through at the minute, really lovely reading so far.
An unbelievable joy to read. It's always a treat to hear more about the process, and a window in where that process is now, after so many years of working together. Just phenomenal. I'd listen to Rick preach about how he keeps his archives organized for half an hour if he'd do it.


A gorgeous release in general, has me giddy like the old radio broadcasts used to. Love everything happening in Drift.

[purlieu]

Finally finished reading all that. Absolutely wonderful start to finish.

[TheBang]

Observations from the Sleeve Notes:

Unreleased songs mentioned that we might get later in Drift:
Your Damage
Two Arrows
Toluca Stars


Nice to have the Appeshine lyrics typed out.

Mentions of Soniamode getting more life after this Drift release and the ambient version of Brussels (without the Million Little Matchsticks beats)

Another Silent Way recorded on Sept. 18, 2014, in the middle of the Barbara Barbara sessions.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

you know what would be a great track for a future Drift, "Bamboo"

[TheBang]

The issue with Soniamode has been identified, and the corrected file being pushed out to platforms by tomorrow morning. Try to check the audio preview first before buying anything.

[crank]

Todd-
Since you have connections to your boys over at UW HQ ask them if there's any chance of a physical. I'd love to get my mitts on some vinyls or heck even a cd box...

[Billy Goat]

you know what would be a great track for a future Drift, "Bamboo"
100% agree! And 5 points!🤞😂

[dubman]

For as much as i don't like Molehill, it's absolutely a key piece of what makes Drift special, and I love their conversation about it. Really excited that this is where they are after this long.


A huge thing for me with the Drift project is that it draws, it keeps pointing at that. It keeps pointing at the breadth of strangeness or things that wouldn’t normally, you wouldn’t normally think would appear in the same catalogue and and probably a lot of the things that wouldn’t make it to an album if you had to make it a cull and a short-list.


.... well.... i mean,
we weren't exactly saying no to more b-sides were we
do... they do know this site exists, yes?

[saintrik]

Unreleased songs mentioned that we might get later in Drift:
Your Damage
Two Arrows
Toluca Stars


What about A Million Matchsticks? Is it something else entirely - or an element of Brussels?

[potatobroth]

100% agree! And 5 points!🤞😂

;)

[potatobroth]

eh, i grabbed it. love this release!

[iamneorev]

Up on Qobuz, hopefully Soniamode sounds good...

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/drift-episode-2-atom-underworld/xav89zbv8ooqb

[joethelion]

100% agree! And 5 points!🤞😂

YES.

also, I'm shocked that "Another Silent Way" was recorded during the 'Barbara' sessions...

Honestly, it has everything that's missing from the tracks on that album.

[iamneorev]

Japan has a 24 bit option...
https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/286104


UGH... gonna be a painful wait until I can buy this release with my check in a couple of weeks.

[crank]

Molehill is quite different than the version they gave away- especially the ending. Maybe i've just been skipping it more?

[TheBang]

Japan has a 24 bit option...
I'm not sure why US and UK retailers don't have 24-bit releases for both ATOM and the Appleshine Continuum releases, and yet Japan retailers do. Everything else released since last year has had 24-bit, so I'll ask what's going on. Hopefully just an oversight.

Molehill is quite different than the version they gave away- especially the ending. Maybe i've just been skipping it more?
It's only different from the 3:40 mark where the new vocals come in. In the original version, it just went into the quiet outro. In the new version, that outro is delayed 1.5 minutes for the new vocal section.

[Drix]

I'm not sure why US and UK retailers don't have 24-bit releases for both ATOM and the Appleshine Continuum releases, and yet Japan retailers do. Everything else released since last year has had 24-bit, so I'll ask what's going on. Hopefully just an oversight.

Those two are not MQA in Tidal either. Hope to see them changed! :)

[crank]

It's only different from the 3:40 mark where the new vocals come in. In the original version, it just went into the quiet outro. In the new version, that outro is delayed 1.5 minutes for the new vocal section.

Yeah, I 'm glad. It really improves it.

[TheBang]

Soniamode seems to be fixed everywhere, except Amazon (and streaming on Spotify and Deezer). Redownload if you bought it yesterday.

[iamneorev]

Soniamode seems to be fixed everywhere, except Amazon (and streaming on Spotify and Deezer). Redownload if you bought it yesterday.


Ugh! The download I have in FLAC seems to be the bad master. Tried redownloading it with no luck. Does anyone have the better master of Soniamode in FLAC?

[saintrik]

Ugh! The download I have in FLAC seems to be the bad master. Tried redownloading it with no luck. Does anyone have the better master of Soniamode in FLAC?

Where did you download from?

[iamneorev]

Where did you download from?


I bought mine off 7Digital. They seem to be clueless when I wrote them. This sucks.

[iamneorev]

The issue with Soniamode has been identified, and the corrected file being pushed out to platforms by tomorrow morning. Try to check the audio preview first before buying anything.


Ugh, I bought from 7Digital and my Soniamode is still crap master. Tried writing them and they seem daft about the situation. Been trying to explain to them the situation. It seems Deezer also has not fixed theirs.Ugh, I wanna listen to this EP proper already! I'm waiting until the fix to listen to the EP as a whole. I've been trying to warn others about this issue. Sucks as an artist when something like this happens and people are listening to a compromised version.

[taotsu]

Japan has a 24 bit option...
https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/286104


UGH... gonna be a painful wait until I can buy this release with my check in a couple of weeks.

Thank you. Got mine on iTunes for now, but I will get back there to buy them soon! Yay!

