The Official OWB Thread

[big screen satellite]

ok...

as the UK release date (16/10/07) looms here's the official thread for Underworld (Mk. II's) fifth studio album:

OBLIVION WITH BELLS


i know there are other threads on OWB, but lets talk about it here in one place

here's the complete list of tracks that are doing the rounds from the current OWB sessions:

CD1. The Album:

Crocodile - 6:30
Beautiful Burnout - 8:09
Holding The Moth - 5:29
To Heal - 2:36
Ring Road - 4:31
Glam Bucket- 5:45
Boy, Boy, Boy - 6:05
Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages - 2:22
Faxed Invitation - 4:44
Good Morning Cockerel -2:28
Best Mamgu Ever - 8:42

+ Loads of Birds (Japan ONLY) cd exclusive

other released / forthcoming tracks from this album (session) are:

crocodile - radio (single) edit - 3:50 - cd
crocodile - album (lp) version- 8:57 - cd/12"
crocodile - oliver hunteman remix - 8:35 - cd/12"
crocodile - oliver hunteman dub - 7:26 - cdr
crocodile - pete heller remix - 7:33 - cd/12"
crocodile - ame/innervision orchestra remix - 10:31 - cd/12"
crocodile - pete heller dub - 8:58 cd/download

peach tree - uk crocodile CD single - 12:35 - UK cd

furture releases:

* ring road:

ring road - simian mobile disco remix - time unknown cdr - due to some issues this remix is not coming out / being released / recorded

* beautiful burnout:

beautiful burnout - mark knight remix - 8:48 cdr
beautiful burnout - mark knight dub - 7:46 cdr
beautiful burnout - pig and dan remix - 7:24 cdr
beautiful burnout - what dog mix (aka - barney the leggy) - 10:11 members only download
beautiful burnout - tiefschwarz remix - 9:17 cdr
beautiful burnout - javier haedo fabric of dreams main mix - 12:29 - unknown origin possible bootleg?
beautiful burnout - javier haedo holding deep stars in my room mix - 9:44 - unknown origin possible bootleg?
beautiful burnout - javier haedo holding deep stars in my room dub mix - 11:20 - unknown origin possible bootleg?

* boy, boy, boy:

boy, boy, boy (switch remix) - 5:38 cdr

holding the moth (jesse rose mix) - 5:23 (mix time tbc)
boy, boy, boy (video) - time unknown cdr
peach tree (different version) - 12:35 cdr

crocodile - single release date: 12/09/07 (Japan) / 08/10/07 (UK)
album release date: 03/10/07 (japan) / 16/10/07 (US) / 16/10/07 (UK)
boy, boy, boy - single release date: unknown
beautiful burnout - single release date: unknown

bonus OWB DVD contents

Crocodile (DVD)
Underworld Live In Tokyo (DVD) BGM - Boy, Boy, Boy
Metal Friend (DVD)
Oblivion With Bells (Abbey Road Recording Session) (DVD) BGM - Globe
Good Morning Cockerel (DVD)
Rez - Live Show Visuals (DVD)
The Book Of Jam, Art Jam (DVD) BGM - Faxed Invitation

other bonuses:

US only exclusive OWB T-Shirt (purple) + downloads

Book Of Jam Download - PDF File - UWlive members only
Book Of Jam Download Par 2 - Book Of Japan - PDF File - UWlive members only

Oblivion Ball Japan Live CD- details to follow

i will add anything related to OWB to this tread, and when the album comes out - you can talk about it here....

it's all good... so enjoy it...

[Abo@DJB]

Regarding the henrik schwarz and dixon remix. It is mentioned in an interview with Ame ...

Dutch

"We zijn gevraagd door Underworld om de single van hun nieuwe album te remixen, samen met Henrik Schwarz en Dixon. Het origineel is al heel erg goed - een soort discohousekraker - dus dat wordt een leuk project."

English translation

"We are asked by Underworld to remix the single from their new album, together with Henrik Schwarz and Dixon. The original is very good - sort of a discohousestomper - so that will be a nice project."

Source : http://www.djbroadcast.nl/features/featureitem_id=801/me_stelt_kwaliteit_boven_kwantiteit.html

So ... i'm not sure if Ame was talking about HS and Dixon remixing Crocodile. I can not see the disco/house reference to Crocodile.

=== Edit ===
@ big screen satellite 10.33
Quentin is a NYC house producer/DJ (think Erick Morillo-style). I think he is asked especially for the USA market.
Just like Ame he mixed a "Coast2Coast" compilation with deep groovy tunes.
I totally agree with the Ame statement. Best remix so far ...

[big screen satellite]

Regarding the henrik schwarz and dixon remix. It is mentioned in an interview with Ame ...

So ... i'm not sure if Ame was talking about HS and Dixon remixing Crocodile. I can not see the disco/house reference to Crocodile.

thanks, i knew the source personally but the people here may also want the link - i'm not sure - but having heard a snippet of the Ame remix it is more stompier than the original (and from the snippet i heard is the best remix!)

likewise, i'm not sure what track Quinetin Harris has mixed as he's classed as hip hop, jazz, electronic according to Discogs...but is classed as Deep House on his myspace page...

it is quite possible that there are some session tracks not on the album that these guys have remixed that will be on future singles / releases - who knows (yet)

[gaborez]

to add to the list:
i believe there is also a pete heller dub mix of crocodile which i'd like to hear...
http://www.music.co.jp/mobile/yougaku/uw/index.html

:)

[lloyd]

it has the tracktimes also. - bonus track that is...
Yeah I've seen the pete heller dub too but it's nowhere to download or buy?

[big screen satellite]

i've updated the original post - thanks for the linky

[big screen satellite]

i'm wondering if there is a heller dub or if the Huntemann dub is confused with it... this is possible

[mark3]

seems to be a mistake, http://trafficjpn.com/underworld/newrelease.html and all other sites list it as the Oliver Huntemann Dub

[mark3]

Sorry if this is old news, but it seems Boy, Boy, Boy will be the next single: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2632360

Anyone got more info? Tracks, etc..

[dubman]

ugh, really...
thats the worst one on there

[King of Snake]

agreed, although there isn't really much single material on the album anyway.

[BrotherLovesDub]

ugh, really...
thats the worst one on there


in your opinion. i love Boy Boy Boy. took me a bit to get used to it but it's a great song.

in my opinion of course ;)

[dubman]

but the strings! why the strings?! it's so hokey! and the beat is borrrring....

ah well.

[BrotherLovesDub]

for me it's about the lyrics and the delivery

[BeautifulBurnout]

for me it's about the lyrics and the delivery

Snap. It isn't my favourite on the album, but I really love it.:)

[River of Bass]

boy boy boy sounds great to me.
ring road is worst.
best mamgu ever is best mamgu ever.

[big screen satellite]

RING ROAD is my fav...then Mamgu...

Boy Boy Boy sounds a bit like robbie williams in places... although i like it, its a bit, musically, like the monster soundtrack by BT

[Butcher of Bakersfield]

HA! i haven't heard a thing off of this record, other than what they made me listen to at the live show damn it.

I'll have none of it till the disc shows up.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Ring Road and Boy Boy Boy are going to divide fans. those fans who suck and have no taste will complain about them. those fans who are remarkably handsome with impeccable taste will love them.

[stimpee]

ugh, really...
thats the worst one on thereexcept for good morning cockerel. hard to pick singles out tho.

[the real stuff]

Holding the Moth would stand well on its own, but I might think that just 'cause I love it so damn much.

OwB is on the ambient side of things and clearly doesn't have your typical Underworld single on it. The trick is figuring out how to hook new listeners onto what is really a subtler, more textured output from the band.

[Buji]

I personally prefer the ambient and experimental side of Underworlds music best.
I think 'Good Morning Cockeral' sounds ace.

[Dirty0900]

Been listening to this album constantly before i bugger off on holiday. All i can say is that this album is pure class.

To Heal is just an amazing song. If they played it in london, id be perfectly happy to walk out after. It just sends the chills up and down. The most lush piece of music which needs to be longer.

Sorrry, im slighly drunk, but i dont care! Holding The Moth needs to be the next single.

[koisk]

I'll have none of it till the disc shows up.

Agreed! You guys have spoiled your Christmas!

[dog]

Well i've not heard a thing from it thus far, not even the single so i'm quite excited about the album. One thing that does annoy me though is bonus tracks on, for example, the Japanese disc- why on earth would they not put it on all the discs? I've spent far too much on limited Underworld CD's as it is and the trend is becoming annoying!

[mmm skyscraper]

Well i've not heard a thing from it thus far, not even the single so i'm quite excited about the album. One thing that does annoy me though is bonus tracks on, for example, the Japanese disc- why on earth would they not put it on all the discs? I've spent far too much on limited Underworld CD's as it is and the trend is becoming annoying!

Imports. The album costs $25 in Japan, but you can get it in the US for $15. Bonus tracks discourage this.

[2dreamofluv]

i love the music for ring road.

not a huge fan of the vocals on RR, but thats okay because it is literally the only fault i find with the album. that and To Heal is too short.

[Future Proof]

Ring Road is pretty awful imo, and so is Boy, Boy, Boy for that matter. However, I love Good Morning Cockerel, Holding the Moth should be the next single, and Beautiful Burnout after that.

[the mongoose]

Cuddle Bunny is the worst track without a doubt (but it has elements from RiverRun that make it tolerable I suppose).

Ring Road is the worst "song" though, cause Cuddle Bunny isn't one. :p RR has nice moments to it, but it's too ackward for me to actually relax and enjoy it. "it's good food, but your clothes come out smelling like grease":rolleyes:
The chorus is good however.:)

Boy Boy Boy rocks! It's what Trim should have been years ago. Love the darker lyrics for a change too. Drive faster.:cool:

Good Morning Cockerel is very good and reminds me of nice ambient stuff like maybe BlueSki perhaps. To Heal and Restore is just okay, but under the right circumstances.....mmmm.

Best Mamgu Ever is probably the best song in terms of production and the "wow that sounds cool" effect, but the chopped vocals have worn thin after a couple of listens, so my personal favorite has now become...

Faxed Invitation. "Deep Voice" + that synth part = bliss.

Holding the Moth was terrible on first listen, but now that I've heard it a bunch I can't get the "Glass Eye on you, Electric Eye on you who loves to be touched with a Glass Eye on you" stuff outta my head. Remixes could be awesome.

Glam Bucket's first couple of minutes are lush, but once the shrill synth stabs start it's time to skip to the next track fast. Shame, it has such potential to be a classic.:(

Beautiful Burnout is Biro the Leggy and Crocodile is Crocodile;)

Overall, it's a solid cd that flows very well and really has something to please everyone. B rating so far.

[qirex]

As described to a friend of mine...
At first listen this album easily catches you off guard. It's quite the depature from their previous work. With that...after listening to it in it's entirety, probably over 20 times already, I can easily say it's a lush piece of work from start to finish. There isn't one track I'd skip and I think it's one of the most interesting and experimental pieces they've made yet. At first I was hoping to hear more "dance anthem-esque" (ie rez, born slippy, pearls girl) tracks after the ambient/minimal style of the River Run projects, however with how OWB comes together they wont be missed as much as one would think. Even so, with UW's vast back catalog, this is just another gem to add to the collection.

Current favorite: Best Mamgu Ever

waiting to hear "Loads of Birds"...

[geoff]

Totally agree, qirex.

This album (especially Ring Road) reminds me why I love UW.. You can assemble Karl's fragments in so many different ways, just listening to them is a unique experience from one person to the next.. it's very challenging but very rewarding and personal for the listener as well. Rick's hypnotic grooves set the stage for a higher (lower?) level of consciousness... and that's why I love UW.. that's why I love this album.. Cheers to the boys for creating another fantastic one. Keep on keeping on.

