Re: BB Reviews
 

i already pre-ordered the US one. ugh.

Re: BB Reviews
 

...so i placed twenty three blue after santiago and like many here, i will also say it fits in perfectly here. This LP is growing on me greatly. I've listened to it in it's entirety at my desk, in my car, in tiny wires in my ears and it's just filled with so many elements. No, it's not a dance LP. No, there are no major Techno anthems here. No, there are no 11 minute tracks to take you a on journey through Trance. But it's filled with substance.

After several listens, I feel alot of AHDO in this LP. It's kind of like what AHDO should have been. The good thing is, you can take the best of that era and mix it in perfectly with BB.

Yes, Underworld, you do face a shining future...

Job well done mates. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing you on stage here in California!

Re: BB Reviews
 

... have a drink mate. no need to be vicious here. I like to tease yes...

Re: BB Reviews
 

twenty three blue has lyrics from king of snake right? 2:24

blue come wrap around us
come on take me home

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

As is my custom, I waited until release day to listen to the album in whole. Granted, with five tracks being played live at BBC6, plus the two samplers and “I Exhale” single release, it wasn’t as anticipatory as previous albums’ first spins. Mostly, I just enjoy hearing a mastered version rather than a rip, having the physical product, and being surprised by the layers and differences from live versions. Anyway, a couple full plays in, my thoughts:

“I Exhale”: (7/10) Big, brash opener. It’s grown on me a lot since the single release. I wish there were more variety than the two-note bass and fairly static drumbeat. But the extra beats at 3:04, again at 5:07 and the many, many layers of squiggly sounds and voices make for nice headphone listening and hold my interest.

“If Rah”: (9/10) From the sampler, I thought this would be a mess. But it has one of UW’s better buildups, in my opinion. Here, a static electro bass and tinny beat don’t interfere with Karl’s lyrics (the sentiments I really enjoy). Then as the guitar and eventually the big synth melody enter, the chorus ~4” and the break 4:30 building back to euphoria layer by layer, this becomes a classic for me.

“Low Burn”: (10/10). Beautiful opening strings, somewhat menacing oscillating bassline, ping-pong blip, urgent piano and oh those pounding drums! Gorgeous vocals, simple but delivered directly from and to the soul. This track feels like it could have fit nicely on any release from Beaucoup onwards.

“Santiago Quattro”: (5/10) Like “Ess Gee” or “Blueski”, this could be considered the “guitar filler track”. It starts out promising with the drone, radio crackle and semi-mysterious pattern, but about two minutes in, Karl seemed out of ideas. I realize that this (and most of Karl’s guitar playing, in my opinion) is about feeling rather than song structure. It’s not bad, just overly long for what it accomplishes in half the time. I’d probably like it better if a beat dropped in. In fact…

“Motorhome”: (6.5/10) In same key as “Santiago”, they could have mixed “Motorhome” directly, as was the case in the second album sampler. I kind of like the hypnotic or meditative nature of this. Again, happy headphone listening to pick out the sounds. Folks have mentioned this sounding like the Chemical Brothers; agree, the horn reminds me of “Private Psychedelic Reel” and “Sunshine Underground” or some B-side from “Surrender”. The electric bass ~4:30 and piano are way up in the mix for a few bars, but succeed in transforming the track into something more joyous. Probably will take a few more spins to fully appreciate.

“Ova Nova”: (9/10) Great rolling bassline, subtle guitar, swinging beat. I love that organ that takes over! Karl’s voice and the background vocals are really strong here. Another lovely buildup, breakdown, repeat. “Connecting nations; everybody everybody change your mind!”… This feels like child of Rez/Cowgirl to me. Wish it would go on longer.

“Nylon Strung”: (10/10). Ok, I’m adult enough to admit this one moves me to tears. Stunning vocals by Esme Smith, and presumably Tyler Hyde and Rick are in the chorus as well, which just makes the sentiment “Open Me Up, I Want to Hold You Laughing/ Carry Me” so powerful. The Pitchfork review was spot on here, the track makes me think of my family and loved ones. Bittersweet, life- affirming, joyful, hopeful, etc. The perfect album closer.

