Strawberry Hotel - new album out 25th Oct

[Dirty Saint]

Looks like a new album is to drop 25th Oct :D

https://music.apple.com/nz/album/strawberry-hotel/1761865594

https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel

[Dirty0900]

Not on Spotify yet.

[evwhitton16]

Fantastic news! My only question is what happened to Strawberry Hotel the song? working title? shame if it was left off cos it was great

[Dino3D]

Finally!

[purlieu]

16 tracks. So... very long album, lots of short tracks, or deluxe extended edition. Interesting to see the a capella of 'Denver Luna' on there, I do enjoy reprises and linked pieces throughout an album.

[Dino3D]

I think this is a deluxe itunes version. Very unlikely to have a 15 track UW album and I don't think that the acapella version would be on a main album. I think the main album would ending with track 10.


Anyway I disappointed in the cover art. I hoped that album cover will be the same style as Denver and Red, only some blurry colors with that gorgeous UW lettering. Sadly that logo is too small on the cover and too many thing happening on the cover.

[saintrik]

https://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/0/Music221/v4/59/b2/89/59b28939-3a32-34bb-8b9d-e63ddd1b8635/24SYMIM14419.rgb.jpg

Strawberry Hotel
1 Black Poppies 2:52
2 denver luna 8:01
3 Techno Shinkansen 3:23
4 and the colour red 5:42
5 Sweet Lands Experience 4:44
6 Lewis In Pomona 5:38
7 Hilo Sky 5:04
8 Burst of Laughter 3:27
9 King of Haarlem 3:46
10 Ottavia 5:00
11 denver luna (acappella) 2:27
12 Gene Pool 9:07
13 Oh Thorn! 1:59
14 Iron Bones 4:39
15 Stick Man Test 2:35

Japan-only Bonus Track
16 Velvet Does

Total length: 01:08:24
c 2024 Underworld t/a Smith Hyde Productions

Apple Music
US: https://music.apple.com/us/album/strawberry-hotel/1761865594
UK: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/strawberry-hotel/1761865594

Qobuz
US: https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/strawberry-hotel-underworld/wbjl275992f9a
UK: https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/strawberry-hotel-underworld/wbjl275992f9a

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

I think Dino is probably right. though "Gene Pool" is def strong enough for the album.

do we know if that's the cover art? if so, very unusual for UW...but then again, so was Drift. and Barking for that matter.

[TheBang]

All track runtimes here:
https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/strawberry-hotel-underworld/wbjl275992f9a

Total album runtime: 68:24

That is the (digital) cover art. They could have different ones for the physical products though. High res artwork here:
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music221/v4/59/b2/89/59b28939-3a32-34bb-8b9d-e63ddd1b8635/24SYMIM14419.rgb.jpg/3000x3000bb.png

Black Poppies is being released as a single tomorrow, and has its own cover art too:
https://www.qobuz.com/nz-en/album/black-poppies-underworld/puorsofzmdylc

[Dino3D]

Still don't understand what's going on with UW. What is this silence from them? All the album infos out there but they still haven't announced nothing, WTF is gonig on??

[Dirty0900]

There’s a lot going on in the artwork. Like the subtle picture of Rick and Karl.

[negative1]

well, good to finally get news about the album.

the first single is very short though.....hmmmm.

well, time to update the discography listings again.

later
|| | ||| | |
ne gative 1

[Vancouver]

Still don't understand what's going on with UW. What is this silence from them? All the album infos out there but they still haven't announced nothing, WTF is gonig on??
Thinking digital sites may have jumped the gun? Odd for that to happen in more than one site though....

[aphasein]

So...... yeah. A lot to unpack here, including no Strawberry Hotel track itself, and Denver Luna and Gene Pool being the only long tracks. And no continuing with the recent cover style, and no reason really to even have the same logo font it's so small. And a really odd choice of photos/design overall, including the Black Poppies one. And some really odd song titles, even for them. And no actual news to fans or general public announcement. And I gotta stop. Careful what you wish for.....

[saintrik]

Why assume that they don't have a coordinated roll-out plan for tomorrow (Friday), when the new single is actually available in the UK and US? The links that were shared were from NZ/AU where it was already Friday.

Seems to me like they get one good shot at press in the online outlets (Pitchfork, Stereogum, NME, etc.) and want to advertise the new album and new single when they can actually be purchased/pre-ordered in the biggest markets.

I imagine they also released information to retail a few weeks ago with an embargo on sharing publicly, and we saw a few minor online retailers screw that up. There's probably also a press embargo at play.

Difficult to have a coordinated international campaign and also cater to the trainspotters who are hunting for any internet morsel.

[aphasein]

This is closer to what I was expecting. We'll see if it fits, may end up using it instead. :(

https://i.postimg.cc/JGh18wwH/UW-Strawberry-Hotel-1500x1500.png (https://postimg.cc/JGh18wwH)

[TheBang]

The Store's been updated, and everything's been posted for sale:

https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel

No limited editions that I can see. Just the double vinyl, and CD. Several shirts based on the tchotchkes in the album art photo, a couple lithos, and a keyring.

Also, you can sign up to be in fucking Underworld now:
https://www.iifu.club/

[ultradave]

I'm not gonna lie. This seems a bit of a let down for an album release. I think the only thing that will get me excited about this LP is if the track we all heard titled as Strawberry Hotel be on the album. I have no issue if they gave it another title, but the options are slim considering the bulk of the track times are rather short. This has to be the worse album cover in UW history. The artwork for Black Poppies is even better. aphasein - I think I'll use your album cover too! Don't get me wrong, I am excited for a new UW album for sure... I just don't know how I feel about this one - guess I will have to wait until October 25th to find out. I do hope some of these smaller tracks are blended into other tracks on the album.

[TheBang]

A few observations based on the credits on the back cover of the vinyl:

Art by YEAR0001 https://year0001.com/
Nina Nastasia appears on Iron Bones
Esme wrote and performs Ottavia. It's transcribed from Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'incoronazione_di_Poppea), so it may be a choral piece (like "A Moth at the Door" in Drift).

[TheBang]

R&K will be on Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC 6 Music sometime in the next hour to discuss the new album:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00228sr

[Dirty0900]

I like the artwork. Part of me feels there’s a it of hidden Easter eggs. It’s better than the Drift artwork.

Hoping I can buy from Bandcamp for a digital copy.

[Dirty0900]

R&K will be on Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC 6 Music sometime in the next hour to discuss the new album:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00228sr

Wasn?t much. Just a mini pre recorded intro with them introducing. Interestingly , Karl said ?do not shuffle.? Which is in the press release.

[TheBang]

I like the artwork. Part of me feels there?s a it of hidden Easter eggs. It?s better than the Drift artwork.
There's a key to the tableau in the gatefold artwork of the vinyl and CD.

Hoping I can buy from Bandcamp for a digital copy.
Unfortunately, I don't think it will be on Bandcamp. You will be able to buy digital copies from the usual digital retailer places though, like iTunes or Amazon, or Qobuz for high-res lossless.

[negative1]

The Store's been updated, and everything's been posted for sale:

https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel

No limited editions that I can see. Just the double vinyl, and CD. Several shirts based on the tchotchkes in the album art photo, a couple lithos, and a keyring.