Well there you have it.. my own mini-review. Another gem to add to the collection, indeed.

(BTW, huge wipeout fan here as well :) )

[big screen satellite]

album reviews also posted here if we find any....

from Novermber 2007 FHM:

going againts the culture of downloading, this album works best as a whole. tracks such as crocodile owe much to brian eno, but the ambient noodling soon gives way to ring road - a ranting, stream-of conciousness anthem, more in tune with older tunes like diry epic.
best song: holding the moth, an instant early 90's rave flashback
*** 3 out of 5 stars

erm did they just rip off most of the press release....?? lol anyway its the first mag review i've seen

[patrick]

great albumn, the first three tracks are all fantastic, and it works amazing. the track that i still don't like is ring road. i love boy boy boy, but ring road is so awkward. "sec-ur-i-ty" sound so un musical...

anyways, i am pleasantly suprised and i think it's SO cool that they didn't use anything from river run event though each one of those have one or two songs that would be stellar/nock-out albumn tracks.

lovely

[Leon]

Had a couple of more listens and it's funny, while I first really wasn't into Ring Road and Boy, Boy, Boy... now I can't get them out of my head!

I think Underworld deserves respect for putting tracks like these on the album, instead of a track like Darc (which would go better with for example Crocodile and Beautiful Burnout). Still, Darc would've been cool, but you don't hear me complain. I love the album now!

Faxed Invitation is still sounding "meh" for me, although I noticed some of the layers and build-up that make it interesting. So maybe it might grow.

And still, the singing/melody on Crocodile at 4:24 and the ambient part with the lyrics on Beautiful Burnout are the best things ever!!!!!

[King of Snake]

Faxed Invitation is one of my favourites right now. I really wish it was a bit longer. At the end it sounds like it could build into something even better but it just ends there sadly.
The first 4 tracks of the album flow really well and they're all very good tracks. Again, I thought To Heal could be a bit longer, and maybe have retained some of the vocal sample but it's still a beautiful piece.
Ring Road is ok, I really like the chorus part but I'm not totally digging it as a whole track yet. Glam Bucket, yeah the live version is definitely better. This just misses the punch in the rhythm part which means it never really kicks off like the live version. Still a decent track though. Boy Boy Boy, I'm not feeling it. Sounds too much like a run of the mill 80's rock song to me. Maybe it will grow on me sometime. Cuddle Bunny, well this is pretty empty, doesn't do much really. Faxed Invitation, as I said this is one of my favourites. I love the subdued style and the lyrics. Good Morning Cockerel: another nice track. Not fantastic but I do like it. Best Mamgu Ever: well this is just amazing and could go on forever without boring me. Epic and layered, just the way I like it. :)

[Lx_Nen]

Well, I guess I might as well chip in with my thoughts...

It's a truly great album, and a definite return to form after AHDO, which I always felt was Rick and Karl trying a bit too hard to prove they could still do dance music without D.E. and in the process forgetting they were Underworld along the way. This album in contrast exudes confidence in their natural eclectic Underworld style.

Crocodile/Beautiful Burnout is the commerical part, and I'm tempted to say they should have been listed as 1 track, to kick the album off with a 13 minute epic in the style of Juanita/Kiteless/Dream of Love, maybe this wasn't done because the 2 halves are both going to be singles?

Holding the Moth and Ring Road seem to be dividing fans, which I'm all in favour of - who wants their albums to be predictable? I'm in the hate Moth, love Ring Road camp, Moth is too formula-housey-jazzy for me. I didn't like the fistst half of Cups either, and Moth just sounds like Cups Pt 1 revisited to me. Ring Road, on the other hand takes Underworld into new territory (I guess Bruce Lee is the neaest point of reference?), inviting comparisons with The Streets... on the first listen I was half expecting /dreading a 'dry your eyes mate' style chorus. There's some real venom from Karl on the subject of tagging... leave the urban graphic design to proper professionals like Tomato, you uncultured football-shirt wearing masses! :-) Maybe I love this song because I live in Romford and know that Ann Summers shop, those supermarket steps, those dageham hoodies and of course the Ringroad itself. God knows what Americans will make of this talk of arsenal shirts though.

I've always had this thing with Underworld that if they mention a specific location, I generally knew it already - I used to commute down the tubehole in Farringdon Street, I bought milk and teabags for the office in Europa on Wardour Street, many's the night I stood waiting on Stratford station waiting for the midnight train to Romford thinking that everything was going west and nothings going east, as on the fast lines over the other side of the station dark trains thundered past with the lights in their windows turned off. I even used to drive home from my parents house along Crow Lane (score 10 bonus uw-obsessive points if you know the link!), and now I've started working from home in the outskirts of Romford, I'm still getting my 'stalked by Underworld' fix from Ring Road.

Anyway... Glam Bucket. I really, really wish I hadn't seen how amazing this was as a live rock-out before hearing the much tamer album version. The other way round would have been a wonderful surprise, but as it it the album version is overshadowed by the live take. One of the perils of being a band that constantly reworks tracks is that sometimes things get better after you've committed the supposedly definitive version to vinyl, and the annoyingly shrill synth stabs neat the end are a definite 'oh, drat we thought of the pete townsend guitar whirl ending too late' moment.

To Heal is of course delicious, but I do hanker for the welsh vocal snippets that give it it's name. Not so keen on Boy Boy Boy, but that's probably because I knew someone who self-harmed, and that really puts me off, so I won't blame UW for that... now we are into the part of the album where the manifesto 'we can do anyhing we like, bacause we are underworld' gets hammered home. CBvsTCV is odder than blueski, and hats off to underworld for putting it on a mainstream album rather than
tucked away on a rivererun.

I absolutely love Faxed Invitation, it's classic Underworld that wouldn't feel out of place on any of their albums, and it has amazing protential to become an epic stormer live. It's crying out to be al least twice as long and twice as heavy on the percussion, perhaps it's being held back a bit on the album to become a single later?

Good Morning Cockerel is bittersweet and everything that it should be, then Best Mamgu Ever hits that 'last track on an underworld album' vibe perfectly.

overall... it's wonderful, diverse yet cohesive, the lack of 'obvious' crowd-pleaser singles counts in it's favour - I didn't think I'd say this, but I'm coming round to the fact that the addition of the likes of "Peggy Sussed" and/or "You do Scribble" would have been a mistake. It's very Underworld, which is exactly what I wanted it to be...

[Flywaver]

[quote=Lx_Nen]Well, I guess I might as well chip in with my thoughts...

It's a truly great album, and a definite return to form after AHDO, which I always felt was Rick and Karl trying a bit too hard to prove they could still do dance music without D.E. and in the process forgetting they were Underworld along the way. This album in contrast exudes confidence in their natural eclectic Underworld style.



I've always had this thing with Underworld that if they mention a specific location, I generally knew it already - I used to commute down the tubehole in Farringdon Street, I bought milk and teabags for the office in Europa on Wardour Street, many's the night I stood waiting on Stratford station waiting for the midnight train to Romford thinking that everything was going west and nothings going east, as on the fast lines over the other side of the station dark trains thundered past with the lights in their windows turned off. I even used to drive home from my parents house along Crow Lane (score 10 bonus uw-obsessive points if you know the link!), and now I've started working from home in the outskirts of Romford, I'm still getting my 'stalked by Underworld' fix from Ring Road.



LOL thats what got me into Underworld to.I am a Train Driver and i used to work out of Liverpool Street for eight years.At night i would head West instead of East with the lights out.;) Often wondered if a picture of myself at work would turn up inside an Album cover trundling through the High Rise of Bethnal Green instead of the usual trainspotter taking it. :). Did see karl at Saffron Walden of all places having a drink at a Cafe with a Lady friend a couple of years back.

[negative1]

Well, I guess I might as well chip in with my thoughts...

Anyway... Glam Bucket. I really, really wish I hadn't seen how amazing this was as a live rock-out before hearing the much tamer album version. The other way round would have been a wonderful surprise, but as it it the album version is overshadowed by the live take. One of the perils of being a band that constantly reworks tracks is that sometimes things get better after you've committed the supposedly definitive version to vinyl, and the annoyingly shrill synth stabs neat the end are a definite 'oh, drat we thought of the pete townsend guitar whirl ending too late' moment.



isn't that almost always the case?

in fact, i heard 'crocodile' and 'beautiful burnout' both live
first, and now after hearing the album/studio versions, i
find them both lacking, even though they are probably
the best songs on the new album..

there's something about hearing a track live, when the
improvise/extend or add other elements to it...that can't
be captured in the studio most of the times..

i haven't listened to the album enough (3 times only now),
to really form an opinion, but i'm leaning to the better
than 'adho' not quite 'beacoup fish' level so far..

i liked the riverrun tracks better, but that wasn't actually
an album was it?

later
-1

[BeautifulBurnout]

I hear you about the Live vs Album thing. I agree that Crocodile is better live, but I have to say the production on BB is so lush and intricate and multi-layered in comparison to the live version that it gives me goose bumps every time.

[negative1]

I hear you about the Live vs Album thing. I agree that Crocodile is better live, but I have to say the production on BB is so lush and intricate and multi-layered in comparison to the live version that it gives me goose bumps every time.

yeah, almost but not quite like two different songs?

for me, i haven't heard 'juanita' live yet (except on bootlegs),
but i think it would be very hard to get the same effect
live....

later
-1

[dubman]

ok well, i have a few hours before class, let's get my own track by track in, because a lot of the cuddle bunny haters have made this a necessity by now...

Crocodile - considering the graceful lack of bang on this album, this track seems funkier every time i push play. it's still the same song, but it gets things nice and warmed up. still love that growling bass, lyrics are great, and the chorus is just that much better after seeing it live.

Beautiful Burnout - boy did this track grow a pair. it went from getting a strangely eager but slightly let down feeling from the ambient versions to meshing the music and words brilliantly. one cant really survive without the other. the regular repetition of the music matches the picture karl paints of just another train ride. it's fast but you feel still to the point of near disassociation. it's so vivid yet the damning thing about it is that the lyrics make possibly the most awkward set of words put to song. it toes the line between simplicity, poetry, and pretension, but the vision stays intact, it just depends on the listener to accept it in the first place. once that happens it's all gravy from there. the vocal treatment is so great, a huge deepness that reverberates with this meltallic flourescence of a train. absolutely wonderful. and much more danceable than they let on in live gigs.

holding the moth - really interesting track. karl seems like hes rambling but he's not saying much of anything, which is an interesting take on their usual style of voice as instrument, because it's sitting on top of it all. the music is the key focus though, because it changes from having a slightly aggro vibe from the kick and sample, to something significantly jazzier/more chilled out with the simple introduction of a synth, and it only gets more so from there. it's an instant shift in attitude that makes it a great listen, even if i dont love it

to heal - part of me really resists it because it's so blatantly movie music, and the kind of movie music you'd find in oscar baiting movies like Traffic (even if it was used in sunshine, whatever), so it's epic and swelling and all a bit obvious.
but i'm a sucker, so i like reveling in it anyway. and hey, i'd like hearing this in a movie anyway.