“Twenty Three Blue”: (8/10) Too bad the Japanese version tacks this on at the end, ruining the mood of “Nylon Strung”. Since I’d prefer Santiago to be merged with Motorhome, and the back half of the album is so uplifting, I might try putting this after If Rah. Anyway, nice guitar riffs and dive-bomb synth bass, dark vocals to decipher. “Do you feel the cold of winter?” Yes, I feel it in this track. Why was it left off? Too typically UW? Too dark compared with the rest of the record?

Overall: 8/10. Really strong with the exception of "Santiago" and portions of "Motorhome". If “I Exhale” were shorter, “23 Blue” added, and maybe a few tracks stretched out longer, this would be amazing. But I’m liking it more than OWB and Barking, for sure.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

i agree with pretty much all of that at this point except i rather like santiago (don't put a beat to that please) and i'm still not fully onto Nylon even though it's grown.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Miki's written the "official" Born Dirty review:

https://www.borndirty.org/news/under...hining-future/

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I like it, but it lacks a few things:

1. No sing along worthy track. Barking had always loved a film, OWB had "Crocodile" and "beautiful burnout", this album lacks a song I want to sing along with. Karl's vocals are buried in a lot of reverb. I do enjoy the bits where he comes thru a bit more, a la the vocal change in Bruce Lee wherein his vox go from effect laden to dry as hell.

2. First 4 tracks are really tight, even with a little bit of that original sound, but it sort of falls off at track 5 and the train slows down a lot. I'm ok with this most of the time, but I felt a little tossed off the tracks after Santiago Cuatro.

3. I would be happy if the whole album were more like "low burn". It has that deep groove that I just sort of roll around in.

4. It's not very long. 45 mins? I mean, that's ok, I don't need 10 minute bangers all the time, but I'm missing some of that really bearing into the groove feel. I know, I know, Juanita/Kiteless won't happen again, and I know that, but, I still like it when I really have time to settle into the groove.

Overall, I like it, not my top album, certainly one I'll enjoy from time to time. I think of the material in post-Emerson days, I still prefer 100 days off and OWB. There was something very sad about "Barking". I was driving to Arizona once listening to that album, and I sort of wanted to cry through most of it. Scribble sort of makes me feel like I'm being punched in the bridge of the nose by something very sad. Am I the only one that hears this? I guess it's always sort of been there in UW's material, I mean, even Dirty Epic was a sad song in its own way, Born Slippy always was a little sad besides being a banger. I guess there's always been a bit of melancholy in UW's material, maybe I just pick up on it more in my later years.

That's the power of UW's music, really, and one of the major reasons that I've always loved it. I also lost a good friend of mine who really got me further into UW in the early 00s to suicide two years ago, so now listening to their music sometimes has that tinge of downness that I can't describe. That's just me.

Please keep in mind that I've been listening to UW since the mid-90s when I was just a teen, so yes, I'm probably always going to be stuck, like a needle in the record groove, on some of those things that I always really reveled in with their sound.

Anyway, I'm going off on a tangent, here. I'm always grateful when the boys release something new, so I'm certainly not ungrateful for this album. I just sometimes want that straight 909 kick with the energy of the earlier material. That's why I can go back through all of it, I guess. I do prefer to hear artists progress and grow in their sound, instead of doing the same thing over and over again. I've always been in awe of UW's ability to simply keep creating.

Thank you for making more art, Karl and Rick, and as always, please keep doing it, we're all glad that you do.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I'm also listening to 23 blue now and this song, I'm all about. I would be happy with a lot more of this.

Re: BB Reviews
 

I agree with this. It has a good bit of AHDO in it.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I'll never understand the decision to leave 23 blue off this album

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Agreed. It's a fucking masterpiece. Maybe it was done so we'd all do what we're doing now, play with the tracklist and make our own interpretation?