[taotsu]

Love this whole thing and while I did like Molehill from the start, the Coda makes it even richer.

I am a bit sad to loose the noise intro to Threat of Rain; I really like that kind of stuff, but coming in from the Coda of Molehill I can get the idea.

And by god, please, pretty please, Sleeve notes for the next releases, too! They are awesome! Though I would also love the original recordings of each discussion. Reading it is fine, but I love to hear them talking shop. :)

Finally, I really wonder what's next. Episode 3 or a break with some fancy pants unreleased stuff? (I would take either, but honestly I am bonkers for some new old stock :D )

[iamneorev]

Can anyone tell me of a lossless store or stores where the download was corrected? If I must rebuy it, I wanna make sure I don't go thru this again.

[Cadevil]

Finally, I really wonder what's next. Episode 3 or a break with some fancy pants unreleased stuff? (I would take either, but honestly I am bonkers for some new old stock :D )

Answer is in the News Section on UWlive about this release:

The next DRIFT episode begins on March 28th.

[taotsu]

Answer is in the News Section on UWlive about this release:

I did not see this. Nice, so we have space for possible extras?! Pretty please :D

[taotsu]

Was looking through Simon Taylors Instagram feed and came across this gem from APRIL 4, 2018:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhI-Yd0lYBa/

(I do not get the instagram embedded to work :confused:

This was not in the notes, was it?

[marcolphus]

I am really disappointed with this release. Drift Episode 1 was very, very, very good, fascinating, great, outrageous etc. Episode 2 is dull, boring and most tracks are totally pointless. Appleshine Continuum is so boring that I barely listened to it once.

[WhiteNoise]

Completely the opposite. This is turning into one of my favorite offbeat releases of theirs. Drift 1 was a three tracks of straight madness with a let down of an ending. Drift 2 strikes a brilliant balance between the madness and color in Underworld, and brings back the long-form jams!

[dubman]

Seeing as how I’m ambivalent about soniamode and not a fan of Molehill, ATOM is a pretty subdued listen but I think it’s an overall success and I’m real excited for what’s next. Threat of Rain is just fantastic.

[khouri]

I enjoy a number of them but personally I'm not sure any of the Drift tracks rate next to stuff from the proper albums. They all seem like jams to me. But I think that's fine? The stated purpose of Drift seems to be about process more than results.

[potatobroth]

Completely the opposite. This is turning into one of my favorite offbeat releases of theirs. Drift 1 was a three tracks of straight madness with a let down of an ending. Drift 2 strikes a brilliant balance between the madness and color in Underworld, and brings back the long-form jams!

all this.

[dirty050505]

Not sure but would all of Drift 2 fit on to an 80 minute CDR? Thanks

[TheBang]

No, it's about 86 minutes. Maybe you could trim off some of Appleshine Continuum.

[Dino3D]

They should release a double disc set with Ep 1 and Ep 2!

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

if you overburn it I think you could


otherwise you can just consider this a double LP.


personally, I think it's incredible. I liked Ep 1 a lot but this one's a lot meatier.

[holden]

Soniamode seems to be fixed everywhere, except Amazon (and streaming on Spotify and Deezer). Redownload if you bought it yesterday.

For what it's worth, Soniamode streaming on Napster is still an overloaded mess (yeah, who uses Napster anymore? Well, they bought and rebranded Rhapsody, of which I was a fan, good selection and always has new releases).

Listening through the EP, i keep catching little blips and elements I hadn't picked up on before. This one is really quite immersive, if that's the right word...just great headphone music!

[TheBang]

I bought mine off 7Digital. They seem to be clueless when I wrote them. This sucks.
Sounds like it's fixed on 7Digital (and Amazon and Spotify) now. Try downloading again?

[iamneorev]

Sounds like it's fixed on 7Digital (and Amazon and Spotify) now. Try downloading again?

Thanks! Will try redownloading

[purlieu]

You could whack Appleshine Continuum on a second disc. Personally I find it too long, but I might consider making a 25 minute edit that I'd really enjoy and then burn that to disc.

I'll probably just wait until they conclude the series and see if they do put out a compilation of bits from the EPs like has been hinted.

[dubman]

I'll probably just wait until they conclude the series and see if they do put out a compilation of bits from the EPs like has been hinted.


i can't wait for the absolute mess of "albums" we're gonna try to assemble out of this

[purlieu]

It's a fascinating time to be a music fan, as we're still in this very bizarre mid-ground between quick-turnaround digital-only releases and a lingering desire to release traditional albums, and different artists are experimenting with the form in different ways. I don't see myself abandoning the Album, but I love the fact that people are playing around with these things.

[holden]

It's a fascinating time to be a music fan, as we're still in this very bizarre mid-ground between quick-turnaround digital-only releases and a lingering desire to release traditional albums, and different artists are experimenting with the form in different ways. I don't see myself abandoning the Album, but I love the fact that people are playing around with these things.

Totally agree with you! It's a fine time to be a fan, gifted by new tunes and unreleased gems each week. Not since 2005-06 with The RiverRun and fresh live cuts have we heard so much new material. I really appreciate Rick and Karl's commitment to the process, especially after reading the Atom EP 2 liner notes. It's not easy to keep this pace, but I'm thrilled about everything they've shared.

I burned the Ep2 tracks to disc (ok, Appleshine Continuum is on a second CD) and am really enjoying the immersion. Do you think they have a theme in mind for each EP? Or do the tracks just FIT together? Contextualization from the listener? In any case, both Drift EPs have gone down cohesively for me.