ring road - oh really. is that what we're doing. haha okay.
i love this song because the lyrics and delivery are dazzlingly weird and free of any desire to be any good, and it's so obviously a kept improv of rambling, it's like taking a warm morning walk and feeling excessively good about it, the threat of escalating heat later in the day contributing to the frantic pace and continual observations of things that could be something or nothing, which all comes together as something vivid and feeling very fresh. it's so awkward though. i just dont want to deal with my english-major friends giving me the sideways glance of "wtf is this bs?", so i have to enjoy this bubbly track all by myself for now. also, spot the live sample used for their live gig used in the 96-99 days

glam bucket - you heard it here first, bitches: this is just a good as the live version. in the live version the extra kick is great, but would feel really forced on the album and would probably clash with everything going on, the pause before it goes steady at 2:12 is such a subtle change but feels so good. the guitars are simply louder, so it's not the mindblowing add-on that made twist so much better. and how they come in like a switch has been flipped at 2:32 is damn near sublime. the synth stabs are fucking massive, the beautifully warm bass disappears and it's just them escalating all things higher, and then the bass comes back, and it's so perfect for such a brief moment. then it comes back again. it's fucking delerious. this tune is an instant classic and probably my favorite on the album.

boy boy boy - it's opposite day! the *more* i listen to this song, the *more* i dislike it! and the fact that it's the next single makes me think this is da3d mk2. a track that sounds very loud and very big and musically uses a bag a tricks that's vaguely painful to put up with. vibes of U2, "booming" drums, a false sense of urgency, backing vocals? superflous and highly grating strings, crap guitar, "intense" bass... the parts that arent flat (like the lyrics!) do nothing to help it out of the bombastic hole this track digs itself.

cuddle bunny vs. the celtic villages - I LOVE THIS ONE. sounds real and imagined while out exploring something hidden and largely made of metal. a stillness of setting but the visual world grinds its gears and stays busy all the time. it's ridiculously inspiring and i'm doing a lot of my design projects around it.

faxed invitation - brilliant, although mostly because karl is on his A-game here. a wealth of information and perception given in a warm and deep delivery that keeps the steady beat moving along. and then when the kick comes in he steps it up again and ads this incredible sensuousness to it. one of the few non-ambient tracks where karl quite clearly drives the track wherever it should go.

good morning cockerel - great little piano interlude. nothing especially gifted in the piano itself, but complex enough so that it doesnt sound like a silly "because i want to try it" experiment. something different for underworld, but also written very well. karl keeps the vibe together with his warmth.

best mamgu ever - i like it, though i think it's the weakest closer since M.E., it's something to do with the beat and the bass. maybe it's a little too 80's or alternately, a little too au courant with the exhaustively average downtempo stuff of today. it's a nice little journey to be sure, but vibes like that keep it from being the long journey they seem to be kinda going for. it's good that it's long though, because it makes it more of a pleasant extension than a proper track. it can simply feel good instead of demanding something more, and there's nothing in this tracks that's anything to write home about. a pretty great kickback, but it's no luetin.

overall - after being so endlessly, exhaustingly excited for this to come out; at the expense of staying current with everything else as my concentration was entirely focused on anticipating and speculating on this new evolution, and working up my own personal hype storm, i am not disappointed in the least. i'm exceedingly happy with it, and infinitely more relieved that this sounds like a band much more sure of its footing, personally and musically. can't wait for the next riverrun. A-

[mmm skyscraper]

boy boy boy makes sense right after trim.

also if you put ballet lane before best mamgu ever, you get a classic track. are the horn parts the same? the broken up lyrics remind me of river of bass.

owb = ahdo ii, which is not a bad thing

good morning cockerel sounds like the opening music for some breakfast show. lovely.

[denkbat]

I've listened to this album a total number of... 2 times now. I won't say much about it, except that I love it! Though the beginning of "Moth" and the formulaic and boring "Boy..." seem a little out of place. I certainly don't mind tracks like "To Heal" and "Cuddle Bunny" since any album should find time for something simple and light, but they don't add much.

My favourite is definitely "Ring Road", which is fantastic. My opinion might change once I focus on the lyrics, but so far I've avoided the temptation. I was initially put off by the "Bruce Lee"-beats, but combined with the amazing chorus ("People squinting..."), they give the song a really majestic quality that makes it stand out to me. Overall, it reminds of me of "8 Ball", and that's certainly a compliment as it's one of my all-time favourites. A celebration of life, perhaps?

Oh, and every unmentioned track from this album is excellent :)

Now, bring on the actual release so I can buy it! ;)

[freur]

Listening to OWB right now
Best track(after 1 listening): Best mamgu ever
Maybe it's because I'm 40.........

[Buji]

Im 26 and my favourite track so far is 'Best Mamgu Ever' love it!

The album is exceptional as expected, cant wait to see em in Nottingham and looking forward to getting the proper release with dvd!

Get in.

[crank]

oh, i'm trying so so so hard to hold out. for the actual release. this is the first time I've ever tried this and your reviews. it's like. i'm addicted
and i can't not go and try and find it
but i'm trying
i was hoping
so hoping that aNt would assit me but alas no.
<sigh>
need
a
fix
now
argh.

[potatobroth]

Ring Road and Faxed Invitation are my two faves of the album.

[BeautifulBurnout]

Listening to OWB right now
Best track(after 1 listening): Best mamgu ever
Maybe it's because I'm 40.........

LOL

UW is ageless and timeless.

"Hi, my name is Janie, I am 45 and I'm an Underworldholic. It has been two hours since my last track...."

[ndrwrld]

i apoligize for slagging one's who grabbed the ' leak ' .
i couldnt help myself, and tonight, i heard, and realized again, why i love Underworld.
the strength of this album, from song 1 to song 11, is undeniable.

well done boys...cant wait to get the actual copy 3 days before i see ya @ the Roundhouse.

[Cadevil]

Lx-nen, it sounds as if Karl is speaking to you in his post on UWlive...I really enjoyed your post about Karl's lyrical references.

[jose m]

what he said !:D

[viddy]

So this has leaked? lame...

[BrotherLovesDub]

yes, LAME encoded!

[stauff]

For those who have been able to resist the temptation of torrents (anyone?), there are some short samples of some of the tracks from OWB up on the traffic japan site:

http://trafficjpn.com/underworld/musicvideos.html

- Matthew

PS: cuddle bunny is awesome. I thought cool bits like that would only ever appear on the lemonworld broadcasts.

[phaseblue]

JUST GOT MY OFFCIAL OWB!!!!! (via Amazon.co.jp)

Listening to it right now!

God, I love living in Japan - he, he;)

Matt

[BeautifulBurnout]

JUST GOT MY OFFCIAL OWB!!!!! (via Amazon.co.jp)

Listening to it right now!

God, I love living in Japan - he, he;)

Matt

OH SHUT UP!





;)

[stauff]

JUST GOT MY OFFCIAL OWB!!!!! (via Amazon.co.jp)

Listening to it right now!

God, I love living in Japan - he, he;)

Matt

Mmm.. Utsunomiya. Possibly the only place in Japan that sells chocolate gyouza, and home to yet-another-guy-called-Matt.

My GF comes back from Japan next week with my copy of OWB. Could it get any better than that?

- Matthew

(answer: yes, if she came back tomorrow..)

[Floating Dave]

I like the album and after the happiness of ADO I like the slightly scathing nature of tracks like Ring Road and Boy, Boy, Boy.

I had two things on my personal wish list for this album:

1) I was hoping for HiFi album versions of Small Conker and a Twix & You Do Scribble

2) On Cuddle Bunny Vs The Celtic Villages I really wanted to hear what I regard as an acute bit of Engerland observation, originally heard in an old Lemonworld broadcast. It's remained with me and I find myself talking the words over the album version

When she talks she makes a sound I want to hear
But he's her interpreter, talking over her
Listening to the sound of his own voice

Tiny island dweller
Spinning in his own stew
Whistling at cappuccinos

Interjector
Agitator
Feel the disturbance of the flow

Drawing maps on the backs of paper napkins
Hauling his great bulk around the coffeehouse
In this home of the fancy sweet thing he's a roadblock to her radiance

Just another technicolor freak
Indelicate, damaged & loud

Essex makes only for the world

[Jan]

So according to those samples on iTunes Loads of Birds is also from the Sunshine soundtrack.
Interesting.

I'm also waiting for my Japanese CD+DVD copy... hopefully it doesn't take too long to go through customs.

[big screen satellite]

just added the mark knight remix of bb to the first post in this thread, for the record...

will continue to add as more tracks / remixes appear...

keep us posted...

[negative1]

is there a time for 'loads of birds' yet?
i need to update my list..

however, i still think this will go with the uw mkIII
listing though.. oh well..

later
-1

[dubman]

time is 5:29

[negative1]

time is 5:29

thanx...

duh...i should have checked the uw wiki...it was there
also..

later
-1

[negative1]

is the other CD+DVD version?

CD

1. Crocodile
2. Beautiful Burnout
3. Holding The Moth
4. To Heal
5. Ring Road
6. Glam Bucket
7. Boy Boy Boy
8. Cuddle Bunny Vs Celtic Villages
9. Faxed Invitation
10. Good Morning Cockerel
11. Best Mamgu EverBonus DVD

1. Crocodile [Video]
2. Photo Slideshows Of Shows & Album Recordings and the First Edition Of The Band's Latest Art Project 'Book Of Jam'later
-1

[negative1]

why is this listed as the album version,
when it is 2 minutes longer?

crocodile - album version- 8:57 - cd/12"

is this like when 'moaner' album version was
10:17 long on the cd-single, and 7:37 on
the actual album..

finally:
what other formats will there be for this?

cd
4xlp
cass?

(darnit, i still need to get:
a hundred days off 2xlp
underworld 1992-2000 4xlp)

later
-1

[Jan]

why is this listed as the album version,
when it is 2 minutes longer?

crocodile - album version- 8:57 - cd/12"

is this like when 'moaner' album version was
10:17 long on the cd-single, and 7:37 on
the actual album..

On the promo the album version of Crocodile ends with 2 minutes of the same synthesizer loop.
That loop is also on the album, but Beautiful Burnout gets mixed/faded in. So when you skip to track 2 on the CD you can still hear the last bits of Crocodile...

I've tried to substract the promo version from the album, it worked and I got the 'naked' version of Beautiful Burnout.

[negative1]

On the promo the album version of Crocodile ends with 2 minutes of the same synthesizer loop.
That loop is also on the album, but Beautiful Burnout gets mixed/faded in. So when you skip to track 2 on the CD you can still hear the last bits of Crocodile...

I've tried to substract the promo version from the album, it worked and I got the 'naked' version of Beautiful Burnout.

you can email me how to do this?

i've tried removing soundwaves before (using soundforge),
but i don't know how to do it, do you invert the waveforms?
use some special software?

thanx
-1

[TheBang]

1. Crocodile [Video]
2. Photo Slideshows Of Shows & Album Recordings and the First Edition Of The Band's Latest Art Project 'Book Of Jam'later
-1
[/FONT][/COLOR]
This is what was tentatively listed on Wikipedia before the full details of the DVD were known. AFAIK, there is only one version of the DVD, which is what's listed here and on Wikipedia now.

finally:
what other formats will there be for this?

cass?

Har. I don't think anyone releases cassettes anymore, do they? AFAIK, this will be CD, LP, and various digital releases, such as 128 Kbps M4P on iTunes, 256 Kbps VBR MP3 (http://underworld.echospin.com/) for U.S. pre-orders, maybe Beatport and other download services?

[lloyd]

http://trafficjpn.com/underworld/newrelease.html
Japanese release with the contents of the DVD.
The cd/dvd is also the 12 (incl japanese only bonus) track.

[negative1]

Har. I don't think anyone releases cassettes anymore, do they?

every album up to 'one hundred days' off had a cassette release,
(including 'everything, everything')...although 1992-2002 didn't
have one either...

i only have a cassette player in my car, although i can
hook up and adapter for cd's..

later
-1

[dubman]

is the other CD+DVD version?

