Re: TONIGHT...
 

Dude.
Pendulum and High Contrast aren't generic d'n'b. They have their own distinct styles, if you compare them to other d'n'b artists like Evol Intent and 4hero.
(And I am surprised no one linked to ANYTHING off of Pendulum's Hold Your Colour and High Contrast's High Society, which I think are the best albums of each of them. IMO.)

And "Scribble" isn't a generic d'n'b track. It has the elements of an Underworld song (ie; Karl's voice, spoken word voice sampling), just not carried out in the way that we expected - like in the past. (This is me hoping that the rest of their new album will experiment in a variety of ways, in which "Scribble" would be one of those ways.)

And for pity's sakes, this is a radio edit, not the full version. And NONE of us have heard the full version. I'm waiting on that to make my final verdict. ;D

Re: TONIGHT...
 

Thanks again Jez for the reminder!!!
I am digging the new(ish) track!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

I bought the WAV file, and the download was just a WAV file. Did anyone buy the MP3, and did it have artwork, catalog number, etc.?

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

i'm about to purchase it. hope to get that sweet artwork.

EDIT: nope, it's just an MP3. anyway 320kbps!

EDIT2: not regretting it, sounds ace! louder than the free download :D

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

Oh yeah! Finally new official UW single!

And it's banging!

While this is different from the live version we've become accustomed to (yeah, not just the twinkly melody or lyrics - there are a lot more layers than the live version and even the arpeggiated synth sounds a bit different), "its' okay and it gives me everything i need"!
A happy vibe similar to TMO (that was also the lead single and took some getting used to, but has now become a live favorite), some Juanita(?) spoken word, driving bassline, cool percussion.

i will agree with comments above that this does seem very glossy and aimed for mass appeal, but hey, isn't that what singles are for? And anyway, it's a radio edit, designed to be played. Wonder how different the full version is (again, compare the single and LP versions of TMO). The artwork is a little bit pop, reminds me of Royksopp's "Junior", sort of 80's airbrushed - the woman in it makes mee think "Rio" by Duran Duran. Eek!

Looking forward to hearing the full version next. For now, i'm really very happy with this! New Underworld - and new album soon!


edit:
concerning collaborations and "playing it safe"; listen, Karl and Rick have been making music for a long time and have worked with a lot of different musicians. I think they are genuinely inspired by collabs and use it as a way to stay fresh and new. With the exception of AHDO, where there were some retreads of BF ideas, they've never played it safe...even on that one, TMO sounded very different than what we "expected" an UW single to be. Anyway, who can blame them for wanting to appeal to a broader audience? BF sold a lot, AHDO and OWB, not so much.
My only hope is that they don't employ guest vocalists. If collaborations sound like UW as back-up band to flavor of the month indie or RnB artist (see Chemical Brothers's last few records), we're in trouble. Otherwise, keep it fresh!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

the MP3 has artwork in the file.

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

Now that I've given this a listen or three...

I am hesitant to make a comment on this, because often I've found that it's difficult to make a call on the quality of Underworld tracks without the context of an entire album. I loathed Holding the Moth the first time I heard it alone, but with the rest of Oblivion with Bells surrounding it, it suddenly began to make a lot more sense in terms of its narrative, feel and sound, and I began to like it a lot more.

That said, I'm quite enjoying Scribble so far. As others have pointed out so far, it seems a little mainstream and candy-raveresque, especially compared with a lot of their other work - I'd liken it to the sound and feel of Two Months Off, with its reasonably basic melody and beat. Sounds good, easily-digested, and feels like something that'd be great to drop on clubgoers at one in the morning...

I don't like it as much as I like the live versions of You Do Scribble - that has this undeniable feel of very raw, unrestrained human joy about it, which comes about from the way it builds up with that beat and the breaks in it, whereas Scribble is a very produced, clubby track. Also dug the lyrics for YDS more, but then again some of those were appropriated for Best Mamgu Ever, so to reuse them would be a little odd.