Also, you can sign up to be in fucking Underworld now:
https://www.iifu.club/

well, i'm getting the LP and cd version..
but yeah, i'm sure they'll put out a deluxe version at some point.

they've been doing it for several versions.

but you could just also buy all the art and keyring and put that together too.

later
| || | | | | | ||
ne gative 1

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

And some really odd song titles, even for them.

I remember when Oblivion With Bells came out half the people here thought the tracklisting was fake :)

[StrangeLastName]

While the artwork is different from the messy aesthetic of Dubnobass or STITI or Barking, I don't think it's outside of their aesthetic at all, especially when you think of some of the (intentionally ugly, IMHO) single covers in the Hundred Days Off era. As for me, I think this direction is way more interesting and adventurous than the Drift project aesthetic.

I don't think I ever expected the album artwork to follow the single artwork of Denver Luna and And The Color Red... they were clearly placeholders while they settled on the art direction for the album.

[StrangeLastName]

This is very cool. I'm excited to hear that.

A few observations based on the credits on the back cover of the vinyl:

Art by YEAR0001 https://year0001.com/
Nina Nastasia appears on Iron Bones
Esme wrote and performs Ottavia. It's transcribed from Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'incoronazione_di_Poppea), so it may be a choral piece (like "A Moth at the Door" in Drift).

[cdave2]

Just got the email announcement this morning. Great news to wake up to!

Hoping ?Strawberry Hotel? (the song) will still show up under a different title.

I?m relieved that the pricing is more moderate this time around. As much as I love the high-end special editions, they?re usually a stretch for my budget, and very limited to boot. This release is much more egalitarian.

[darmok]

I'm not gonna lie. This seems a bit of a let down for an album release.


I don't know about you, but I haven't heard the whole album yet. Hard to say it's a letdown until then, especially when they say "don't shuffle".

[purlieu]

I'm not gonna lie. This seems a bit of a let down for an album release. I think the only thing that will get me excited about this LP is if the track we all heard titled as Strawberry Hotel be on the album. I have no issue if they gave it another title, but the options are slim considering the bulk of the track times are rather short. This has to be the worse album cover in UW history. The artwork for Black Poppies is even better. aphasein - I think I'll use your album cover too! Don't get me wrong, I am excited for a new UW album for sure... I just don't know how I feel about this one - guess I will have to wait until October 25th to find out. I do hope some of these smaller tracks are blended into other tracks on the album.

Slightly baffled by this negativity. I mean yeah, the cover's not a classic. Lots of short tracks and the phrase "Please don't shuffle" suggests to me that we're probably going to be looking at four side-long suites. Two of the tracks we've heard from the album so far are beatless, two solid techno tracks, so it looks like it'll have a good range of styles. The tracks heard live are promising. So... yeah, I'm optimistic this will be, at the very least, an interesting album.

[dubman]

Yeah, I also don’t get the pre-disappointment here. Coming up with your alternate reality for it already is a bit embarrassing tbh. I like the cover more than I did for drift, and the short tracks suggest (to me anyway) more of a big bouquet rather than some epic journey (though it could still be that!). I hope strawberry hotel the track is here under different name(s), but otherwise I’m hyped.

[Dirty0900]

Think the album was finished in May from instagram. Glad it’s a short announcement until release.

[evwhitton16]

I think the only thing that will get me excited about this LP is if the track we all heard titled as Strawberry Hotel be on the album. I have no issue if they gave it another title, but the options are slim considering the bulk of the track times are rather short.

tbh I agree but given that Gene Pool live was 10 min and here it's nine, the OG version of SH may well be Sweet Lands Experience (4:44) or more likely (Lewis In Pomona) 5:38 or Hilo Sky (5:04) given it's runtime. plus, even live it sounded basically finished and correct me if I'm wrong but they seem to very rarely bin finished tracks.

[ultradave]

I don't know about you, but I haven't heard the whole album yet. Hard to say it's a letdown until then, especially when they say "don't shuffle".

Sorry, what I meant was the radio silence on when and if an LP would drop. I had just decided to stop in on the forums to see if any news came up, but nothing solid and then I wake up to an email to pre-order the new album. It didn't leave me with much anticipation like in the past. New album excitement was missed. As far as the music goes, I'm always excited to get new UW tracks regardless of style and length. I absolutely love Denver Luna (Acapella) and I am glad to see that both versions of DL will be on the new album and the "don't shuffle" comment gives me something to look forward to. Don't read too much into my rants. I've been a huge UW fan since 96 and after all these years I never skip Born Slippy.NUXX!!!

[ultradave]

Interestingly, I received an email from Bandcamp that targets the UW Store for the album pre-order. Not sure if this means they will have some involvement with Bandcamp. Maybe a digital copy provided with the album... question mark.

[StrangeLastName]

If you've purchased from them on Bandcamp, it basically just signs you up for their mailing list, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll have any Bandcamp releases.

I see a few people mentioning a deluxe edition. Is there a reason we're assuming this will happen, or have their been any hints on that? I thought that the Drift box set was announced at the same time as the "regular" versions.

[TheBang]

I see a few people mentioning a deluxe edition. Is there a reason we're assuming this will happen, or have their been any hints on that? I thought that the Drift box set was announced at the same time as the "regular" versions.
Yeah, I don't think there will be a deluxe edition. All the past ones that have had "bigger" versions (OwB, Barking, BBWFASF, Drift) were all announced at the same time as the regular editions. If they announce a deluxe edition later (in the coming weeks and days), everyone will complain that they already ordered the "standard" edition. It's possible that there could be an "expanded" edition in 6 months or a year, like some artists put out to extended the album lifecycle. But that doesn't really seem like Underworld's style. I think the album is their statement, and that's it.

Based on preliminary information, It doesn't even look like Japan is getting a bonus track this time around.

[Cadevil]

Maybe disappointment is the wrong word, but I even found the email announcement a bit lacking compared to previous album announcements. They've always given some depth or context, and this one was just a date and pre-order link...a bit cold really.

I'm not sure who is handling the marketing/PR right now but it's just a bit weird. Had to poke around on the shop website to get a proper description that would add to the excitement (see below). If this was written already, why not include it in the announcement? It all just lands really flat, for a band that has never been that way. In the past, these announcements always have been about sharing R & K's excitement about what they've created...not feeling it here...yet.

From the LP description:
Welcome to Strawberry Hotel.

Here, gleaming tensile techno forms clean, straight lines while scratchy acoustic guitars scuff up edges to produce ghostly audio. Poetry is snatched from the overhead, removed from the overheard; words borrowed from the ether are spun into dizzying new shapes, sometimes reappearing in new settings, twisted back to front, side to side. Each track a very different room - some soundtracked by little more than metronomic kick drum and robotic voice, others deep in layer upon layer of melody and euphoric noise - and each room unmistakably, uniquely Underworld. The only advice from Underworld?s Rick Smith and Karl Hyde upon entering: ?Please don?t shuffle.?