CD
1. Crocodile
2. Beautiful Burnout
3. Holding The Moth
4. To Heal
5. Ring Road
6. Glam Bucket
7. Boy Boy Boy
8. Cuddle Bunny Vs Celtic Villages
9. Faxed Invitation
10. Good Morning Cockerel
11. Best Mamgu EverBonus DVD
1. Crocodile [Video]
2. Photo Slideshows Of Shows & Album Recordings and the First Edition Of The Band's Latest Art Project 'Book Of Jam'later
-1


Why would they release two different dvd versions when one is abviously more lacking than the other?
underworld's myspace, ostensibly the site most casual listeners would visit, are told as such:
The limited edition DVD includes Tomato directed music videos of Metal Friend (previously unreleased), Crocodile and Good Morning Cockerel, live show visuals for Rez, and 3 slide shows including the Abbey Road recording session for the album with photos by Underworld, Live in Tokyo with photos by Perou, and the Book of Jam Art Jam curated and created by Tomato.

so that's what's happening in the US anyway.

[negative1]

Why would they release two different dvd versions when one is abviously more lacking than the other?
underworld's myspace, ostensibly the site most casual listeners would visit, are told as such:
The limited edition DVD includes Tomato directed music videos of Metal Friend (previously unreleased), Crocodile and Good Morning Cockerel, live show visuals for Rez, and 3 slide shows including the Abbey Road recording session for the album with photos by Underworld, Live in Tokyo with photos by Perou, and the Book of Jam Art Jam curated and created by Tomato.

so that's what's happening in the US anyway.

yeah, that's what i was wondering..i'm getting the US version+DVD,
however, i know the japanese have a cd+DVD version, and i thought
the UK might have 1 also...

i've seen that it was listed as a 'limited edition' version, like 1992-2002
japanese cd+DVD.....and thought maybe there was a 'non-limited'
normal version with less tracks..

besides, i saw that listing on ebay, from a UK seller, maybe
they didn't have the full listing/information yet?

thanx
-1

[Jan]

i've tried removing soundwaves before (using soundforge),
but i don't know how to do it, do you invert the waveforms?
It's quite easy to do in Soundforge.
Copy the first waveform, then paste it on the second: edit --> paste special --> mix --> put both sliders on 0 dB and check 'invert data' of the source slider
Keep in mind that your source and destination waveforms have to be perfectly aligned because it doesn't work otherwise.

[negative1]

It's quite easy to do in Soundforge.
Copy the first waveform, then paste it on the second: edit --> paste special --> mix --> put both sliders on 0 dB and check 'invert data' of the source slider
Keep in mind that your source and destination waveforms have to be perfectly aligned because it doesn't work otherwise.

yeah, i tried the invert waveforms...but i didn't set both to 0db..
that's why it didn't work! ok, going home from work to try it out..

thanx jan,

-1

[chimp]

I'm just going to jump in here and hopefully save a few people a bit of cash.....

Before you go off and buy an import of a Limited Edition CD/DVD from another market, you should know......

That all the Limited Edition CD/DVD editions contain the same DVD content. There is no difference between any versions no matter what you may read/see (peoples interpretations of what's contained may differ, but the content doesn't).

Hope this helps....

[TheBang]

Straight from the top, thank you very much.

Also, I'm pretty sure the UK is getting a CD+DVD edition also, so pretty much every market will have access to it.

[negative1]

Great, thanx for the official word UWHQ:
=========================================
updated: with 1 track cd single promos
=========================================
so we have these releases,

crocodile:
---------
japan itunes
uk itunes

uk 12"
uk lim 12"
japan 12"
japan lim 12"

japan promo cds (1 track)
aus promo cds (1 track)
uk promo cds (5 track)
uk promo cds 2 (4 track)
us promo cds (5 track different order)

uk cds
eur cds?

oblivion with bells
-----------------
uk promo cd

uk cd
uk cd+dvd

uk 2x12" vinyl

japanese cd+1
japanese cd+1+dvd

us cd
us cd+dvd

japanese itunes+2?
=================================


later
-1

[Blueski]

I think this record is amazing.

I dowloaded it today and listened to it today, twice (and yes, I will buy the album when it comes out).

Imo, stand out tracks are 'Holding the Moth', 'Ring Road', 'Boy, Boy, Boy' and 'Faxed Invitation'. But all the tracks are good. I presume this album will be one of my favorites. I can't really understand some people who don't like 'Boy, Boy, Boy', it's easily one of the best tracks Underworld has done in years.

... Like when I first listened to 'A Hundred Days Off' I didn't even like all the tracks, some of them needed to grow on me (like 'TRIM' -- which I actually love now and 'Dinosaur Adventure 3D' -- which I think is good now, but not great). My point is that this album stands out to be FRESH and sounding good in my ears and making me smile. And that is what music is all about, making people feel happy (8 Ball happy).

Can't wait to have my copy of the album.

Top 5.

[dog]

10 days.. pretty much need to hear this now

[verbal]

I downloaded it cause I couldn't wait. But I will purchase it. Which reminds me, I still have to place my preorder.

I've only had the time to listen to it once, so this is only a partial judgement: I'm disappointed. I waited five years for this?

Nothing really energetic except maybe Crocodile and Beautiful Burnout. The rest just seems too chill and relaxed.

Maybe it'll grow on me with a few more listens. But right now, I miss Emerson.

[big screen satellite]

Great, thanx for the official word UWHQ:
=========================================

so we have these releases,

crocodile:
---------
uk promo 12"
uk 12"
uk lim 12"

uk promo cds (5 track)
uk promo cds 2 (4 track)
us promo cds (5 track different order)

uk cds
eur cds?

oblivion with bells
-----------------
uk promo cd

uk cd
uk cd+dvd

uk 2x12" vinyl

japanese cd+1
japanese cd+1+dvd

us cd
us cd+dvd

japanese itunes+2?
=================================


later
-1

raj

there is certainly a 1 track Japanese Promo CD in jewel case (just radio edit)

and i've seen an Australian one (which may be the same as the Japan - i.e. an eastern /asian release)

i'm not sure there are any promo 12" knocking about at all... i think its all promo cd

Matt

[TheBang]

lloyd blogged the one-track promo:

http://kwiebusch.blogspot.com/2007/09/australian-promo.html

The Australian and Japan are probably not the same, as it is PIAS in AU and Traffic in JP.

[lloyd]

.jp promo http://kwiebusch.blogspot.com/2007/09/japanese-promo.html

[negative1]

from a listing on discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/1092945

The Book Of Jam Video (22:19)

DVD-1 Crocodile. Video. (3:57)
Other [Video Directed By] - Simon Taylor
Other [Video Edited By] - Gareth Tansey

DVD-2 Tokyo Makuhari. Slide Show. (0:05)
Photography - Perou.co.uk

DVD-3 Metal Friend. Video. (1:37)
Other [Video Directed By] - Simon Taylor

DVD-4 Abbey Road. Slide Show. (0:05)

DVD-5 Good Morning Cockerel. Video. (2:31)
Other [Idea] - John Warwicker
Other [Video Edited By] - Julian Bryant
Other [Video Shot By] - Tom Bainton

DVD-6 Rez {Live}. Video. (9:28)
Other [Video Directed By] - Julian Bryant

DVD-7 ArtJam. Slide Show. (0:06)
---------------------------------
The timing for the slideshow is short, because i'm sure
you have manually step through them.

later
-1

[patrick]

i hope the next single is holding the moth VERY badly. This song is completely amazing and we need a much longer version with all the jazzy piano and bass near the end (like in between 2 minutes and 4 minutes in the albumn version).

That would be EPIC, this song is EASILY one of their best!

[holden]

i hope the next single is holding the moth VERY badly. This song is completely amazing and we need a much longer version with all the jazzy piano and bass near the end (like in between 2 minutes and 4 minutes in the albumn version).

That would be EPIC, this song is EASILY one of their best!


Let's hope! i loved this song live (as Globe). It had that clautrophobic feel of Cups with the vocoder and bass. Interested to hear how it has evolved and if it will be a single, since it's already been roadtested.

[TheBang]

Where can I get the version of OwB listed on this page?

http://www.keymailorder.com/cgi-bin/keymail.pl?term=&format=&page=5&letter=&fields=&date=&dbfile=new%20releases

It sounds like it would kick-ass! Maybe it's the Stephen Colbert version of the album. :D

[Ufotofu]

After steaming to the album on Download.com (I just couldn't wait until the 16th), I wrote this review. Summary: Rick, Karl, Darren-- you've all really outdone yourselves this time. "Oblivion With Bells" is probably one of the best albums I've ever heard, and I thank you for continuing to put out such creative, inspiring music in this world of mega-label domination, top 40 stations, and file-sharing lawsuits. :D
---

"Oblivion With Bells" begins with "Crocodile," the album's first single. This track, which began as a more ambient-sounding piece famously performed at the Cocoon Club in 2006, has morphed into a slick, bass-heavy piece, evoking memories of "Sola Sistim," from the band's previous album. Karl's lyrics both float over the song, and drive it, in a poetic way. "Crocodile" fades out into a simple, elegant synth pad, which soon becomes "Beautiful Burnout", a long, epic sort of song with some ambient interludes, haunting vocals, and a frenetic, tribal tom breakdown. The next track, "Holding The Moth" is initially identical to "Globe" (a song Underworld played occasionally during their last tour) but adds some jazzy piano and a few new background parts, which all add a certain complex character to the song.

After a short, lush, atmospheric piece ("To Heal"), the album hops into "Ring Road," which, for lack of a better description, is almost like a rap song. Karl's singing on this track has a very raw sound, and at first, I found it to be quite alienating. However, the track soon kicks into a phenomenally heavy, almost tribal-sounding beat, with some synths floating in the background that simply exude happiness. The chorus on this song is surprisingly catchy, and the song grows on me with each listen. "Glam Bucket" has a gloomy, epic vibe to it, and is purely instrumental, bridging well into "Boy, Boy, Boy". While "Boy" has a few really unique moments, Karl's singing is a bit grating at times. In some ways, I wish he had stuck with the smooth, vocoded style that makes tracks like "Crocodile" so easy on the ears, but I suppose the lack of technology was intentional. The band has been together, in some form or the other, for 27 years, so I'm inclined to trust their judgment.

The next track on the album, "Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages", is distinctly non-cuddly--it almost has an ominous sound to it. "Faxed Invitation" moves from mechanical clicks to ethereal synth pads, and moves perfectly into "Good Morning Cockerel". "Cockerel", a completely piano-driven track, with a violin in the background and some mournful singing from Karl, is very uncharacteristic of Underworld. Somehow, though, it fits the album perfectly. Finally, "Best Mamgu Ever" brings the album to a long, relaxing conclusion, with some more piano and a booming bassline.

All things being said, "Oblivion with Bells" is a truly beautiful album. Fans of Underworld's previous, dance-oriented tracks ("Born Slippy (Nuxx)","Pearl's Girl","Moaner") might be somewhat surprised by this album's change of pace-- I certainly was. However, my final opinion couldn't possibly be clearer. "Oblivion With Bells" is certainly one of Underworld's finest releases, and I can't possibly recommend it enthusiastically enough.

[TheBang]

unknown track - henrik schwarz remix
unknown track - dixon remix

the unknown tracks / remixes have only been mentioned in articles and nothing actually exist in hard form (afaik), but i would certainly like to see some Henrik Schwarz and Harris stuff... I will keep you posted if anything surfaces or what tracks these are.

Per here (http://www.discogs.com/subs/view/3395730), the Schwarz and Dixon contributions are apparently in conjunction with Ame, together recording as Innervisions Orchestra, for the "Crocodile (Innervisions Orchestra Remix)"

to add to the list:
i believe there is also a pete heller dub mix of crocodile which i'd like to hear...
http://www.music.co.jp/mobile/yougaku/uw/index.html
I don't think the Pete Heller Dub really exists. The only place anywhere that mentions it is that link, and it's a typo for the Huntemann Dub, cause the catalog number listed is TRCP13.