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I think because it was a tonal thing. it's a thoroughly positive and encouraging album, and while I think including 23B would be a welcome facet, I'd also understand if it was pushing against the tide and felt out of place, regardless of how good it is.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I agree. Karl's said the first few tracks are a scaffolding of rhythm and Santiago's a bit of a breather. From Motorhome to the end, it's all positivity, so it makes no sense to tack 23 Blue at the end. I have it after If Rah in my playlist, just to keep the harder stuff up front.
It's an excellent track, but seems like it would be better as a B-Side to a single than as a tacked on closer. At least Simple Peal was unobtrusive, though it also didn't fit with the mood of Barking. Ah well, they're called Bonus Tracks for a reason, I suppose.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

But, let's remember that Moaner finishes off BF, just after "Something like a mama", arguably one of the most amazing calm UW tracks of all time - then Moaner comes in and punches you in the face.

I don't think it's bad when the tone changes like that. I can see how this song would have changed the feeling of the end of shining future, but honestly, it would have paled in comparison to the change between Moaner coming in.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

the scaffolding that I Exhale starts is repetitive and dull tho.

I shouldn't like the bonus track more than the others.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Guess what? I fell in love with Underworld when I was 21.
Now I'm 36. We all grow older.i like the early bangers, but I love tracks that touch multiple levels...

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I fell in love with underworld at 21 and am 41 now. :) doesn't change the fact that Exhale is a boring track. :p and even at 21 I loved the touching tracks. UW has always been about the hard and soft; salty and sweet. This album is missing that one salty track. The addition of 23B ALMOST fills the hole, but mainly it's the lack of a strong opening track. Exhale peaks 30 seconds in, in mediocre fashion.

I like the album... a lot. But 23B is just notch above most of the others and half of the people that buy the album won't ever hear it. I laugh at that thought.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

So I guess I'll chime in here too since I'm also a veteran UW fan. Been listening to them since 1995 when Cowgirl was featured in the film Hackers. I wasn't terribly into techno at the time, but I had always been a huge Depeche Mode & Kraftwerk fan, so falling in love with the sound of Underworld was obvious.

My love for Underworld really didn't come until later when I really got into Pearl's Girl being featured in The Saint. At that point I was finally introduced to Born Slippy by a friend and then I obtained STITI. Instantly became a favourite of mine and still is by far for me their greatest LP. I really can't say that I have a least favourite because each LP has 1 or 2, and in some cases 3 of my favourite UW songs.

For me, there is something about Barbara Barbara that really moves me and gives me a really positive vibe. It's like finally reaching the light at the end of the tunnel by the time Nylon Strung starts, which for me is one of my favourite UW tracks now. I even have my wife and kids humming along to it, which makes the emotions run high.

My 2 daughters (4 & 10) had me repeating If Rah today. I love it! :D

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I'm not trying to say that age determines things, and it's good to progress one's art. I'm glad that UW does and can, let's face it; they are literally probably the ONLY dance music outfit, save for FSOL, who can continue to make art, not just make songs to please radio and DJs. That is a huge fucking thing. I try to do that and I can't even get like one person to listen to my fucking music. I'm grateful that they change, evolve, and progress -- but the simple fact exists that many of us are UW fans from the 90s on and one way or another, we're going to be affected by changes in the sound, just as I was when KMFDM changed their sound in the early 00s. I still love both bands with all my heart, but it's in different ways.

I love shining future, it's not my top album, but that album always has and will be Everything Everything, because of the many memories that I associate with it. I'm fairly certain that album saved my life a good many times.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Totally agree. Our musical tastes change, as do the styles of the musicians and producers. Each UW album, save maybe Barking, has exhibited aspects of new style, different inspiration, and in all cases, embraced change. Though you and I have our own reasons for preferring certain phases, albums or songs, ID like to think that most of the folks who've been dirties for awhile are able to at least appreciate R & K's efforts.

Anyway.... After a week and many, many listens, I'm struck by how much stringed instruments are on BB. Karl mentioned bringing in a lot of different, sometimes difficult to play instruments. I think the variety shows, and the organic playing adds nice depth.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

it's.......ok...........