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

I did find it funny to get that email saying "we wanted you to hear it from us first" when the tracklisting was posted on streaming services days prior

I agree their marketing has always been bad/weird/confusing, I've gotten the sense that they haven't really wanted to make albums for a while, but do it anyway because that's what sells, and they haven't really figured out how exactly they *do* want to release their music. fwiw I think this thought process does coorelate to the ways their music has gotten fairly adventerous from Drift on, I suspect this album will have a few surprises on it

[Dirty0900]

On the CD, there’s an image of the balloon head from A Hundred Days Off and a Cuddly Bunny.

I hope this isn’t a cryptic way of telling us that things are ending.

[aphasein]

Looks like all of my thoughts so far, from the email news falling flat, to excitement at their album description and 15 new tracks, to the wondering which title the original Strawberry Hotel song has been renamed to, have been thoroughly covered now.

They seem to have really leaned into the still life objects altar thingy across all of the merch and breakdown of them on the album sleeve. It's all very cute (which is not something I expected to say about Underworld), but as a creative director it's leaving me baffled (maybe I'll eventually just be bemused).

I've mainly just been hoping for a Beaucoup Fish this time (given the epic new songs they played out, the previous artwork, and its spot at the end of another rough trilogy) and getting the vibe so far that it's probably more of a Barking.

For you, always...

[lemonjelly]

all this negativity confuses me.
I am well stoked for the new album. Really excited to hear it as a whole!
Interesting how many tracks there are on it - a lot for an UW album. I can't wait to see/hear how the album flows. Anticipating a number of styles.
Also, interesting there is no fen violet.
A large part of an album is the contrasts it contains. Like how it seems to have different styles.
For the first time ever, have pre-ordered the cd and vinyl from the store, alongside a tshirt.

[StrangeLastName]

Any theories to why the tracklist on the website (and the back cover as far as I can see) lists most of the titles in regular title case, but "denver luna" and "and the color red" in all lowercase?

[darmok]

I hope this isn't a cryptic way of telling us that things are ending.

If it is, then it's so cryptic that I don't get it.

[purlieu]

Any theories to why the tracklist on the website (and the back cover as far as I can see) lists most of the titles in regular title case, but "denver luna" and "and the color red" in all lowercase?

I mean, that's how they were listed on their respective 12" sleeves, and the art style has changed since then, so it might be because of that. Although that still doesn't really answer why they made such an odd decision.

[TheBang]

Any theories to why the tracklist on the website (and the back cover as far as I can see) lists most of the titles in regular title case, but "denver luna" and "and the color red" in all lowercase?
Yeah, I noticed that too. That's the way those two singles were released last year. I guess they decided to retain that, but not continue the aesthetic to the rest of the new tracks.

[TheBang]

I'm seeing preorders for the physical releases starting to appear at US retailers and Australia retailers. Still none appearing in Japan.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

all this negativity confuses me.
I am well stoked for the new album. Really excited to hear it as a whole!
Interesting how many tracks there are on it - a lot for an UW album. I can't wait to see/hear how the album flows. Anticipating a number of styles.
Also, interesting there is no fen violet.
A large part of an album is the contrasts it contains. Like how it seems to have different styles.
For the first time ever, have pre-ordered the cd and vinyl from the store, alongside a tshirt.

Totally. Underworld have been my favorite band ever since I got a Sony Walkman. They've earned it too. It started with Beacoup Fish and "Born Slippy", then discovering all the wonderful mid-90s stuff, then later having all the Riverrun stuff and OWB really grow on me, getting obsessed with Barking, BBWFASF as a 'return to form', all the amazing Drift tunes...nearly everything they do is special to me. They've been so good for so long. As for this new album, I really like what we've heard of it so far. I get the rollout has been weird, but it always is. I just hope there's more coming!

[botkiller]

Just went and pulled it up on Youtube to refresh myself. I'm pretty sure they played this in LA when I saw them last year (2023). I love this vibe from the boys and I would be curious what happened to the song itself as well. might be that it changed titles, much like how alwayslovedafilm morphed a few times.

[botkiller]

I assume it's stylistic, We know the boys and Tomato are all about the little things sometimes.

[dubman]

Just went and pulled it up on Youtube to refresh myself. I'm pretty sure they played this in LA when I saw them last year (2023). I love this vibe from the boys and I would be curious what happened to the song itself as well. might be that it changed titles, much like how alwayslovedafilm morphed a few times.

I also revisited Techno Shinkansen today just to feel out how it goes after Denver Luna, and it makes more sense that way than as a standalone (which I wasn't too plussed by). Did notice that the album version is about 30 seconds shorter than the one on the game soundtrack too. Maybe it's been restructured a bit,

[dubman]

I assume it's stylistic, We know the boys and Tomato are all about the little things sometimes.

I don't think Tomato are involved at all this round?

[potatobroth]

I keep doing what they don't want me to!! I'm playing the 4 released songs over and over and thus, shuffling!

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

I am curious if there's something more conceptual to this album that would make them say that. I am intrigued by the fact that there's 2 versions of "denver luna" on this. iirc I don't think they've done anything like that before, outside of maybe some of the Drift stuff

[potatobroth]

I am curious if there's something more conceptual to this album that would make them say that. I am intrigued by the fact that there's 2 versions of "denver luna" on this. iirc I don't think they've done anything like that before, outside of maybe some of the Drift stuff

Well they placed two versions of the same song on Beaucoup Fish: Push Upstairs and Push Downstairs.

[botkiller]

Oh weird, I didn't know that. The cover art is distinctly not Tomato so that would not surprise me. I guess regardless I have always seen UW as an art jam with the world's best music.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Well they placed two versions of the same song on Beaucoup Fish: Push Upstairs and Push Downstairs.

lol can't believe I missed that, I remember thinking there was one example out there but my mind blanked

[lemonjelly]

Totally. Underworld have been my favorite band ever since I got a Sony Walkman. They've earned it too. It started with Beacoup Fish and "Born Slippy", then discovering all the wonderful mid-90s stuff, then later having all the Riverrun stuff and OWB really grow on me, getting obsessed with Barking, BBWFASF as a 'return to form', all the amazing Drift tunes...nearly everything they do is special to me. They've been so good for so long. As for this new album, I really like what we've heard of it so far. I get the rollout has been weird, but it always is. I just hope there's more coming!
There is also the need to re-invent, challenge themselves, and create something new to make people (including themselves) go WOW!. First time I heard denver luna at the albert hall was immense.

I am looking forward to see how the album flows, view it as a whole piece.

[negative1]

this is by far the quietest release, and discussion i've seen for a new album from them.

but then again i didn't really pay attention when barking, or barbra barbra we face a shining future came out either. i did pay attention all through drift, and i dont think that will ever be matched again though.

since this is a traditional album, it was always going to be more low-key.

later
| || || ||
ne gative 1

[purlieu]

Barking got a lot of pages very quickly, and at least one spin-off thread (title complaining about PvD), although the somewhat contentious nature of the album certainly fed into that. I think Barbara was busier than this, too, but that's largely the nature of message boards these days. With social media and Reddit and the like, there's nobody to replace people when they leave, so it all ends up a bit... quiet.