[darktrain]

Where can I get the version of OwB listed on this page?

http://www.keymailorder.com/cgi-bin/keymail.pl?term=&format=&page=5&letter=&fields=&date=&dbfile=new%20releases

It sounds like it would kick-ass! Maybe it's the Stephen Colbert version of the album. :D

comes with exclusive bonus track "Born Slippy: NUTZ":p

[King of Snake]

Let's hope! i loved this song live (as Globe). It had that clautrophobic feel of Cups with the vocoder and bass. Interested to hear how it has evolved and if it will be a single, since it's already been roadtested.

I'm kinda surprised though that they don't seem to be playing this at all in the current tour.

[big screen satellite]

i updated page one's first post, with the boy by boy info - assuming its correct - and have posted everything again here, will add more as it appears - just need to add the times for 'loads of birds' and the pete heller dub (if that exists) - any help appreciated,

CD1. The Album:

Crocodile - 6:30
Beautiful Burnout - 8:09
Holding The Moth - 5:29
To Heal - 2:36
Ring Road - 4:31
Glam Bucket- 5:45
Boy, Boy, Boy - 6:05
Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages - 2:22
Faxed Invitation - 4:44
Good Morning Cockerel -2:28
Best Mamgu Ever - 8:42

+ Loads of Birds (Japan ONLY) cd exclusive

other released / forthcoming tracks from this album (session) are:

crocodile - radio / single edit - 3:50 - cd
crocodile - album version- 8:57 - cd/12"
crocodile - oliver hunteman remix - 8:35 - cd/12"
crocodile - oliver hunteman dub - 7:26 - cdr
crocodile - pete heller remix - 7:33 - cd/12"
crocodile - ame/innervision remix - 10:27 - cd/12"
crocodile - pete heller dub - time unknown cd

peach tree - uk crocodile CD single (exclusive?) - time unknown - cd

ring road - simian mobile disco remix - time unknown cdr
beautiful burnout - mark knight remix - time unknown cdr - as played by dubfire on essential mix

unknown track - quinetin harris remix
unknown track - henrik schwarz remix
unknown track - dixon remix

expected, boy, boy, boy release (next single):

boy, boy, boy (album version) - 6:05 - cdr
boy, boy, boy (remix) - time unknown cdr
crocodile (innervisions orchestra mix) - time unknown cdr
faxed Invitation (jesse rose mix) - time unknown cdr
boy, boy, boy (video) - time unknown cdr

the unknown tracks / remixes have only been mentioned in articles and nothing actually exist in hard form (afaik), but i would certainly like to see some Henrik Schwarz and Harris stuff... I will keep you posted if anything surfaces or what tracks these are.

crocodile - single release date: 12/09/07 (Japan) / 08/10/07 (UK)
album release date: 03/10/07 (japan) / 16/10/07 (US) / 16/10/07 (UK)
boy, boy, boy - single release date: unknown

bonus OWB DVD contents

Crocodile (DVD)
Underworld Live In Tokyo (DVD) BGM - Boy, Boy, Boy
Metal Friend (DVD) BGM - Globe
Oblivion With Bells (Abbey Road Recording Session) (DVD)
Good Morning Cockerel (DVD)
Rez - Live Show Visuals (DVD)
The Book Of Jam, Art Jam (DVD) BGM - Faxed Invitation

other bonuses:

US only exclusive OWB T-Shirt (purple) + downloads

UK only exclusive OWB ??? - to be announced (apparently)

*several download sites have started listing the crocodile single tracks for download, which became available in Japan on iTunes last week, but relase dates for these appear to be 7th or 8th October elsewhere

[King of Snake]

Loads of Birds is 5.29

[lloyd]

release date for boy boy boy in .jp Nov 14th says the hmv site.

[TheBang]

Did you see my post here (http://www.darktrain.org/dirty/forums/showpost.php?p=80776&postcount=89), Matt? There is no Schwarz and Dixon remix, and the ame/innervision remix should properly be called "Innervisions Orchestra Remix"

Also, timings (http://www.darktrain.org/dirty/forums/showpost.php?p=80720&postcount=84) for the DVD.

[gaborez]

jsut downloaded the rather lovely Innervisions Orchestra mix from beatport, which is 10 mins 30 secs of dubby goodness. diggers played this in NYC the other week donchaknow :)

[mark3]

from a listing on discogs: http://www.discogs.com/release/1092945

The Book Of Jam Video

DVD-1 Crocodile. Video. (3:57)
Other [Video Directed By] - Simon Taylor
Other [Video Edited By] - Gareth Tansey

DVD-2 Tokyo Makuhari. Slide Show. (1:32)
Photography - Perou.co.uk

DVD-3 Metal Friend. Video. (1:37)
Other [Video Directed By] - Simon Taylor

DVD-4 Abbey Road. Slide Show. (1:31)

DVD-5 Good Morning Cockerel. Video. (2:31)
Other [Idea] - John Warwicker
Other [Video Edited By] - Julian Bryant
Other [Video Shot By] - Tom Bainton

DVD-6 Rez {Live}. Video. (9:28)
Other [Video Directed By] - Julian Bryant

DVD-7 ArtJam. Slide Show. (1:46)
---------------------------------
The timing for the slideshow is short, because i'm sure
you have manually step through them.

later
-1

The duration for the slideshows have been updated on the discogs site.

[Troy McClure]

Not sure if someone had posted this in another thread, but the Crocodile EP is available on USA iTunes.

They show tracklisting as:

1. Crocodile 6:32
2. Crocodile (Radio Edit) 3:55
3. Crocodile (Pete Heller Remix) 7:34
4. Crocodile (Oliver Huntemann Remix) 8:37
5. Crocodile (Innervisions Orchestra Remix) 10:27

Total price is US$4.99.

The Innervisions Orchestra Remix is available only as an album download.


-Jason

[negative1]

Not sure if someone had posted this in another thread, but the Crocodile EP is available on USA iTunes.

They show tracklisting as:

1. Crocodile 6:32
2. Crocodile (Radio Edit) 3:55
3. Crocodile (Pete Heller Remix) 7:34
4. Crocodile (Oliver Huntemann Remix) 8:37
5. Crocodile (Innervisions Orchestra Remix) 10:27

Total price is US$4.99.

The Innervisions Orchestra Remix is available only as an album download.


-Jason

and thats why I HATE i(suck)Tunes...

even if you just want one track, you have to get
the whole album just to get it...

and on top of that, when i try to redeem free
tracks, it won't let you use them on albums either,
only single tracks...

itunes is the most bloated, slowest, drm-laden
piece of software i've used..someday amazon
or someone else will take their place..

good riddance!

later
-1

[lloyd]

If I understand it correct, tower records in japan is giving away special tshirts and signed crocodile singles if you order for 5000 yen + there (in a lottery ???).

[TheBang]

1. Crocodile 6:32
2. Crocodile (Radio Edit) 3:55
3. Crocodile (Pete Heller Remix) 7:34
4. Crocodile (Oliver Huntemann Remix) 8:37
5. Crocodile (Innervisions Orchestra Remix) 10:27

This same tracklisting is available on 7digital.com for GBP 0.79 for each track, at 192 Kbps MP3 or AAC. The Innervisions track is able to be purchased separately.

http://www.7digital.com/artists/underworld/crocodile-(1)/

Also, the same tracks are available at www.beatport.com at $1.99 each for 320 Kbps MP3 or 192 Kbps AAC. Or, for $1.00/track premium, you can get them in WAV.

[dubnobasswithme]

ooooh! good call, TheBang!

[dubman]

HULK WANT B-SIDES
HULK SMASH REMIXES

[Troy McClure]

and thats why I HATE i(suck)Tunes...

even if you just want one track, you have to get
the whole album just to get it...

and on top of that, when i try to redeem free
tracks, it won't let you use them on albums either,
only single tracks...

itunes is the most bloated, slowest, drm-laden
piece of software i've used..someday amazon
or someone else will take their place..

good riddance!

later
-1

I completely agree with your sentiments. I have no plans of buying it off of iTunes. I've only bought one thing from iTunes, and that was so I could get presale tickets for Depeche Mode's last tour.

[botkiller]

I seriously just cannot wait for the new album... I NEED IT SO BAD!

[irons]

I seriously just cannot wait for the new album... I NEED IT SO BAD!
I know that tomorrow, it will supposedly be shipped here in the U.S. That alone is a landmark for me. But you're right; Tuesday is a long way from now! I'm a relatively new Underworld fan, and I wasn't even aware of them when Two Months Off came out, so this is the first time I've found myself caught up in the fervor of a new album release. I've refrained from downloading it, but I'm not sure why, really. Maybe I just like the "surprise" to hit me as late as possible; maybe I want to hear the album when it was intended to release here. Either way, I'm extremely excited about the album. Repeated listening to the "Crocodile" download from Echospin has made me dream about OWB.

[gillenium]

I know that tomorrow, it will supposedly be shipped here in the U.S. That alone is a landmark for me. But you're right; Tuesday is a long way from now! I'm a relatively new Underworld fan, and I wasn't even aware of them when Two Months Off came out, so this is the first time I've found myself caught up in the fervor of a new album release. I've refrained from downloading it, but I'm not sure why, really. Maybe I just like the "surprise" to hit me as late as possible; maybe I want to hear the album when it was intended to release here. Either way, I'm extremely excited about the album. Repeated listening to the "Crocodile" download from Echospin has made me dream about OWB.

I'm in the same boat as you. I've refrained from hearing anything else on the album apart from Crocodile. I'm not sure why either... it's an incredible test of will power. I like that "waiting for Christmas morning" feeling though. Hearing the album the way it was MEANT to be heard... It'll be quite an experience.

[irons]

I might also have avoided downloading because the RIAA keeps a really close watch on students at my university (Boston U.) :) Not to mention I'd feel guilty for letting some unbeliever download 5% of the album from me if I used a torrent or similar.

I think a lot of members here (those who downloaded) would argue that it's still the way it's meant to be, even obtained illegally and in no physical form. I can no longer claim to be able to tell the difference between CD-quality and 192kbps MP3 (I've probably damaged my ears from other, less artful, electronic music!), so that's not quite it, either. I guess I'm just a person who likes to see physical evidence of the album; however, Underworld really opened my eyes to digital distribution; after I purchased the Riverrun series and read their thinking behind that medium, I appreciated the goal a lot more. Plus, the extra million photographs that came with it gave me a really nice feeling. Perhaps I just want to see the cover art in my own hands, in glorious 300+ dpi!

Speaking of which, are there any extra things to know about the gatefold release? The artwork shown on UWLive is stunning. While I make it a point to save money and refrain from buying more copies of an album that I need (and, let's face it, CD format is far more convenient), I would get the vinyl for those eerie images alone.

What excites me most about OWB is that reviewers here have a hard time agreeing on the best and worst tracks of the album. My taste in Underworld often goes against their "best-seller" material; Nuxx, Pearl's Girl, and most other big tracks grew stale soon after I heard them--possibly thanks to the 1992-2002 compilation--but I absolutely love the ignored songs; I hardly hear anyone mention dubnobasswithmyheadman's "Tongue," for example, which really hits a certain spot for me. In an album without Mega-Hits, I am likely to find a whole bunch of songs that I will love for a long time.

P.S.--To those who downloaded the leaked copy, is the watermark a sonic, audible one? If so, did you notice it? And did it affect the listening experience? I wondered about this when the leak was first announced here.

[idoru]

P.S.--To those who downloaded the leaked copy, is the watermark a sonic, audible one? If so, did you notice it? And did it affect the listening experience? I wondered about this when the leak was first announced here.

