Log in

View Full Version : underworld's influences

bryantm3
02-11-2006, 08:02 PM
forgive me, but i don't know if we've ever discussed their influences before. we know that karl likes the monkees, but what else? someone had a tape that karl had done with two songs by peter gabriel on it. does that mean he also likes genesis? and what does rick like? what are his influences? emerson, lake and palmer? the beatles? new order?
ndrwrld
02-12-2006, 02:43 AM
i'm guessing Yanni.;)
Jafs
02-12-2006, 04:00 AM
If I'm right I remember that the album that Karl prefers is "Revolver" by the Beatles, and that the 2 guys like world music, drum'n bass(liquid funk) and good minimal stuff, and so many other things. You should listen to their "Back to mine".
King of Snake
02-12-2006, 08:32 AM
dub and acid house
holden
02-12-2006, 09:35 AM
I think you should check out "Back to Mine" for an indication of influences/inspirations:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000A4GAU/102-5076940-8156923?v=glance&n=5174

Also, Karl has discussed his Captain Beefheart craze and early influences of Simon & Garfunkel in interviews. Rick credits Kraftwerk here:
http://www.audiohead.net/interviews/underworld/index2.html
m.g.
02-12-2006, 10:12 AM
the booklet inside "Back to Mine" contains also lots of indications apparently written by Karl...
stimpee
02-12-2006, 11:54 AM
Dont forget the tracklist to the 6mix (http://rtsr.rowla.com/6mix/) that Karl did for BBC Radio 6.
big screen satellite
02-12-2006, 12:13 PM
Dont forget the tracklist to the 6mix (http://rtsr.rowla.com/6mix/) that Karl did for BBC Radio 6.

yeah Jumbo - by Underworld ;)
big screen satellite
02-12-2006, 12:14 PM
personally - I think what KH listened to on his tape in this thread are influences too....

http://www.dirty.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1702
BeautifulBurnout
02-12-2006, 12:23 PM
Prog.

Definitely.

*cough*
Liam
02-12-2006, 01:12 PM
Beefheart is a huge influence on Underworld, and you can really see this when you compare their lyrics. Beefheart was one of the first artists (that I can think of anyway) to pursue such abstract lyrics that don't make any sense in a linear kind of way but are beautiful nonetheless. Karl Hyde fits right in line with this. A lot of the vocal effects are also very simmilar (I'm not sure that Beefheart ever actually used a vocoder but he certainly modulated his voice a lot).

Underworld also state Gil Scott Heron's B-Movie as one of the most influential songs they've ever heard, re-defining their view of music. I'm not sure that I can pick out any musical connections, but I have to say that it re-defined the way I look at music as well.
34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j
02-12-2006, 04:53 PM
I always assumed that Underworld was influenced a lot by Brian Eno, and I'm sure that they'll confirm it if someone asked. Kraftwerk too, of course...interesting that "Numbers" is mentioned in that mixtape thread, because "Lenny Penne" sounds just like it!

As far as Captain Beefheart...I can see it in the lyrics, and honestly it isn't surprising that he's listed as an influence...a LOT of artists cite "Trout Mask Replica" as being one of their favorite albusm. I can see the appeal as an artist...is there, or will there ever be anything like it?
froopy seal
02-13-2006, 03:01 AM
Nice reaction from KH on underworldlive today (although a little too straight-forward for my taste ;) ).

Short answer: radio and mate Andy.
Extensive answer: soon to come?
botkiller
02-13-2006, 08:40 AM
I always assumed that Underworld was influenced a lot by Brian Eno, and I'm sure that they'll confirm it if someone asked. Kraftwerk too, of course...interesting that "Numbers" is mentioned in that mixtape thread, because "Lenny Penne" sounds just like it!

As far as Captain Beefheart...I can see it in the lyrics, and honestly it isn't surprising that he's listed as an influence...a LOT of artists cite "Trout Mask Replica" as being one of their favorite albusm. I can see the appeal as an artist...is there, or will there ever be anything like it?

Yeah, I was going to say Eno as well, but the Back to mine is a great indication of what they listen to and what has influenced them. I always liked the fact that TLC's "creep" made it on there.
noisegeek
02-13-2006, 09:27 AM
Miles. Can't forget Miles.
34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j
02-13-2006, 04:50 PM
Yeah, I was going to say Eno as well, but the Back to mine is a great indication of what they listen to and what has influenced them. I always liked the fact that TLC's "creep" made it on there.

Well, the problem for me is, besdies Digeridoo, I haven't heard any of those songs (besides "Creep" which I'm sure I've heard before) so I really have no idea what their influences sound like...

Anyway, as far as other influences...if you go even before Eno, there's krautrock, and I wonder how much of what UW does is influenced by Can, Neu!, and the like? I know Rick cites Kraftwerk, but honestly I have to wonder, being really into Can, how much their music influenced modern electronica?
suicidalpenguin
02-13-2006, 05:15 PM
nice to see Bukem & Horizons made it on there also - a class track if ever i heard one
dubman
02-13-2006, 10:23 PM
influences...

pah!
Jafs
02-14-2006, 03:04 AM
Miles. Can't forget Miles.

Miles Davis or Robert Miles :D
Jan
02-14-2006, 08:53 AM
what about their allmusic.com page? Are the infos there accurate?
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE57B18DE4DA87020CE93310AC2BB78F704CB46 F6821B326A42D9B77F4C88117AB05AA79DCEE2B677AB78ABE0 2CA45A099FCBEE5CF9DC6C3C3C9D9FDB&sql=11:46j4eat04xd7

...
and who is Jon E. Hydel?:D
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE57B18DE4DA87020CE93310AC2BB78F704CB46 F6821B326A42D9B77F4C88117AB05AA79DCEE2B677AB78ABE0 2CA45A099FCBEE5CF9DC6C383D9D9FDB&uid=MIW050602141050&sql=11:l4ue4j270wae~T3
King of Snake
02-14-2006, 11:38 AM
did anyone mention Steve Reich btw? Definitely a big and rather direct influence on some tracks.
myshkin
02-16-2006, 03:03 PM
Wel I've certainly seen them mention Kraftwerk and blaring Beethoven out of their van in the old days.
noisegeek
02-17-2006, 08:23 AM
Miles Davis or Robert Miles :D

I was refering to Miles Davis.
And I still say Rick must have listened to alot of J.S. Bach at some point.

Also, Karl has said in interviews that his writing was (at least in the beginning) influenced alot by Sam Shepherd, and a Japanese writer whose name I've been trying to recall for ages (let me know if you know it). I think it was the dirtyradio interview from a few years back that featured him talking about this.
myshkin
02-17-2006, 05:13 PM
I was refering to Miles Davis.
And I still say Rick must have listened to alot of J.S. Bach at some point.

Also, Karl has said in interviews that his writing was (at least in the beginning) influenced alot by Sam Shepherd, and a Japanese writer whose name I've been trying to recall for ages (let me know if you know it). I think it was the dirtyradio interview from a few years back that featured him talking about this.

Murakami? Japanese author of Norwegian Wood and a few other very respected books? Total guess.
mmm skyscraper
09-17-2007, 01:54 PM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z9Wdd8UBZUI

Saw this on a ilx thread about Underworld - 'Born Slippy' being similar to Eno's 'Always Returning'
Lx_Nen
09-17-2007, 03:32 PM
Ahh! I've always wondered what that fragment at the end of the Stadium house version of the KLF's "What Time is Love" was, and now I know!
kowalski__
09-18-2007, 02:04 AM
of course, new order.