[dubman]

I rarely hear about releases ahead of time, unless I have their insta added. Most of the time I'm pleasantly surprised by the custom RYM release calendar, which only goes ahead by a month or so. very "well how about that". It's kind of nice even if it makes me feel old. Music doesn't lead me by the nose like it used to. These are all artists, shifting in their own way, and you hope for an alignment. There isn't the absolutely toxic hoovering of material and aesthetics like it used to be.

[TheBang]

this is by far the quietest release, and discussion i've seen for a new album from them.
Yeah, as mentioned, traditional web forums have been largely supplanted by social media and other outlets. But I can add some numbers to it. In the run-up to Barking, we were averaging about 80-100 (logged-in) users visiting the forums per day. For Barbara Barbara, it was about 30-50. For Drift, on each weekly release date (Thursday), we'd get about 40 users. It picked up to about 50 users when the whole Series 1 release date arrived. For Strawberry Hotel, so far, it was about 40 users on the announcement day, and about 25 users per day since then.

That said, I think part of the problem is that there just isn't much to discuss about the album yet. Even on Reddit and the socials and Discord, there just isn't much to discuss yet, after the initial comments about the artwork and tracklisting and such. We've already heard and discussed the songs that have been released so far over the past year.

[TheBang]

There's something new called Strawberry Hotel Listening Party on the store, but nothing new listed there yet:
https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel-listening-party

Also, Japan is, in fact, getting a bonus track ("Velvet Does") on their domestic CD release:
https://www.virginmusic.jp/underworld/
https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Underworld_000000000001513/item_Strawberry-Hotel-SHM-CD_15286332

[saintrik]

Thanks for the info on the Japanese CD, The Bang.

Looking forward to this one!

[ultradave]

...
Also, Japan is, in fact, getting a bonus track ("Velvet Does") on their domestic CD release...

Of course I'd see this after I just pre-ordered the vinyl... :). Nice to see an alternate version of the LP. Aside from the artwork, which I'm still not quite sure about - but I'll take back my statement as it being the worse... I was pissed (literally) when I posted that note. Much more hype is coming down the pike and now the UW fanboy in me is getting excited :D It was never a question about the music being good.

[iamneorev]

There's something new called Strawberry Hotel Listening Party on the store, but nothing new listed there yet:
https://store.underworldlive.com/collections/strawberry-hotel-listening-party

Also, Japan is, in fact, getting a bonus track ("Velvet Does") on their domestic CD release:
https://www.virginmusic.jp/underworld/
https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Underworld_000000000001513/item_Strawberry-Hotel-SHM-CD_15286332

I usually buy my Japanese CDs from these guys....
https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICB-1030

[Imagine a box]

Cdjapan are reliable and rather fast. Ordered the Strawberry Hotel with the bonus track from them this week.

[negative1]

wonder how much quality the extra track is,
and does it throw off the listening...

so maybe you will need to shuffle some of the tracks after all.

later
| || || ||| | |
n egative 1

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

fwiw places like Reddit and Facebook seem to have plenty of UW discussion, as do certain Discords. I just think the concept of a message board, particularly one dedicated to a single band, has been slowly dying for the last 15 years. I was kinda surprised this place was still around tbh.

[potatobroth]

fwiw places like Reddit and Facebook seem to have plenty of UW discussion, as do certain Discords. I just think the concept of a message board, particularly one dedicated to a single band, has been slowly dying for the last 15 years. I was kinda surprised this place was still around tbh.

this is the only message board I still use with any frequency.

I'd much prefer everything just be on Reddit (or similar) at this point but willing to
continue here because history + Underworld :)

[negative1]

fwiw places like Reddit and Facebook seem to have plenty of UW discussion, as do certain Discords. I just think the concept of a message board, particularly one dedicated to a single band, has been slowly dying for the last 15 years. I was kinda surprised this place was still around tbh.

i dont see a lot of discussion on reddit. just a lot of upvotes for basic topics.

most of the other ones are older topics, or fan service stuff.

never been to their facebook page. dont have an account.

later
|| || ||| |

[potatobroth]

i dont see a lot of discussion on reddit.

correct. its barely a discussion forum currently.

[aphasein]

Less than a month out from album release and still surprised how quiet it is here and on Reddit (as discussed). Guess we've already processed everything we know collectively and are all just waiting for the album itself now. Had figured the energy around a new release would generate some additional discussions and maybe revive some old topics, but that's probably for afterwards.

Still hoping we get IIFU launching soon, but that seems like will probably be on album release date as well (remember that being discovered somewhere). In the meantime I guess there's all the ramp up around The Cure's new album finally dropping a week later (for those interested).

[dubman]

I will say I've had Techno Shinkansen running in my head for the last 3 days. I finally went to go listen to it on YouTube today, even though I'm trying to limit that, only to find it taken off!
I've got an earworm with no release except for fuzzy bootlegs, so I guess this counts as hype for me.

[aphasein]

I will say I've had Techno Shinkansen running in my head for the last 3 days. I finally went to go listen to it on YouTube today, even though I'm trying to limit that, only to find it taken off!
I've got an earworm with no release except for fuzzy bootlegs, so I guess this counts as hype for me.

Sounds like you need a fix - first post on the Techno Shinkansen thread (https://www.borndirty.org/forums/showthread.php?t=18955) has a link to the audio. :)

[dubman]

it's been defunct for a long minute, and unlikely to get reposted since it's now on official business :)

[aphasein]

it's been defunct for a long minute, and unlikely to get reposted since it's now on official business :)

Ah - yeah didn't check the link, makes sense. At least it's less than a month to go now. :)

[TheBang]

They've been posting the teaser shorts (https://www.youtube.com/@UnderworldLiveTV/shorts) every 2 days. If they continue that pattern, in order ("Please don’t shuffle"), we could get our first tease of an unheard track, "Sweet Lands Experience", today.

[dubman]

9/24
9/26
9/28
9/30
Should be 10/2 then
and so on.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39UYBHXcBVg

[Dirty0900]

That sample isn’t enough for forming a proper opinion.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS8ggMdIYAg

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

ooooh that looks like it'll be good

[aphasein]

Glad we're getting into new territory now and Lewis in P is a longer snippet today. Still hard to tell that much, but promising (and not criminally short/obscured like Sweet Lands was).

We seem to be quickly ruling out tracks that could be the renamed original Strawberry Hotel one. Hoping that it's Hilo Sky on Sunday. Also, Lewis in P should be getting a remix sometime based on the keychain tchotchke...

[TheBang]

And now we know what happened to the track formerly known as "Strawberry Hotel":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbW-M0IRtro

[aphasein]

YEEESSS! Was hoping this was the case and figured it was the most likely title for it. Glad to see it alive and kicking, and sounds like they re-thought the beginning somehow. Great news and this track sequence is pretty banging so far! Figured there would be more downtempo changes, but that's probably still to come. :)

[aphasein]

Also - we're only 7 tracks in right now; on other UW albums that would be most of the album done (and all of it for Barbara). And yet we still have just over half still to go. Think it's about to get even more interesting...