More often than not, especially given the number of promos that are given out, it probably is not audible. And it's my understanding that it was leaked the day that it came out in Japan, so whatever version is floating around on the internet is not a promo.
________
Herbalaire vaporizer (http://vaporizers.net/herbalaire-vaporizer)

[irons]

I thought it leaked well in advance (edit: in this case, I mean a week or so before the Japanese release). The reason I asked about audible watermarking is that Discogs has an entry for the promo version with a special note that it's watermarked (here (http://www.discogs.com/release/1083093)). But yes, by now, the Japanese version must be in the majority on file-sharing services.


Thanks!

[lloyd]

OwB in stores in holland. Dunno about other countries.
Just got mine at the local recordstore.

[happiness stan]

OwB in stores in holland. Dunno about other countries.
Just got mine at the local recordstore.

tick tock...
going to do a little record shopping on the way home, so hopefully it's in ireland too.
did you get the cd/dvd version?

[lloyd]

Yeah, was the only one they had Limited Edition + bonus DVD.
See my blog ;)

[happiness stan]

Yeah, was the only one they had Limited Edition + bonus DVD.
See my blog ;)

Nice one, thanks Lloyd.
Roll on quitting time, the visa card is getting itchy.

[DaddyAdv]

A nice DHL lady just brought me my limited edition :D

http://www.piccube.de/bilder_speicher/uploads/picCube_89c48ae6cc.jpg

grooove-groooove

/edit: to keep it clear, i pre-ordered via amazon.de, DHL delivered

[King of Snake]

nice one lloyd. Guess I'm off into town now to do some record shopping then :)

[big screen satellite]

just an update on OWB related releases and potential confusion over tracks...

these mixes of CROCODILE do exist:

radio edit (aka single edit) - 3:52
extended version - 6:32
album version - 8:52 - 9:00
pete heller remix - 7:34
pete heller dub - 8:55
ame innervisions orchestra mix - 10:31
oliver hunteman remix - 8:36
oliver hunteman dub - 7:27

the heller dub is on UK Itunes... and its better than the original vocal mix....

[happiness stan]

just an update on OWB related releases and potential confusion over tracks...

these mixes of CROCODILE do exist:

radio edit (aka single edit) - 3:52
extended version - 6:32
album version - 8:52 - 9:00
pete heller remix - 7:34
pete heller dub - 8:55
ame innervisions orchestra mix - 10:31
oliver hunteman remix - 8:36
oliver hunteman dub - 7:27


this might be a stupid question, but which tracks are on the actual cd? and is there only 1 cd single?

[big screen satellite]

this might be a stupid question, but which tracks are on the actual cd? and is there only 1 cd single?

stupid question... :p


uk cd1, has:


1. Crocodile [Radio Edit]
2. Crocodile [Pete Heller Remix]
3. Peach Treeuk 12" 1 has:


. Crocodile [LP Version]
2. Crocodile [Oliver Hunteman Remix]uk 12" 2 has


1. Crocodile [Pete Heller Remix]
2. Crocodile [Innervisions Orchestra Mix]japan cd maxi has:

1. Crocodile (Radio Edit)
2. Crocodile (Pete Heller Remix)
3. Crocodile (Oliver Hunteman Remix)
4. Crocodile (Oliver Hunteman Dub) not sure if there are other versions...

[happiness stan]

stupid question... :p
I know, I'll pick it up today with the album.
I was a little confused by Amazon's listing:
Track Listings
1. Crocodile
2. Crocodile
3. Peach Tree
4. Crocodile
5. Crocodile
6. Crocodile


cheers for that anyway.

[big screen satellite]

I know, I'll pick it up today with the album.
I was a little confused by Amazon's listing:
Track Listings
1. Crocodile
2. Crocodile
3. Peach Tree
4. Crocodile
5. Crocodile
6. Crocodile


cheers for that anyway.

it is possible that amazon have no clue, but it may also indicate that an extra remix cd is released...

[King of Snake]

got it! \o/

kinda special to be holding the "physical" release in my hands now. The packaging and artwork is really nice. It also comes in one of those special jewelcases with the rounded corners.

[happiness stan]

it is possible that amazon have no clue, but it may also indicate that an extra remix cd is released...


mmmm, option 1 methinks.

[m.g.]

Just found this interview (http://www.outlineonline.co.uk/page.asp?pageid=86) (I don't remember having seen it here already...)

[geoff]

You've been pioneers in using different mediums in outputting your music, from the very early release of a DVD in 1993

Wow, is that a dubnobasswithmyheadman special dvd edition???! :cool: :)

[Cadevil]

Right now, we're probably closer to the first two albums, "DubNoBass..." and "Second Toughest",
Loved reading this...I'm salivating even more for this disc now...

[happiness stan]

tick tock...
going to do a little record shopping on the way home, so hopefully it's in ireland too.


grrr, walked all over dublin and the release date is the 19th.
But...but.. I spluttered some guys I don't know bought it in Holland this morning.....cue quizzical looks from record store lackey....

slight outbreak of tourettes on the train home

b*ll*cks

[TheBang]

Just FYI, the Japan CD+DVD is currently available at special Bungee Price (http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/611100127) at hmv.co.jp:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2601430

[lloyd]

Sorry stan ;)

[lloyd]

Annie Nightingale got her own BB remix!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/annienightingale/
about 48 minutes into the program you can listen back for 1 week.

[votingfloater]

Annie Nightingale got her own BB remix!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/annienightingale/
about 48 minutes into the program you can listen back for 1 week.

Nice... there are snippets of the spoken word stuff from when this was Biro The Leggy in the background.

[Jafs]

So let's go, here are some reviews/interviews:

Outsoon interview(Belgium):

http://www.outsoon.be/music_interviews.cfm?lang=fr (in french)

Tsugi review(France) (old team of dead magazine Trax, first issue):

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5065/uwintsugiij0.jpg (in french)


Rif Raf Interview/review(Belgium):

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2167/uwinrifraf1lo2.jpg (page 1, french)

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7320/uwinrifraf2oo4.jpg (page 2, french)


Télémoustique Interview(Belgium):

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9458/uwintmzoom1uo6.jpg (french)

[lloyd]

thnx for these
I'll copy this post to my blog if you don't mind

[Jafs]

np ;)

[Kein]

Just got my T-Shirt and Limited Edition CD in the mail. Giving it a listen right now. Sounding good! The T-Shirt also doesn't look as feminine as I had anticipated, so cheers for that too. Its in a standard jewel case not any of that fancy rounded jazz. But you can't have it all, right?

[dc_04]

got mine today too..

thanks uw! :)

- dc

[the real stuff]

The art for this album is so nice. up to and including everything on the bonus DVD.

[viddy]

THIS HIT THE SPOT. Beautiful Burnout is THE JAM. :)

[Cadevil]

FYI--It's released on US itunes with JAL to Tokyo live from Tokyo bonus track.

[viddy]

My only complaints about the album, is that most of the tracks are WAY to short. Most of them need to be double or even triple their length. Just when the tracks start building into a crazy jam, the song fades out and it's over. I would have waited another year to hear these tracks made longer.

[negative1]

are we supposed to be getting a download code with this purchase?

*****never mind, just checked my email, and found the code,
i'll check it out..

they have one option to download all the tracks/artwork/burn
to cd....however it involves installing an active x component..no thanks.

and then there's individual links to each mp3...
(which are encoded at 320 kbps without any drm)

its just the regular 11 album tracks..you have 7 days
to download them..

later
-1

[jose m]

just brought the album today after listening to a promo for a few weeks.the promo's were pretty ropey (maybe this was intentional) but the mix on the actual release is lovely.:D

[gaborez]

Annie Nightingale got her own BB remix!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/annienightingale/
about 48 minutes into the program you can listen back for 1 week.

cheers for this lloyd. nice mix :cool:

and cheers annie, still rockin @ 65! :)

[holden]

are we supposed to be getting a download code with this purchase?

*****never mind, just checked my email, and found the code,
i'll check it out..

they have one option to download all the tracks/artwork/burn
to cd....however it involves installing an active x component..no thanks.

and then there's individual links to each mp3...
(which are encoded at 320 kbps without any drm)

its just the regular 11 album tracks..you have 7 days
to download them..

later
-1

Nice! Saves me the trouble of ripping them from the disk for mp3 player usage.

I'm travelling, but looking oh-so-forward to my mail on Thursday!

[negative1]

just brought the album today after listening to a promo for a few weeks.the promo's were pretty ropey (maybe this was intentional) but the mix on the actual release is lovely.:D

how are they different?
i've listened to both...and the only difference is the
sound quality?

later
-1

[patrick]

i agree with viddy for sure! notable songs that should be longer:

Beautiful burnout (another 4 or so minutes i could enjoy)
Holding the Moth (entire length of second CD)
To Heal (three times as long)
Best Magmu Ever (could have a few more minutes)

everything else i am happy with the length

[the real stuff]

Best Mamgu Ever could fill a disc, as far as I'm concerned

but the shortest track is Faxed Invitation ... It builds so perfectly and could continue into something truly epic, but just fades away.

I've grown to love Faxed Invitation anyway, and I think it's now my favorite track on the album.

[jose m]

[QUOTE=negative1]how are they different?
i've listened to both...and the only difference is the
sound quality?


just the sound......my promo was full of cracks and pops....glambucket was terrible.

[big screen satellite]

[quote=negative1]how are they different?
i've listened to both...and the only difference is the
sound quality?


just the sound......my promo was full of cracks and pops....glambucket was terrible.

haha thats nice to know...

promos should be inferior imo ;)

lame djs getting them for free and then selling them on for profit ;)

[negative1]

[quote=jose m]

haha thats nice to know...

promos should be inferior imo ;)

lame djs getting them for free and then selling them on for profit ;)

mine was a cd-rip, so there was no difference..
-1

[BufoBufo]

Still waiting for my Japanese SE to turn up (would've been here by now if the Royal Mail hadn't tried to stitch their workforce up, I reckon), but I cracked yesterday and went down HMV to buy the UK "vanilla edition", just to tide me over. Superb stuff; like someone else mentioned, it's rich in the initial UW aura of delight and confusion. Will be in my stereo for a while, this one.

BTW: Negative1... are you Proem? :)

[holden]

i agree with viddy for sure! notable songs that should be longer:

Beautiful burnout (another 4 or so minutes i could enjoy)
Holding the Moth (entire length of second CD)
To Heal (three times as long)
Best Magmu Ever (could have a few more minutes)

everything else i am happy with the length

For me, i'd most enjoy a longer "To heal", though we are supposedly possibly getting the version with Rick's dad speeking in thick Welsh accent on UWLive...let's hope.

A longer Faxed Invitation would be nice, as this track really gets into me. And agreed, the last track is lovely, but could have been epic. But really, no complaints...this is how the boys wanted it, and it's so far sounding to my ears like an integrated masterwork, certainly more so than AHDO. Somewhere approaching STITI in terms of feeling.

[idoru]

Just grabbed the album out of the mailbox and am on Holding the Moth. Quite different than what I was expecting. I love it.
________
Volvo xc90 picture (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Volvo_XC90)

[Cadevil]

Good Morning Cockerel could be longer...makes the hairs on my arm stand up.

Other than that. I'm thoroughly enjoying OwB so far.

Really love the overall melancholy feel to it...as with many UW offerings, it has that dangerous, sad, tear on my heartstrings...felt that way when I first heard STITI

[koisk]

It will have to grow on me for sure, not really sure what to make of it yet. I think I like RiverRun more than the album.

[the mongoose]

I think I like RiverRun more than the album.