This is a single version... so I'm wondering whether the full, album version will have that Small Conker and a Twix-esque ambience and build to it in the beginning? I do hope so... those two tracks played together is fucking incredible. Scribble is making me incredibly curious as to the direction this new album will be taking - will it be similar to Beaucoup Fish in the sense that it's mostly geared towards one sound, all good-vibe dancefloor rockers (whereas Beaucoup Fish was overwhelmingly heavy bass and bangin' beats) or will it be a more expansive effort a la Oblivion with Bells with it's clubby tracks like Crocodile to moments of ambience like To Heal? I do hope for the latter, but only time will tell...

Very promising so far!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

okay so i just banged the shit out of it at top volume like 5 times in a row and i finally have some thoughts on it.

it's a risky track because it's such a departure. it's not the first time they've done something risky and i have to admire them for stepping out of their comfort zone. someone said it sounds "safe" but it's not THEIR safe sound. it's outside of the box for them. if i really think about it, some of their unusual outside-of-the-box tracks rank up there with my favorites. peggy sussed, for one, which i previously mentioned.

the one negative thing i will say about it is that it FEELS like an edit. the pacing and transitions feel awkward and rushed, like they were cramming too much song into a radio version. which, obviously, is what it is. the break in the middle is so incomprehensibly nonsensical to me that i can't imagine what they were thinking sticking it in the middle there. that said, i love every second of everything that follows the break.

maybe i'm just a softie at heart but there's something about tracks where karl sounds optimistic and/or happy that i just love. something inside of me feels comforted knowing karl is content. that's super fangirl lame, right? i don't know what it is. it's probably why i like crocodile and 8ball so much, i guess. it seems like as UW ages their tracks and karl's lyrics are getting brighter and sparklier, and that same feeling came through even during that brief period when R&K were tweeting regularly. i like happy UW. it makes things seem right in the world.

but i say that as someone who thought "but not tonight" was the best track off of depeche mode's black celebration, when everybody knows it was a throwaway b-side. :rolleyes: i guess i like to see the contentedness and exhilaration of my favorite artists.

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

it does? i only have the mp3, that was the only thing that came with the download. it comes embedded with the file?

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

I thought I was the only fangirl-type in the house who thought like that! It's probably why I dig Juanita, Banstyle, and Best Mamgu Ever so much - both have that really happy vibe about them, and I can't help but feel all warm and snuggly when thinking about those two in a good place.

Goddamn I wish they'd get back to tweeting! Come on, boys - the Twitterverse needs your poetics!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

yep. when i threw it in my itunes library the artwork was already there. wavs don't allow meta-data for artwork.

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

But Not Tonight is the best thing on Black Celebration! The extended mix on the single is even better.

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

we are simpatico. :D

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

agreed.

i'm a recovering depechaholic. don't get me started.

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

meh... it's ok

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

Re: TONIGHT...
 

hmm...

First play - "hey I guess they did manage to finish 'You Do Scribble' ... not too bad"
Second play - "yea, I think I like it... but I'm hoping the full version develops more"

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

uggg guys, 'but not tonight' is awful. i hated that the cassette i got had that on it, i want to use a magnet and scrape it off. the last song is 'new dress'.


okay, the new UW song is awesome, but i don't consider it 'you do scribble'. if you listen to it and don't try to compare the two, it's a very good track. and sounds much better than anything on OWB so i am very excited. the fast beat is something they lost for quite a while and have needed desperately to regain.

Re: TONIGHT...
 

No worries Jase,

Sounds great I think, was not too sure at first though!
The only thing that I am still not 100% on is those 80's lead stabs, I love everything from the break down onwards.

Great vocal hook from Karl too!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

More thoughts: so if this album is a return to their past the early 80s (Screen Gems/UW mk1) does that mean they'll go back to making a dubnobass or second toughest after this album?

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

um, no it's not even close.
Maybe you have to listen to YDS again? :)
The YDS is beat it constantly shifting and changing, in Scribble it's just the same d&b loop for the whole song (save a bit of filtering here and there).

Anyway, I like Sribble, not as good as YDS though :)

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

come on Ricky! Where are U?
I can't feel your spirit from this tune.
It's just "Karl's voices on High Contrast"

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

It makes me smile, it makes we want to dance, it sounds like the music they play at the gates of heaven - everything a man could ask from an Underworld single really. Much more up my alley than the live version which never really locked into the right danceable groove for me.