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJzN0dTI39g

[kensey]

Genuinely excited for this album - I enjoyed some of Drift, but so far this seems more consistently compelling to me. After the RAH gig I've been waiting for those tracks to drop, and it looks like this will be something special.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

everything's sounding amazing so far

[lament]

Looks like there's going to be a SHM-CD with an extra track (https://www.ebay.com/itm/375698940927?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m164380.l178264&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=1752ce31f1d546e28ad7de0332f3ae3c&bu=43191752346&ut=RU&osub=-1~1&crd=20241008044711&segname=11021&recoId=375698940927&recoPos=1) releasing November 1. Listing doesn't have the extra track listed. Assuming it'll be Japanese as I don't think I've seen SHM CDs that aren't? Listing is from Australia though.

[saintrik]

The Japanese CD with the bonus track "Velvet Does" was mentioned a bit ago in this thread. And yes, they are advertised as SHM-CD on the various Japanese retailers pages.

Also, Japan is, in fact, getting a bonus track ("Velvet Does") on their domestic CD release:
https://www.virginmusic.jp/underworld/
https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Underworld_000000000001513/item_Strawberry-Hotel-SHM-CD_15286332

[woofmute]

interested in if anyone finds somewhere to buy that extra track in lossless once its out, doubt i'll be able to sort importing a copy.

[potatobroth]

Hoping it follows the trend of great tracks that only Japan gets. Twenty Three Blue was so good on Barbara Barbara. I have it right after Santiago Cuatro in my hybrid version of that album.

[TheBang]

interested in if anyone finds somewhere to buy that extra track in lossless once its out, doubt i'll be able to sort importing a copy.
My preferred digital vendor is Ototoy:
https://ototoy.jp/_/default/a/281302

You do need a Japanese VPN in order to add the items to your Cart. Once they're actually in your cart, I don't think you need the VPN anymore. You should have no problems checking out with a foreign credit card (at least, I didn't the last time I used them in 2021). And you don't need a VPN to download or re-download the tracks once they're purchased and in your account's purchase history.

Sometimes, the bonus tracks are "album-only", meaning that you can't purchase the track a la carte, and must purchase the whole album. We won't know if that's the case here until release. Also, it's slightly possible that the bonus track doesn't get a digital release. The iTunes Store is the only place right now that has the album listed as a preorder, but it does not include the bonus track (yet).

[DwarfeD]

https://imusic.co/music/4988031671030/underworld-2024-strawberry-hotel-cd

The Japanese version is also up for pre-order in this Danish webshop.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXkobQl3ZDk

[dubman]

This all sounds really lively. Considering the track times, I think they're focusing on the song-based approaches of Listen to their No, or JAL, or Parc, or Crocodile and building an album around it, which I think is a great idea if it's a strong batch. Fen Violet could be a good indicator of what's to come, in b-side form anyway

[dubman]

do we know if that's the cover art? if so, very unusual for UW...but then again, so was Drift. and Barking for that matter.

I think it was Autechre that said it takes a new album for everyone to finally get used to and accept their last album for what it is.

It's getting funnier to me that this duo continually evolves faster than we're collectively ready for. Every new LP on the horizon conjures this comparison image of the Tomato-based typographic long jams from nearly 30(!) years ago, even though they've doggedly proven that their 'world is bigger than that. It's annoying as fuck when that next step doesn't jibe with us, but even when it does I have this uncertainty of "is this what it is now?" and I'm stuck between how artists move and what I waaaaant.

After this long, it seems like Rick has been working to bond past and present into one Grand Work that is :Underworld, and usually correcting/expanding our own terms of what that means. It takes some trust, a small example being: if we collectively hate the Drift sampler cover, it's more rewarding to think on why it was chosen instead of crossing our arms about it being lazy.

I don't think this situation is unique to Underworld. There's a perpetual (and necessary) disconnect between artists and audiences, in which we find our fandom through a successful blend of hype and marketing that keeps us attached to an idea, which immediately creates tension with how artists work. We make an ethos out of that idea, and it almost never aligns with where the work could go.

So what's with the uneasy legibility here? why so straightforward, cordoned off? White on neon? Let's think on what it could be, and see how it meshes with what we're hearing. It could just be a miss, but it's more fun this way.

[aphasein]

I think it was Autechre that said it takes a new album for everyone to finally get used to and accept their last album for what it is.

It's getting funnier to me that this duo continually evolves faster than we're collectively ready for. Every new LP on the horizon conjures this comparison image of the Tomato-based typographic long jams from nearly 30(!) years ago, even though they've doggedly proven that their 'world is bigger than that. It's annoying as fuck when that next step doesn't jibe with us, but even when it does I have this uncertainty of "is this what it is now?" and I'm stuck between how artists move and what I waaaaant.

Yeah, that is definitely said about Autechre releases (both by them as mentioned, and by their fanbase explaining them). I've realized over the years that Autechre is my second favorite artists after Underworld (not that it matters, but for me they do both have a rich, deep catalog with a lot of breadth, openness on sharing stuff, and focus on graphic design tie-in).

And as shocking and jarring as each new release has been with Autechre, it's always felt very much them each time, even if the leap in music was a lot to process (plus the alien-ness/breaking-new-ground feeling on first listen is really looked forward to in a time-stopping way).

Underworld has always been more comfortable I guess, as I know and expect they can and will go anywhere musically and still retain all their elements and essential feel - it's more an excitement at what they'll do this time and having new variety. The new graphic design era can be jarring, but I'm a big fan of Tomato (like I am for The Designers Republic) and it's always felt like still them and an evolution each time.

Drift really pushed outside that feeling some, but the nature of the project helped it feel more casual/purposeful and the individual track covers felt more coherent, and I guess that partially prepared for the sampler cover to feel less leftfield (definitely bland and disappointing still, along with the final name).

Strawberry Hotel has been an interesting rollercoaster so far and still a lot to go. Mainly the tracks played out a year ahead of time and the design from their single drops all felt really classic and epic, like a later evolution of Mk2 type stuff. I think I was just thrown by the album cover and short track times, as it seemed to break that idea (we love our long UW tracks). The long gestation and lack of communication definitely added to it (and only in relation to how forthcoming/inclusive it has been in the past, not that it's required).

I will say this buildup with the album snippets has exceeded any expectations on the music and been wildly fun (it's been a lot more consistent and dance-based than expected for this many tracks, figured we veer off more). The album cover not being Tomato probably explains to me why it felt so leftfield (but so were the singles and they didn't for some reason). The music is what matters and it has been really exciting so far, can't wait to hear the full tracks. I'm also probably too invested in this as an outlet currently, but it is one of my favorite things and not sure how much more it will happen. Here's looking forward to the remaining two weeks!

[lemonjelly]

been contemplating the "do not shuffle" message. It got me wondering whether the tracks may be blended or sugue at all. I then started wondering if that impacted the track times we have discussed.
I could be looking for things I want to see,..

[saintrik]

Since the track lengths for the 4 already released tracks are the same as the album versions, my guess is that the album is not segued.

Perhaps the "do not shuffle" is more to encourage an uninterrupted listening experience, or that R&K feel like their final track order is critical to the album journey.

Will be interesting to see how the Japanese CD bonus track either works with that order, or against it.