The first two tracks of Pizza For Eggs blow this whole album away save for Faxed Invitation and Loads of Birds.
Hell, take those four tracks together with about 8 minutes of the best chimey/talky "Big Sister" stuff and perhaps Jal to Tokyo and Scribble...........THATS A LEGENDARY CD RIGHT THERE!!!!;):D

[qirex]

Just picked up the limited edition at the store this afternoon.

I can't get over how much better the purchased album sounds over the downloaded promo. It's amazing the clarity and the new sounds you can pick up with the disc + a decent sound system. I rate the album an extra 1/2 point for that alone. One complaint however, the bonus DVD is severely lacking. There's barely anything there of interest. The croc vid is OK, the pictures are cool, the rez video is disapointing etc. Perhaps a short docu on the making of OWB or something would have really been a cool extra.

[idoru]

After giving it three listens through, the CD is certainly quality. The only qualms I have with it are Ring Road (which I really don't like right now, but I'll give it time) and the first couple of bars of Holding the Moth which sound like something I would come up with in Fruity Loops when I was 14 (don't get me wrong, the rest of that tune is incredible). Solid release here.
________
Juggalo (http://juggalos.org/)

[BufoBufo]

Anyone else a sad-act like me and picked up on the typo in the sleeve credits? http://www.underworld.live.com isn't an active domain as far as I know (unless there's something planned that's yet to be announced)

Spelling aside, OWB is improving with every spin... just like Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab ;)

[jrmint]

Anyone else a sad-act like me and picked up on the typo in the sleeve credits? http://www.underworld.live.com

glad i'm not the first credit geek to point that out.. ;-)

[Troy McClure]

I gave it first listen last night after the Diamondbacks got swept :mad:.

I hadn't listened to anything pre-release other than Crocodile and the Beautiful Burnout off their myspace page. I think the overall record is uniquely Underworld with all of their inspirations showing. Holding the Moth is way harder than I thought it would be, in a good way. I hope they begin to play it out on this tour. I enjoy Glam Bucket, but after hearing the live versions before hand, I probably would have enjoyed it more if I heard the album version first. Like it's been said here before, it reminds me of how Twist is live compared to the CD.

I like all of the ideas presented, and I like how 'live' it feels. You know real instruments and whatnot. I'm sure the rest will click sooner or later. Can't wait to see they have next.

I guess my favorite is either Holding the Moth or Best Mamgu Ever.

The DVD is fine, but not essential. I was expecting it to be shown in 16x9 screen size, but that's just nit-picking. And I really dig the shirt.

--Jason

[happiness stan]

grrr, walked all over dublin and the release date is the 19th.
But...but.. I spluttered some guys I don't know bought it in Holland this morning.....cue quizzical looks from record store lackey....

slight outbreak of tourettes on the train home

b*ll*cks

Hallelujah! God bless you Mr Amazon, got mine today.
*raises two fingers to dublin music retailers*

[negative1]

matt:

i just got a 7 track uk cd promo - crocodile
-----------------------------------------
1 lp version 8:59
2 single edit 3:53
3 pete heller remix 7:35
4 pete heller dub 8:57
5 oliver hunteman remix 8:37
6 oliver hunteman dub 7:28
7 ame innervision remix 10:27

hadn't seen it listed before, nice to have
both dubs on one disc...it's a real promo
slipcase sleeve, with paper insert, and b/w
artwork on it.

you might want to update the dvd track times.

sounds like new music for the slideshows..

later
-1

[viddy]

Besides Beautiful Burnout, Boy Boy Boy is now my favorite track on the album. I just wish it were longer.... Can't wait to hear a live version.

[kagenaki koe]

i love the music used in the slideshows on the DVD. the dvd is kind of like what underworldlive.com is.

[Cadevil]

Can't wait to hear a live version. (of Boy, Boy, Boy)
Seconded...
and the remixes on the single...

[Ufotofu]

Interestingly, "To Heal" is currently the best-selling track from the album on iTunes.

[BrotherLovesDub]

Interestingly, "To Heal" is currently the best-selling track from the album on iTunes.


rabid Sunshine fans. not all that odd when you think about it.

[beh]

Anyone else a sad-act like me and picked up on the typo in the sleeve credits? http://www.underworld.live.com isn't an active domain as far as I know (unless there's something planned that's yet to be announced)


I noticed it too! Is it only on the CD/DVD combo or also on the regular CD? It's the last line in the credits.

bh

[geoff]

Finally got my cd+dvd. Sounds soo much better uncompressed.

Loving how the CD insert unfolds into one of those long vertical images...... reminds me of some of the images Karl posted on uwlive WAAAY back in the day. Anybody remember those? :)

[cacophony]

at the risk of being flamed, i'm going to admit something here: "boy, boy, boy" might be my least favorite underworld song of all time. it's worse than "river of bass." it's actually getting in the way of my appreciation of the second half of the album because every time i get into it i just end up backing up to a better previous track.

to redeem myself, let me just say that i love every track up until that point. "glam bucket" owns me. verdict is still out on everything following.

[orangepants]

at the risk of being flamed, i'm going to admit something here: "boy, boy, boy" might be my least favorite underworld song of all time.

I am inclined to agree, so was somewhat surprised (and disappointed) to hear it may be the next single. I am enjoying the hell out of the rest of the album though, (definitely their best LP since STITI) - my favourite album of the year along with 'From Here We Go Sublime' by The Field.

I could certainly go for longer versions of some of the songs on UWlive.com ('To Heal...' and an even longer 'Beautiful Burnout', please!) but I think in the context of listening to the album as a whole the shorter tracks like 'To Heal...' and GMC work well.

[BrotherLovesDub]

at risk of being called a fanboy again, i'd like to say that i love Boy Boy Boy.

[koisk]

I think Boy Boy Boy is my favorite song on the album!

[holden]

Though links to many of these reviews have already been posted (esp. see lloyd's excellent blog!), metacritic compiles and averages scores so you get a better idea of general opinion. Oblivion With bells is doing pretty favorably:
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/underworld/oblivionwithbells

[patrick]

i also like boy boy boy... it is far better than Ring Road and Cuddle Bunny. They are both unlistenable for me.

[Cadevil]

i also like boy boy boy... it is far better than Ring Road and Cuddle Bunny. They are both unlistenable for me.
I don't feel the need to skip through any of these songs...the whole thing is "listenable" IMHO

[big screen satellite]

at risk of being called a fanboy again, i'd like to say that i love Boy Boy Boy.

enough already, you fan boy, fan boy, fan boy.... :p

[big screen satellite]

at the risk of being flamed, i'm going to admit something here: "boy, boy, boy" might be my least favorite underworld song of all time. it's worse than "river of bass." it's actually getting in the way of my appreciation of the second half of the album because every time i get into it i just end up backing up to a better previous track.

to redeem myself, let me just say that i love every track up until that point. "glam bucket" owns me. verdict is still out on everything following.

i like river of bass - and, shit, there are much worse songs that RoB in UW's back cat...

each to their own though....

boy boy boy is ok in my book...

[geoff]

You're all wrong, UW have never recorded a bad song, EVAR

[dubman]

at the risk of being flamed, i'm going to admit something here: "boy, boy, boy" might be my least favorite underworld song of all time. it's worse than "river of bass." it's actually getting in the way of my appreciation of the second half of the album because every time i get into it i just end up backing up to a better previous track.

to redeem myself, let me just say that i love every track up until that point. "glam bucket" owns me. verdict is still out on everything following.

i agree with 95% of this.
river of bass is great.

but boy boy is beyond terrible.
when i mixd my own version for work (i wanted to put the phonestrap/loads of birds/autotrader combo) i deleted boy boy boy to make room for autostrap.
hate that song
HATE THAT SONG.

it only makes sense when i found later on that the hideous apparatus of U2 had touched it.

[cacophony]

it's okay. consistently, there's always one song on each album that i find completely unlistenable. an inexplicable low point in the play list. BF is the only one that didn't follow that pattern.

so i was expecting it, and i'm fine with it, and i can move on. :)

[negative1]

it's okay. consistently, there's always one song on each album that i find completely unlistenable. an inexplicable low point in the play list. BF is the only one that didn't follow that pattern.

so i was expecting it, and i'm fine with it, and i can move on. :)

winjer,skym and bruce lee are automatic skips for me...
-1

[cacophony]

it's funny how a group of fanboys/girls can differ so drastically in their take on a band's catalog.

[cacophony]

it's okay. consistently, there's always one song on each album that i find completely unlistenable. an inexplicable low point in the play list. BF is the only one that didn't follow that pattern.

whoops i just realized i misspoke. STITI is the only one that didn't follow that pattern. i disliked "something like a mama" on BF.

[galama]

i agree with 95% of this.
river of bass is great.

but boy boy is beyond terrible.
when i mixd my own version for work (i wanted to put the phonestrap/loads of birds/autotrader combo) i deleted boy boy boy to make room for autostrap.
hate that song
HATE THAT SONG.

it only makes sense when i found later on that the hideous apparatus of U2 had touched it.

In some respects reminds me of Underneath the Radar-ish GLORY GLOORY GLOOORY GLORAAAYYYY! BOOY BOOY BOoooY.

[galama]

I was playing with OWB DVD today...this time it made me realize that we could have gotten more out of it. I'm really dissapointed of the galleries/slide shows. Only a few pictures?

One of the few bright spots on it is the Rez video. That thing is enchanting.

[phaseblue]

but boy boy is beyond terrible.

My sentiments exactly! Karl (who`s voice/poetic lyrics sound amazing in other contexts) sounds like a country "hick" on Boy, Boy, Boy! IMO, it sounds like a redneck attempt at something in the vein of electronic music (along the same lines as Trim)!

The instrumental sounds fine until the vocals start!

R&K should keep this type of experimental rubbish to River Run Releases!!!


Note: I`m not putting down the RR stuff. Actually, I loved it! I just think this was a more appropriate medium for squeezing in flaky tracks like Boy, Boy, Boy.

[Cadevil]

I was playing with OWB DVD today...this time it made me realize that we could have gotten more out of it. I'm really dissapointed of the galleries/slide shows. Only a few pictures?

One of the few bright spots on it is the Rez video. That thing is enchanting.
I thought the video was great for the couple extra bucks...There's always the other alternative.

The GMC video is cool.

[dubman]

I thought the video was great for the couple extra bucks...There's always the other alternative.

okay, i could have not gotten the dvd, but as far as missed opportunities go, i'd say this is definitely one of them.

but yeah, the GMC vid is the coolest part about it.

[holden]

Every playing of OWB reviews new beautiful elements. Tracks 1 - 6 are very strong, a well integrated sense. But there are a few ambient bits i could do without. Cuddle Bunny and Good Morning Cockerel don't really interest me. I wish maybe they'd have included the lyrical version of "To heal" (this short wordless version is lovely, but i miss Rick's dad!) and maybe "Always Loved a Film" or "You Do Scribble", as these were really shaping up and which would have made the album a bit more upbeat. As it is, it's a thinking-dirt's sort of electronic experience, and still very enjoyable. Something for everyone, from echoes of UWmk1 (boy,boy,boy), dancey tracks, riverrun and soundtrack-esque musicianship, and brand new sounds to love. or learn to love with replays!

[holden]

Some folks have already mentioned how "Holding the Moth" seems like an updated "Cups". I am listening to "Best Mamgu Ever" and the two-chord synth intro that continues through the track is verrrry reminiscent of "Banstyle".

[cacophony]

^ it's like banstyle and river of bass made sweet sweet love.

[Cadevil]

Not sure if anyone posted the Resident Advisor review:
RA review (http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=4824)

3.5 out of 5

I found the comparison to Mezzanine interesting...especially with regard to the second half of the album. Seems like the reviewer enjoyed the second half quite a bit...not sure how it didn't eek out a 4.