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I have held off on any sort of a review till now, just to let it sink in a bit. I have also listened to OWB and Barking to compare it to their most recent releases, and I have to say I am delighted with it.

It is a nice length. Not a length I'd like if they were still making Techno/House music, but for the type of music they have on this album it is right. It the sort of short length you get with the latest Radiohead albums - short powerful songs that don't linger too long (except maybe for I Exhale)

After listening to this, and then listening back to Barking, it just highlighted again how little I felt I wanted to listen to Barking... I knew the moment I heard it that I would only ever dip back into 1 or 2 songs on a semi-regular basis... as an album it was never going to grab me. It just didn't feel right.

But BBWFSF does have a listenable and expressive quality which will get me listening over and over. I am delighted with it. I actually really like I Exhale and If Rah ... I think they are really strong and fun and have a lot of elements with which the band *could* play around with live... (not that they look like they will)

I am also a fan of the repetitious vocals and building rhythms that are at the core of the whole album. It is a development on that idea which they infused with their Tech/house/acid style of the 90s and 00s.. but have now incorporated it into their more narrative based stuff since OWB.

Comparing this to OWB I am delighted to hear the same experimental vibe in both albums.. I think more accurately it relates to the flow they built with the Riverrun series. Except again they are resting more on narrative forms with verse and chorus, and stringed instruments.

Barking fell flat for me.. it seemed caught up in achieving a commercial mix between what they are generally known for (LAGER LAGER LAGER), the feeling they wanted to achieve (Two Months Off), and the actual music they wanted to make at the time (UW Mk1, pop music)...

This time around they seem to have ditched that vein effort to keep trying to achieve what people expect from them and just went for what they wanted to do. What resulted is a more honest record (Like OWB) that has a lot more heart and asks a lot more of the listener rather than simply trying to please.

I like it, I will listen to it a lot and I am delighted they are even still doing all of this. Which is what I am most thankful for.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Book version arrived today, after first listen trough:
I Exhale: "hello, we're different this time" is the purpose of this one. It's grown very much on me, I like the sonic quality.
If Rah: similar simplicity of I Exhale, I love the riff that goes from guitar to super-saw synth. Not sure about "luna luna luna ..."
Low Burn: Beautiful and epic, typical UW, but way too short. A why "the rhythm" again ?
Santiago Cuatro: still need to get the point apart from being a filler
Motorhome: first felt like "Edgeland" to me, but can't really complain. It's a good self-standing track.
Ova Nova: hate the fade out, it looses its good momentum and goes .. nowhere
Nylon Strung: probably the best track for me, it's not missing anything or is cut away too early.

Overall: a good album, positively surprised me, bit short in the end.
But: R&K don't have to proove anything anymore, I'm glad they still make their music and try to push boundaries and play with expectations.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I always envisioned Underworld as the audio side of a greater art project. So, I think this album is pretty good. I like the thick full sound and it feels very now to me. With this I mean that if, back in 1995, I would have tried to imagined what Underworld would sound like in twenty years, this would be it. My favorite track is Santiago Cuatro.

My only criticism would be on the live shows if this the direction. Underworld should stop playing Nuxx and Rez/Cowgirl and Pearls Girl etc. Instead just go all down tempo jam out for most shows.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Agree with a lot of the above actually; specially re 'luna,luna, luna' :), and Nylon Strung is starting really kick in for me in that simple hypnotic deep way.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Hope everyone is good.

I have listened to the album through speakers and headphones and straight away connected with tracks 1-5. On headphones the album is a much deeper and richer experience, but I do wish that Ova nova and Nylon strung had kept the tone a bit darker, as at times it gets a tad too house for me, but I can appreciate it for what it is.
I am like a dog where if Underworld goes above a certain tone and pitch then I run away whimpering and recall that horrendous track on Barking Between Stars ow ow ow. ;)

Re: BB Reviews
 

Teasing's one thing; but you took people's money and disappeared.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Every time Motorhome is playing, I get this image of Kylo Ren in his private quarters on the Star Destroyer dusting off his gandpappy's mangled helmet while quietly humming "....keep away from the dark siiiiiiiii......"