[TheBang]

Japan retailer bonuses:
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/underworld/news/2024-09-30/

CD shops: postcard
Amazon.co.jp: Mega jacket
Tower: clear file
HMV: stickers
Disk Union: Can badge

[aphasein]

Japan retailer bonuses:
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/underworld/news/2024-09-30/

CD shops: postcard
Amazon.co.jp: Mega jacket
Tower: clear file
HMV: stickers
Disk Union: Can badge

Nice! Thanks The Bang. Think that my CDJapan order will include the postcard. Not sure what the clear file and can badge fully are. And I see the mega jacket has a white border on it, but the big question is: is it a mega mega white thing? ;)

[TheBang]

A "clear file" is like a translucent or transparent file folder that can hold looseleaf papers. I think they're popular in Japan, as that is where all the clear files in my house have come from.

A can badge is just a metal badge with a pin on the back so you can affix it to clothing. Something like this, likely: https://www.justbuttons.org/1-square-pinback-button/?attribute_pa_style=standard&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvKi4BhABEiwAH2gcw3My_FelFdnWF8CNyRIy jUzhf87HSTrUFlfEnHFBdkkPIRGTBnKAGxoCwyMQAvD_BwE

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmExIOQ3c-w

[aphasein]

Interesting - none of the singing in it yet, but get to hear the backing music. Assume this will be something of a choral piece as mentioned, given the source material for it and Esme's singing background.

I went and actually looked at the album credits on the back cover images that had been mentioned early and noticed something that I haven't seen commented on any yet: the whole album is credited as Produced by Rick and Esme, which is different and notable.

The Hilo Sky snippet shows her pretty involved with Rick in the production for that track and seems to be inspiring him (and I'd imagine he would find the collaboration with her really important and enjoyable). I'm wondering if having another perspective involved has inspired this album to feel a little different.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP98bgAhd2Q

[taotsu]

Also, Japan is, in fact, getting a bonus track ("Velvet Does") on their domestic CD release:
https://www.virginmusic.jp/underworld/
https://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Underworld_000000000001513/item_Strawberry-Hotel-SHM-CD_15286332

I find it curious that beatink does not handle the release this time. Guess that was not possible. They also did not handle summer sonic.

[taotsu]

Any idea what exactly a mega jacket is? I wonder if I should order that or go to HMV.

Found out: https://www.amazon.co.jp/b?node=8004683051
Hm… like having an LP without the LP part.

[TheBang]

I find it curious that beatink does not handle the release this time.
Underworld moved to Virgin Music for Japan last year, who handles all their releases for the rest of the world.

Any idea what exactly a mega jacket is? I wonder if I should order that or go to HMV.
It's actually halfway between a CD size and LP size:
https://imgur.com/ER3bty8

[taotsu]

Thank you on both. Really makes the decision which version to get not so easy lol.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz2bEMEoQTw

[aphasein]

They broke their pattern of alternating color and B&W videos! Ah well, some interesting comment about being different from Drift, but can't fully make it out. Gene Pool is sounding a bit different, but assume it's an odd section and some tracks may be turned off or levels different, hard to tell. Can't wait to hear Friday's with that most unusual track title. :)

[evwhitton16]

'Oh Thorn!' I think is another interlude 'DL acapella' type track if I had to guess. As much as I normally don't like interlude tracks because they just take up space to me, 'acapella' was different, so hopefully 'Thorn' is just as interesting

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQuePSRCjo

[purlieu]

For mailing list, 24th October. Will we be getting Oh Thorn! as a track the day before the album?

Also: Karl's voice with autotune sounds really... wrong.

[aphasein]

Ha! This is a really odd one. Guess it will have vocals of a sort and also surprised by that odd file name. Will there be any relevance to give us this short track right before the full album? Or is that text some leftover idea that's not happening?

With these previews ending next Tuesday, I'm wondering what's in store between then and the album date. There's still the SH Listening Party item on their store. Guess we'll see. Roll on Sunday!

[TheBang]

There's still the SH Listening Party item on their store. Guess we'll see. Roll on Sunday!
Actually the Listening Party got removed from the Store recently. The "SH" that's on there now is something else. If you look at the URL, it says "sh-leak"...

[aphasein]

Wow - yeah, the store's actually quite a mess of items now under All Collections. Sad to see the listening party disappear, was hoping that was a broadcast that would bring us together.

Other releases are all gone from the CD & Vinyl section other than SH, but most had already been sold out. Did find one interesting hidden item still on the store that I had missed getting reprinted in April if anyone is interested: Karl's I Am Dogboy book (https://store.underworldlive.com/products/i-am-dog-boy-karl-hyde-book-2016).

I actually got this separately a month ago from a seller on Abe Books (thankfully for cheaper), and have been slowly enjoying it more than anything in a long time. So vividly narrative and poetically explanatory, it's adding a huge richness and poignancy to what seemed innocuous things (like the reason for Karl's striped shirts and Adidas love, his white Les Paul guitar and love of playing rhythm/disdain for lead, etc.) Really can't praise it enough - always liked his diary writing, but this both mirrors his fractured poetic technique from songwriting and is also a coherent multi-layered sequential journey through his life and viewpoint. Deeply rewarding.

[TheBang]

As noted earlier, this one features Nina Nastasia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0A5rZ4j_Fk

[Imagine a box]

Dogboy is indeed such a beautiful book. It always moves me to tears. I don't think there has been a reprint; we would have known that. If you search the store, it is not possible to find the page that you included the link to. I can follow the link but I cannot get to that page by searching the store ...

[dubman]

All this talk of it finally has me picking up my copy for an actual read instead of a casual flip down memory lane of the old uwlive. I also haven't played out the entirety of Drift in some time so this all seems appropriate in the week leading up to the album release.

[aphasein]

Dogboy is indeed such a beautiful book. It always moves me to tears. I don't think there has been a reprint; we would have known that. If you search the store, it is not possible to find the page that you included the link to. I can follow the link but I cannot get to that page by searching the store ...

Sorry - page for it now says "Sorry Sold Out" and I'm assuming it was something accidentally left over from the old store that resurfaced somehow. Should have mentioned I didn't find it through the site menu, but after a long chain of following the "You May Also Like" linked items at the page bottom and it randomly appeared once.

Was very surprised to see it because as mentioned I recently found it elsewhere and didn't think it was around anymore. The store listing says release date 5 April 2024 and originally printed 2016, so was referencing that, but don't know if that actually happened. May explain why my copy was easier to find. Ah well, glad others already have it.

Hard to tell much about Iron Bones yet, other than Nina's haunting vocals, which we knew to expect. Last one on Tuesday...

[kensey]

I'm very glad to say the link to Dogboy worked for me, and my copy is arriving tomorrow.

So thanks for posting it, otherwise I'd never have had the chance to own it I suspect.

[aphasein]

I'm very glad to say the link to Dogboy worked for me, and my copy is arriving tomorrow.

So thanks for posting it, otherwise I'd never have had the chance to own it I suspect.

Nice! Well that was totally worth it then. Wonder how many copies there actually were, but glad it went through for you. Enjoy!