So I guess RA ranks the albums Dubno, STITI, OwB > BF, AHDO

[Cadevil]

I know most of these "thoughts" on the album were posted weeks ago...I reserved my judgment until I had a solid week of non-stop listening...Here goes.

I think OwB works pretty solidly as a cohesive album. Tracks seem to flow in natural order (especially the first 3 as others have pointed out). Some great experiments in the second half of the disc. Many work quite well, few don't.

Crocodile--A great choice for the album opener. As synth upon synth arpegiates over the other, Underworld welcome us all home. A bangin' track that harkens back to some of the best UW bangers in the catalog.

Beautiful Burnout--Everyone has pretty much said all there is to say about this guy. It's been refined for many years and it's a beautiful, subdued dance track. I find it interesting that UW kept it back for so long--working and working on it until it was exactly where they wanted it to be.

Holding the Moth--I loved the Globe track from the day it appeared as a download from the Akademic concert. Great vocals/lyrics by Karl, and minimalist approach by Rick.

To Heal--I know I'll get flamed for this, but I really don't think this track works at all. When it comes on I sort of tune out and quickly become bored. Could have benefited with just a little bit more going on.

Ring Road--Yeah, the comparisons to the Streets make sense for the first 20-30 seconds of the track, but Karl finds his flow fast after that, and this turns into one of those interesting experiments that work well. Rick's writing is great, but the entire song depends on Karl's delivery. The chorus turns this song into something very special. I think the Streets impersonation at the start is quite purposeful. A "quasi-hip hop" 8-ball.

Glam Bucket--Not quite sure how I rank this song. It certainly keeps me interested. Would love to here a clean live version with the guitar accompaniment (a la Denver). To me it's like Rowla's friendlier little brother...or a lullaby version of Rowla.

Boy, Boy, Boy--Another risk at being flamed, but I think this is a great rock song, complete with distorted guitars. Though, UW are not a traditional rock band, I think they really pulled one off here. No surprise that this is getting a single release. I can imagine the boys in Abbey Road really rocking out with this number.

Cuddle Bunny--Can't get into it. Like To Heal, I simply tune out. People have compared both of these tracks to the Riverrun...For what it's worth, I was a big fan of RR and I'm not a big fan of either of these.

Faxed Invitation--The start of this track turns me off, but I like it more as it goes on. Could have benefited from further development, but a good start to the "epic" & melancholic OwB finale suite

Good Morning Cockerel--Wow...The piano and lyrical delivery of this track make the hair on my arm stand up. Ranks up there with some of the best down-tempo stuff UW have ever released. Akin to Most 'Ospitable, Tongue, Born Slippy '03 down mix.

Best Mamgu Ever--Dark and eerie blend of cut-up lyrics and piano at the start. Like someone smashed together Ancient Phat Farm Coat and a diced up slowed down version of Cowgirl. A good experimental piece that again arrests my thoughts.

I think OwB is a great offering by the boys. It sounds VERY dark to me (I've always liked the darker, dirtier side of UW more). The brightest spot here is Ring Road (even that has a touch of melancholy). The "bangers" are a bit absent as compared to past albums, which I can see would bother some fans...but it doesn't bother me one bit. Sadly, I don't know if OwB will attract many new fans because it doesn't have a commercial side to it. But it's a fantastic treat for those who appreciate the "full album" massiveness of an Underworld treatise.

[negative1]

i ordered the vinyl version of 'oblivion with bells',
and 'one hundred days off'...

has anyone listened to these on vinyl yet?
(compared to the cds)...

maybe my hearing isnt' the best..but i wonder
if there are any subtle differences in the masterings?

OT: here's an interesting article on the rise of vinyl
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/commentary/listeningpost/2007/10/listeningpost_1029

later
-1

[Mort]

Finally got word that my order from the australian supplier of the pre-order has been sent. Seems JB-hifi lost the whole batch of pre-orders and had to reorder stock.

Will be good to finally get a chance to listen to it . I've been good and kept away from downloading it.

[negative1]

ok, i finally got the vinyl version,
should be listening to it soon..

wonder if there are any noticeable differences..

i like the double gatefold packaging...
and the sleeves also have pictures on them too..nice touch..

the graphics are remixed from the cd booklet..

the vinyl etchings dont say much:
paradigm 1/2 speed process
(m) image

or something like that....

later
-1

[Rog]

at the end of the day, i,ve come home from pub/club and listened to STITI or dubno for years but in the last few weeks i,ve been coming home to OWB and crocodiles, bb, boyx3, faxed invitation and best mamgu are to fuckin die for. OWB ranks as almost, if not the best, EVER........its emotional:D

[Postal]

Chiming in a bit late here, but I definitely like the album. To me, the "Crocodile" / "Beautiful Burnout" segment is one of the best Underworld has ever done because it flows so effortlessly and encapsulates everything the group is about. It's driving electronic music that works in a club but with ambient synths that add a reflective quality to the whole affair.

I will say that it gets a bit awkward in the middle ("Ring Road" is almost too conventional in its lyrics for me), but the group is definitely taking welcome chances and defines Oblivion more clearly than it did with Hundred Days Off.

Now, where's my Canadian tour date? Preferably in Ottawa or Montreal. :)

[mark3]

On Ebay UK there's a BB promo - for their 'second single' (what about Boy x 3 then?).

Tracks:

01. lp version
02. mark knight remix
03. mark knight dub
04. pig & dan remix

source: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNDERWORLD-BEAUTIFUL-BURNOUT-PIG-DAN-MARK-KNIGHT-MINT_W0QQitemZ150183519549

[negative1]

On Ebay UK there's a BB promo - for their 'second single' (what about Boy x 3 then?).

Tracks:

01. lp version
02. mark knight remix
03. mark knight dub
04. pig & dan remix

source: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNDERWORLD-BEAUTIFUL-BURNOUT-PIG-DAN-MARK-KNIGHT-MINT_W0QQitemZ150183519549

the mark knight mix was previewed way back here last month:
http://www.darktrain.org/dirty/forums/showthread.php?t=6730&highlight=beautiful+burnout

later
-1

[Dirty0900]

Meh, BB is a better single choice imo for a second single then BBB anyway. Lots of B's...

[negative1]

in listening to this album, and looking back at
underworlds career...i'm reminded of another
group i like 'talk talk'...although their styles
couldn't be anymore different it is interesting
to see what happened..

talk talk started out with some acclaimed
albums, and some niche following, with
some commercial success for their first
few albums...yeah, they had singles,
and some club hits.. but it all erupted
into a huge mess, when they hit it big
with 'its my life'.....which haunted them
from then on.... unlike underworld though,
they were not that much of a live band,
and only toured sparsely.

anyways, they later added another unnoffical
member to their team, who ended up contributing
greatly.....they also had amazing artwork, and
were very consistent in the image they presented..
their sound was instantly recognizable (mostly),
and their production values were very high...

they then went on to have more commercial success
although their singles weren't really accessible,
(sound familiar?)....they also decided to make music
that was more experimental and not as commercial..

of course their studio didn't like that, and there
were all kinds of disputes (there was a remix
album released without their approval)...

their last 3 albums were probably the furthest
things released that could even be considered
'commercial'...and they eventually broke up,
and the led singer went on to form his own
solo projects (mark hollis)....

anyways, i know underworld hasn't reached that
point.....but i'm wondering if this album is a reaction
to the earlier 'accessibility' of their previous works,
and now that they're independent and can explore
more 'artistic' leanings..

of course, i could just be imagining things...

more info : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_Talk

later
-1

[den]

After reading that, I looked into a few things. I had no idea that Gwen Stefani song was a cover, after how many times I've heard it. Though I'm not surprised, since now it really sounds like a cover.

[selector]

in listening to this album, and looking back at
underworlds career...

i believe this is just a full circle for them...

(from an '05 interview with karl)

"Being members of the experimental sound field in ’92 at Glastonbury; that was probably the most seminal moment for Underworld in terms of the way we were going to evolve."

...and this quote seems fitting in regards to the upcoming oblivion ball...

"I don’t know much about dance culture anywhere in the world. We’ve never been that specific in our tastes since we met 25 years ago. But what I will say about Japan is that it was the first country to embrace our eclecticism, and to embrace the fact that we were about things other than dance music. It was the first country to embrace us as Tomato, rather than just as Underworld."

[Jamiel]

Karl listed Talk Talk's album 'Spirit of Eden' as one of his favourite albums, and said it reminded him 'to try harder'.

I think this was on the old Dirty website, possibly in a what was on Karl's Ipod.

There is some direct influence that can be heard on 'Dubnobasswithmyheadman', 'Tongue' would not feel out of place on 'Spirit of Eden' or the following/last album 'Laughing Stock'.

I wonder how many others here are fans of Talk Talk, the strength of song writing is common to both bands, and also the space in the 'soundscapes' they create.

Two of my very favourite bands.

Jamie


Negative1 wrote:

in listening to this album, and looking back at
underworlds career...i'm reminded of another
group i like 'talk talk'...although their styles
couldn't be anymore different it is interesting
to see what happened..

[big screen satellite]

i've updated the first post on page one with some new times info...

check it out doods...

[negative1]

i've updated the first post on page one with some new times info...

check it out doods...

getting behind? he he..

anyways, you still have 'faxed invitation' remix
listed, but not 'holding the moth' remix..

later
-1

[TheBang]

i've updated the first post on page one with some new times info...

check it out doods...
What CD is the Crocodile Pete Heller Dub on?

BTW, here's an interesting tidbit. I threw the Book of Jam DVD info from the Traffic site here:

http://trafficjpn.com/underworld/newrelease.html

into Google translator. Apparently, the Metal Friend video is comprised of a mix of two previously unreleased songs: "Lemon Mini" and "Melonman"

[holden]

BTW, here's an interesting tidbit. I threw the Book of Jam DVD info from the Traffic site here:

http://trafficjpn.com/underworld/newrelease.html

into Google translator. Apparently, the Metal Friend video is comprised of a mix of two previously unreleased songs: "Lemon Mini" and "Melonman"

Hmm, didn't catch that when i played the DVD! ""Melon Man" was played in late 2004, credited to Mr. and Mrs. Christmas. If i recall, it's like highly modulated static (in the vein of Loads of Bird's beat), over which Rick and Karl answered questions from the chatroom.

[holden]

What CD is the Crocodile Pete Heller Dub on?


Good question! I haven't seen or heard of it on any of the croc singles. It's not listed on Heller;s discography, either :confused:

[negative1]

What CD is the Crocodile Pete Heller Dub on?


i have a 7 track uk promo cd single with that on it...
i haven't added it to discogs yet..

later
-1

[big screen satellite]

more minor updates to page one of this thread including some new BB remixes....

let me know if anything else needs adding that i have missed...

matt

[Jafs]

How is Peach tree ?

coz I own the japan version of the Crocodile single without this bonus track, and I was planning to buy the UK one, but I need some guarantees ^^

Also, for when is due the release of BBB ?

[big screen satellite]

How is Peach tree ?

coz I own the japan version of the Crocodile single without this bonus track, and I was planning to buy the UK one, but I need some guarantees ^^

Also, for when is due the release of BBB ?

well its basically the full unmixed version from the RRP - its good if you like it to own in this unmixed format....

both versions are similar, the UK Croc exclusive and the BB redone version...

they sound good, but you may need to go back to the RRp andlisten to it to see if its to your personal liking, if it is, then its worth having as i said...

no idea on BBB release date, although its out in Japan already afaik...

wondering if Burnout willbe released here (in the UK) first...?

[Dirty0900]

Burnout is out on 14th January, i posted this yonks ago;)

Two 12"'s.