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

easily one of my least favorite Underworld tracks.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

ooofffff:(

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

oh heck thought you said one of your most favorite!!!! sorry menopause:D
It upsets me so much, they are better than house and do not need the cheesy tones that a couple of their recent tracks including BS contain. Motorhome is lovely and reminds me of an electrified Edgelands, Take care all

Re: BB Reviews
 

true!

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Whoa.

I had forgotten ( I know!) that I had asked the Mr to put 23B on my ipod (which would probably explain the nagging feeling all week that I was forgetting something) and by chance today I had shuffle on by accident as I was listening to Barbara, walking to get something for lunch. Motorhome was playing and then all of a sudden (I think my finger grazed the touch screen) this crazy, amazing, dark track came on. Pulled the ipod out of my pocket thinking "gee, I don't remember Motorhome taking this dark turn..." and realized it was my unlistened-to 23B.

I think I listened to it at least another 7 times this afternoon.

This track is the ultimate, night in the city, upper deck of an empty bus riding in the rain song. Its so deep, so dark, dirty, and layered, just how I like my electronic-based music. In fact, frankly, it sounds like what Depeche Mode were attempting to do on their last three albums but were never able to reach even close to these heights and balance of guitar and electronic (and lets face it, Martin probably wouldn't have had the right lyrics for this either, even if they had a decent producer. Yes I remain jaded about the Hillier choice). Absolutely love it.

Pity they aren't playing it instead of maybe taking off eight ball and faxed invitation. Maybe in Japan....?

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Total agreement. I think this song would be so amazing live.

It's jumped up to my favorite track on BB. (i still have it right after Santiago.)

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Interestingly enough, this album made me go back to OWB, and I'm realizing how much I love that album. It's not a through and through listen for me, I skip some tracks, but, overall, that album is goddamn amazing.

I mean, everything UW does, is. I want to be clear; I will always love Underworld.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Surprised this didn't get mentioned overnight. Thought I'd check in this morning and find everyone livid. Interview with High Contrast on his involvement with BBWFASF...

https://ukf.com/words/high-contrast-...ew-label/15917

Let’s start with Underworld. Really interesting album. It stops really suddenly after seven tracks and made me want more!
That was the plan. They’re an unconventional act; they’re always looking at how to do things differently. A lot of people overload their albums these days; for example hip-hop albums sometimes have 18-20 tracks and, if you’re honest, you can chop out at least four or five. 45 minutes is about the right time to expect people to invest in listening to an album. It doesn’t have to be that epic hour and twenty minute slog. One thing they didn’t anticipate was that a lot of reactions from people were that they listened to it again straight away. There was a huge amount of attention paid to the arrangement and flow of the album and tracks were lost due to that too. There was a real emphasis on not making anything overblown.

What did your role as co-producer comprise? I had them down as producers anyway…
We’ve worked together before and get along really well. Obviously there’s the Welsh connection and a lot of shared interests but they’re such great pros with real history with tips about music and life in general. I was more than happy to get on board when they asked me to come along and lend a fresh pair of ears. They wrote the songs together then asked me to come in and help get perspective on things and add an extra 10 percent here and there. The tracks would start out 15 minutes long. I’d go in and get a structure down to five minutes then Rick would pull it back to eight minutes or so. They’re real artists, there was no consideration about making anything radio friendly or marketable or more commercial in any way. The mission was simple: let’s make the most beautiful record we possibly can.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

I still keep 23bfirmly after Santiago and feel the album is much stronger with it in.

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Welp, here's mine:

https://critterjams.wordpress.com/20...g-future-2016/

Re: Barbara Barbara dirty reviews
 

Pure magical Underworld sound. The first two songs are maybe not the ones I have on replay but the rest are awesome and filling up my car with happiness these days.