Good to see a return to anthem territory, look forward to hearing this and a stack of new stuff in Sydney in a couple of weeks time. Bring on the bombs! :D

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

ok - a couple of points

this is an Underworld single - because its labeled so - i.e. Scribble - Underworld (its been produced or remixed by High Contrast, its not stated as UW feat High Contrast or High Contrast feat Karl Hyde, afaik)

there is currently no mention of the fact that High Contrast was involved on the 'front cover' either.

ultimately its based upon YDS which again is an Underworld track

At least its more a proper song - which contains a recognisable chorus and lyrics that can be sung, rather than old style UW lyrics which in the main were poetry / ramblings - not that there is anything wrong with that, i hope the new album has more of this style of lyric than the old style (which i loved, but Karl is a vocalist too!)

i think the synth stabs are pretty standard Rick Smith style, and hence have his influence too... listen to a few versions of the original YDS and see if its not the same style synth sounds - u tellin me that Rick didn't write those??

if this was released without knowing High Contrast was involved no-one would be any the wiser, he's added some remix production to a UW track - its different to what has gone before, but its not that different to the original YDS in the sense its a dnb style track, and as such is not a directional shift too much away from what we already know...

move on ppl... new music is always welcomed

personally i'm not that keen on YDS, i prefer Scribble because of the vocals, its chart / club / festival crowd friendly - Underworld to the masses is ok by me...

dnb beats have never been my cuppa tea, but thats ok, at least its a new tune, and was dropped without too much warning...

and as a cover i like it, typical of the modernist direction the artwork is taking but with some colour which is nice...

waiting for the extended version and more new stuff - all is good

Re: TONIGHT...
 

I'm only making my dnb judgements on having heard that exact break using those exact drum sounds countless times. I don't know all that much about modern dnb other than having attended many house parties and free parties where the drum pattern used in Scribble seems to play endlessly for about seven hours.
The rest of it is lovely, though. I'm still wondering whether this is a remix or the 'original' version, whether this and You Do Scribble will appear on the album like Push Upstairs/Downstairs or... well, who knows, we'll see. I haven't lost any hope in the group or the album. I just don't enjoy the drums in this track.

Re: TONIGHT...
 

http://twitter.com/underworldlive/statuses/13970511561

Scribble video incoming...

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

but thats okaaaaaaaaaaay

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

nifty. since i don't have itunes, i can't see the artwork. don't care, because i like my artwork physical :)

Re: TONIGHT...
 

the drums in most dnb are pretty samey but thats the way the fans like it.
the people that mess with the drums tend to be the squarepusher/warp type of fellows and that stuff is generally dissed by the dnb scene.
this sounds pretty on the money for whats happening now at ram or hospital gigs.

Re: TONIGHT...
 

I love Underworld and High Contrast so I'm liking this :-) I do want to hear the full version mind, no Underworld song should be this short!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

omg. out of nowhere!

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

weird. i replied in one thread and it posted in another.


them's fightin' words.




:p

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

Sorry about that, I merged the threads. They were about the same thing, the new single. See also But Not Tonight thread in the headset forum...

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

timing is everything. i thought i'd entered some kind of super mario warp and jumped to world 5.

anyway.

the more i listen to scribble the more i want to chop it up and make my own version. i want to get rid of that damn nonsensical break in the middle. the break itself isn't bad, its the way those stabbing synth notes make absolutely no sense cutting back in and transitioning back into the fast bit.

for the most part i like the track but i'm really conflicted over some of the elements. i'm doing my best not to compare it to YDS and listening to it as someone who never heard that track before. there's one particular synth sound in there that i find very grating because it sounds very dated and as a result somewhat cliche. all of the things that bother me occur before or during the break. everything after is pure gold. so basically i just need to put the stuff after the break on infinite loop and i'll be happy.

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

I am still digging Scribble, but it's frustraiting because it's so clearly a radio edit.

I guess I'll have to catch Tongy tonight for the whole enchilada.

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

i like underworld. but then, i also like high contrast. which is better? there's only one way to find out.... :D

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHs8LxPepKU

sort of video is up now.... makes me happy and makes me like the song more that Karl looks happy haha.... happy chappy

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

Here's a better quality version of the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HrSN7176XI

Re: TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single
 

video compliments song much better than song on own...

Re: Scribble - New Single
 

You're right. I listened to a few versions of YDS last night and it does have much more variation in the drum patterns.