[taotsu]

Awesome! I’m glad to see the book goes to more hands! I got my copy at the 2022 at the Tokyo concert. Together with a mint copy of the exhibition catalogue Karl had a couple years earlier. The one Rick made Bungalow 1 for.

[TheBang]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkecbW60QHY

[taotsu]

Man, stick man test is fantastic. I feel like the test tracks always bang. Shipol test also got me and still gets me nowadays

[Dirty0900]

Post should start arriving soon.

[aphasein]

Interesting acoustic track - final version was mentioned to be rougher, scuffed-up and will probably have reverb. Would assume it's Karl, but hard to tell - the little bit of face briefly in top corner doesn't seem right.

[Dino3D]

European release is 11.15. That sucks.

[dubman]

Whoa, wait. Physical or digital too?

[dubman]

All this talk of it finally has me picking up my copy for an actual read instead of a casual flip down memory lane of the old uwlive. I also haven't played out the entirety of Drift in some time so this all seems appropriate in the week leading up to the album release.

Finished this last night. Says enough to unlock a new view on a deep catalog, but holds back enough to not be a tell-all. the contrast between the struggle to land somewhere meaningful, and the diary of someone who has landed (more or less) is lovely. Really glad I went in on this in the days before release.

[TheBang]

Full album has been posted for mailing list subscribers

[negative1]

i like it.

it has a lot of variety, and interesting songs.

i don't like all of them... but there's a lot of strong ones there.

later
|| | || |
ne gative 1

[TheBang]

European release is 11.15. That sucks.
Whoa, wait. Physical or digital too?
The physical formats, unfortunately. The digital is still tomorrow though.

[evwhitton16]

I've given it a very brief skim but I think I'm actually gonna wait till tomorrow still, build the anticipation

[potatobroth]

Honest first reaction at 530am after seeing the email…. What did I just listen to?

We obviously know the tracks already released; I love Black Poppies and Denver Luna, and Colour Red is decent. However I’d have a very hard time listening to King of Haarlem or Ottavia again. Theyre conceptual for sure, but I found myself wanting them to be over. The first half of Lewis in particular… I was actually off put by the screaming. But loved the drums that kicked in. I’m so torn.

Gene Pool was lovely. Techno Shink was decent. Stick Man Test is beautiful. I’m coming around to Hilo, but something about Karl’s tone feels off a bit. Growing on me tho.

And I’m sure I’ll eat my words after a dozen listens. As usual :P

[woofmute]

i really like the whole album and will now be allowed to shuffle it among everything else they've ever done

[taotsu]

Love it. Techno Shinkansen is the weakest for me, but I like it still. Great overall album. Some tracks will need to get used to, I love the *we don’t give a fuck what you expect* attitude. Looking forward to go to the record store tomorrow

[woofmute]

Ottavia is based on this https://www.opera-arias.com/monteverdi/l%27-incoronazione-di-poppea/libretto/english/

[potatobroth]

Lewis in Pomona already grew on me. That was fast. The yelling is just still too jarring. I tried to imagine it without it and feel like it would be just as powerful. It reminds me of Pink Floyd "Great Gig in the Sky" but 'off' somehow. Also I keep hearing the yelling orgasm voice take a breath mid yell haha.

[taotsu]

Lewis in Pomona already grew on me. That was fast. The yelling is just still too jarring. I tried to imagine it without it and feel like it would be just as powerful. It reminds me of Pink Floyd "Great Gig in the Sky" but 'off' somehow. Also I keep hearing the yelling orgasm voice take a breath mid yell haha.

Agree. Though I find the screaming fun to be honest

[dubman]

If I knew this was happening I?d have woken up much earlier

[potatobroth]

If I knew this was happening I?d have woken up much earlier

My gf left for the gym at 4:30am (before her work shift at a hospital) so I just happened to check my phone and the email subject on my lock screen was staring me in the face. suffice to say i just started playing it and listened my first go from bed.

the second listen was blasting thru my house at 6am.

[RandomViolence]

This is strange and wonderful and new in so many ways. Not even halfway through the album and I just love the exuberance of it.

The production is impeccable, so much texture. Underworld feels full of life and vitality on this, like they're bursting with new things to say. Feels like the opposite of the Barking era.

[potatobroth]

when Hilo Sky starts I keep expecting Beautiful Burnout.

[negative1]

to me, the first 12 songs, or maybe
cutting out the first song, and a cappella, are peak underworld.

great segues, and breaks, and beats with shimmering synths.
maybe not as many layers as i would like but still..

YES I KNOW WE SHOULD NOT SHUFFLE THEM. BUT i am just editing out
the songs i don't care for, and ending it on gene pool, which actually
could come first for 'proper' underworld epic start..

this is the best from them since a hundred days off (not counting river run).
to me..

there's so much more they could do with this album, mixes, etc..

already working on instrumentals, and megamixes, this album is just made for it.

later
|| | | | |
n egative 1

[TheBang]

So, it looks like the Japan Bonus Track is not available digitally, so it will be a CD-exclusive.

[aphasein]

Listened twice through and main thing I can say is I now understand the reviews. It's definitely their most experimental album, and that's saying a lot. It feels both maximal and minimal at the same time - some very interesting choices, especially vocally. I really like and appreciate the variety, but doesn't seem to go as deep as the classic long grooves do (except for Denver Luna and Gene Pool of course). Lewis in P is the biggest surprise/shock and hoping we get the remix soon. Bring on IIFU and the Japanese bonus track tomorrow...

[Vancouver]

Haven't had a chance to stream it yet. Just wondering if the versions of And The Colour Red, Denver Luna, and Denver Luna accapella are the exact same versions/mixes that were released last year?

[dubman]

a-yup

[purlieu]

Vinyl arrived today, artwork has the full guide to all 20 items, which is a nice inclusion. Also the image of Rick and Karl and their meal is really fun.

[taotsu]

Vinyl arrived today, artwork has the full guide to all 20 items, which is a nice inclusion. Also the image of Rick and Karl and their meal is really fun.

Same on the cd. About to scan the Japanese version. Will try to put the images on discogs.

[Nuxxx]

Japanese version
How is the bonus track? Cannot wait to hear it!
EDIT: (only took me a decade to post ��)

[TheBang]

Looks like the US domestic release of the vinyl and CD is also delayed until Nov. 15.

[taotsu]

How is the bonus track? Cannot wait to hear it!
EDIT: (only took me a decade to post ��)

Here is my description from earlier on discord:

I need to go off my memory now and only had time to listen once:
I would describe it as starting disco like, sounding a bit experimental in the middle and overall it does fit the album but I can see why it?s a bonus track. Like 23 fits and does not fit Barbara, Barbara, this fits and does not fit.
I?m sorry my memory is already fuzzy and I had me Lewis meltdown in the mean time.
It felt a little rough around the edges too. But it?s hard to describe the sound as the listening station headphones were not new.

I will get a BR drive in here in the next couple of days, then I can better describe it / rip it :P

[taotsu]

Also, I put the Japanese release on discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/32101845-Underworld-Strawberry-Hotel
For some reason it is not connected to the master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/3635553-Underworld-Strawberry-Hotel which is super annoying.
Can someone help?

Also, I tried to add all official playlist items to the release, but that did not work either. (its here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkQQjPXNOwE&list=OLAK5uy_mq5IXdNUtauFzMiSMgxG5Hk6SJtGN4Ejg)

Lastly, since discogs compresses images af, I added them to discord, here: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/699177458481627178/1299375517585375323/uw-sh.zip?ex=671cf940&is=671ba7c0&hm=ded5949a964addb2b54868e5604c02689b4fb06ebb87558 233fb77d5f0f160e3&

hope that link works.

Cheers

[aphasein]

Wow - sorry to hear about the delays for the physical releases. Really glad now I ordered the Japanese CD - shipped out yesterday from Japan, to Cincinnati overnight, and to my door in Orlando just before noon. Wild that that's so smooth.

The bonus track is almost 5 min in length and reminds me in an odd way of Trim through the weird lens of SH. Rough and experimental, has an upbeat twangy bounce and falsetto lead vocals with some broadcast-style vocals in background. Some unusual cheesy synth vocal pads that sound like basic presets. Still like it better than a couple of the album tracks and has a groove, but it's an odd one.

[TheBang]

Lastly, since discogs compresses images af, I added them to discord, here: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/699177458481627178/1299375517585375323/uw-sh.zip?ex=671cf940&is=671ba7c0&hm=ded5949a964addb2b54868e5604c02689b4fb06ebb87558 233fb77d5f0f160e3&

Thanks for the scans. All the other issues on Discogs have been addressed.

[iamneorev]

Wanna hear Velvet Does. Curious what it sounds like, especially with an album like this.

[funkboy3]

I've seen it get some lukewarm response here, but I have to say, I think "Techno Shinkansen" is an early favorite.
It's somehow of a piece with the rest of the album, and yet also manages to quote or reference a half a dozen other UW tracks.

For that matter, the whole album seems to be self-referential all over the place. It sure _seems_ to be intentional, but :shrug:.

[taotsu]

Thanks for the scans. All the other issues on Discogs have been addressed.

Wooo lovely! Thank you. Will need to read their help menu to see how I can to masters.

[Vancouver]

a-yup
cheers

[TheBang]

Will need to read their help menu to see how I can to masters.
Here you go:
https://support.discogs.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005055493-Database-Guidelines-16-Master-Release#Editing

[TheBang]

Strawberry Hotel is now available for purchase at Bandcamp. However, there are 2 issues. First, Ottavia has been uploaded incorrectly (it's a 2nd copy of Denver Luna (acapella). I assume this will be fixed soon. The other issue is that it's only available on Bandcamp in 16/44 quality. The master recording is in 24/28 and is available at places like Qobuz, 7digital, HDTracks, and ProStudioMasters.

https://underworldofficial.bandcamp.com/album/strawberry-hotel

Edit: Turns out that bandcamp upload is an unauthorized pirate upload

[taotsu]

Here you go:
https://support.discogs.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005055493-Database-Guidelines-16-Master-Release#Editing

Thank you so much

[taotsu]

Strawberry Hotel is now available for purchase at Bandcamp. However, there are 2 issues. First, Ottavia has been uploaded incorrectly (it's a 2nd copy of Denver Luna (acapella). I assume this will be fixed soon. The other issue is that it's only available on Bandcamp in 16/44 quality. The master recording is in 24/28 and is available at places like Qobuz, 7digital, and HDTracks, and ProStudioMasters.

https://underworldofficial.bandcamp.com/album/strawberry-hotel

Also to note how annoying the fact is that they had to make a 2nd account...

[taotsu]

So, velvet does (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zn1t60c0vbxpmnkgx2d7e/16-Velvet-Does.zip?rlkey=6jberh4ek12b5aq123p13lgqj&st=rv662nji&dl=0)
but please buy it when it is available. And I will take this down in 24 hours

[Dirty0900]

Does the vinyl come with a download code? Still waiting on my copy.

[purlieu]

No download code with mine, sadly. Just grabbed it from a less virtuous source in the end.

[StrangeLastName]

So, velvet does (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/zn1t60c0vbxpmnkgx2d7e/16-Velvet-Does.zip?rlkey=6jberh4ek12b5aq123p13lgqj&st=rv662nji&dl=0)
but please buy it when it is available. And I will take this down in 24 hours

Agh! Missed it. :) Silly me for not checking this board once a day!

[darmok]

I received a shipping notification from the Underworld store for the vinyl and CD today, so they must have found a way to pull in the delay a bit. Looking forward to getting the physical media!

[TheBang]

I received a shipping notification from the Underworld store for the vinyl and CD today, so they must have found a way to pull in the delay a bit. Looking forward to getting the physical media!
The release date for the Underworld Store (and UK retailers) is Oct. 25. If you're buying from an EU retailer or US retailer, it's been delayed until Nov. 15.

[TheBang]

Just FYI for those in the US or Canada, ProStudioMasters has the 24/48 high-res download on sale for $15.74. Cheapest I've seen it:

https://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/303883

[darmok]

The release date for the Underworld Store (and UK retailers) is Oct. 25. If you're buying from an EU retailer or US retailer, it's been delayed until Nov. 15.


I received an email saying that my order was delayed until November 1st, but now that I look closer, it doesn't say which items were delayed and the dubno t-shirt I ordered did not ship out with the vinyl and CD.

[iamneorev]

Strawberry Hotel is now up on the official Underworld Bandcamp
24/48 for 10 GBP

https://underworld.bandcamp.com/album/strawberry-hotel

[lament]

Unfortunately, I don't think it will be on Bandcamp. You will be able to buy digital copies from the usual digital retailer places though, like iTunes or Amazon, or Qobuz for high-res lossless.

It's out in 24-bit/48kHz on Bandcamp (https://underworld.bandcamp.com/album/strawberry-hotel).

[TheBang]

It looks like the US vinyl release has slipped to Dec. 13. The US CD remains at Nov. 15 for now.

[Dino3D]

I can't believe that my EU CD finally arrived - that's exactly 1 month after the release date that's nonsense.

[TheBang]

Well, it's getting a bit ridiculous at this point, but the US domestic release of the vinyl has been pushed back to Jan. 24.

[Vancouver]

Ridiculous indeed. At least this explains why none of my local shops in Canada have got any in yet.

[negative1]

got the 2xlp vinyl, and the Japanese SHM CD today...

lp
----
https://www.discogs.com/release/32093847-Underworld-Strawberry-Hotel

the cd has the extra track - velvet does:
https://www.discogs.com/release/32101845-Underworld-Strawberry-Hotel

later
| || | | | ||
n egative 1

[lemonjelly]

dunno if it is just me, but I wondered if some of Esme's vocals from Ottavia are used on Juanita 2023? Noticed the "where are you?" quote sounds very similar in both tracks.

[TheBang]

dunno if it is just me, but I wondered if some of Esme's vocals from Ottavia are used on Juanita 2023? Noticed the "where are you?" quote sounds very similar in both tracks.
The vocal samples on Juanita 2022 are from the eponymous Juanita Boxill. They explicitly said that in the release notes for the single.