Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

If DRIFT Episode 1: DUST was the spark and surge of a journey beginning, DRIFT Episode 2: ATOM explodes skywards before splitting off to explore multiple new paths.



Sleeve Notes are a new addition to DRIFT in this episode…
New link: https://underworldlive.com/sleeve-no...-sleeve-notes/
Other link: https://underworldlive.com/drift-old.../sleeve-notes/
Archived link: https://web.archive.org/web/20190308.../sleeve-notes/

Rick and Karl in conversation and a bunch of other stuff from the past 6 weeks drifting through Episode 2…

The ATOM journey begins with a minimalist, hypnotic small hours techno glide (Appleshine), heads out past the emerging shoots of a spring green pastoral England (Molehill); onwards and upwards with 15 minutes of deep and occasionally discomfiting analogue machine music (Threat of Rain), down the tarmac of Europe endless all through the night (Brussels); crossing continents to wake up at a prismatic electro-carnival in the heart of New Orleans (Soniamode) before finally stretching out into mesmerising 47 minute long head trip that returns to the beginning of the journey (Appleshine Continuum recorded with Australian trio The Necks). It is unpredictable and uncompromising. It’s uniquely Underworld.

“The Drift experience is one of a torrent of ideas, with its own internal logic… (where) instinct, experience and chance lead to a strange kind of harmony.” Mojo

“Hugely ambitious and unimaginably relentless… each weekly release thematically bleeds into the next, creating a weaving storyline that threads through the whole. Watching and listening to this ever-evolving project feels like unpacking a Russian doll.” Q

DRIFT, Episode 2 Recap
Drift, Ep 2, Pt 5: Soniamode - A voice chants with the innocent menace of a 50’s playground rhyme, carried along by the tumbling celebration of a brass band playing Glitch
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 4: Brussels - almost impossibly beautiful music pulled together from what should be incongruous parts
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 3: Threat of Rain - a murky locked techno groove
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 2: Mole Hill - something of an unexpected gear change. A gleaming cascade of piano, guitar and wordless choral voices
Drift, Ep 2, Pt. 1: Appleshine - a minimalist, hypnotic small hours glide; a techno pulse wound tightly around a daydream vocal

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Just a playlist atm ...

Still hoping for a continuous mix, this episode has been fantastic

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

Fairly extensive sleeve notes. Mid-way through at the minute, really lovely reading so far.

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

So, they've added a new 1.5 minute coda to Molehill. And they trimmed off the opening seconds of Threat of Rain, going straight into the beats.

Otherwise, no differences on the other tracks between this and what was released before. No track mixing on this Drift release either.

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

Interesting that DRIFT Episode 1 has been retitled DRIFT Episode 1 "DUST" on most music services.

These notes for Episode 2 are amazing. Makes me wish this kind of glimpse into their process was available for all of the releases!

https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/t...jpg/800x0w.jpg

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

well then

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

Is it me, but Soniamode sounds horrible and way louder than the other tracks?

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

im pretty confused here. Assuming its not worth spending the $8US for this when we've already downloaded all the tracks for free, right?

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

No, you're right, something terrible has happened to the mastering on it. I hope they can fix it quickly. I think it's already been pushed out to the retail platforms, though. It's up on TIDAL and I expect it will show up on others shortly.
Edit: Sounds OK on iTunes and Japan retailers. Sounds blown out on TIDAL, Google Play, Amazon, and Spotify.
Edit 2: UW HQ are looking into the issue.

Up to you. The main reason to buy it is if you want lossless or 24-bit lossless. Also to support the band. The other reasons would be to get the extended version of Molehill and shorter version of Threat of Rain.

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

AIR Studios session with The Necks, April 2-4, 2018:

http://karlhyde.underworldlive.com/2...day-5th-april/

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2017 at 12:00pm PDT

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2017 at 12:00pm PDT

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2017 at 12:00pm PDT

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2017 at 12:00pm PDT

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2017 at 12:00pm PDT

Re: Drift Episode 2, ATOM
 

An unbelievable joy to read. It's always a treat to hear more about the process, and a window in where that process is now, after so many years of working together. Just phenomenal. I'd listen to Rick preach about how he keeps his archives organized for half an hour if he'd do it.


A gorgeous release in general, has me giddy like the old radio broadcasts used to. Love everything happening in Drift.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Finally finished reading all that. Absolutely wonderful start to finish.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Observations from the Sleeve Notes:

Unreleased songs mentioned that we might get later in Drift:
Your Damage
Two Arrows
Toluca Stars


Nice to have the Appeshine lyrics typed out.

Mentions of Soniamode getting more life after this Drift release and the ambient version of Brussels (without the Million Little Matchsticks beats)

Another Silent Way recorded on Sept. 18, 2014, in the middle of the Barbara Barbara sessions.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

you know what would be a great track for a future Drift, "Bamboo"

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

The issue with Soniamode has been identified, and the corrected file being pushed out to platforms by tomorrow morning. Try to check the audio preview first before buying anything.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Todd-
Since you have connections to your boys over at UW HQ ask them if there's any chance of a physical. I'd love to get my mitts on some vinyls or heck even a cd box...

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

100% agree! And 5 points!🤞😂

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

For as much as i don't like Molehill, it's absolutely a key piece of what makes Drift special, and I love their conversation about it. Really excited that this is where they are after this long.



.... well.... i mean,
we weren't exactly saying no to more b-sides were we
do... they do know this site exists, yes?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

What about A Million Matchsticks? Is it something else entirely - or an element of Brussels?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

;)

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

eh, i grabbed it. love this release!

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Up on Qobuz, hopefully Soniamode sounds good...

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/dr.../xav89zbv8ooqb

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

YES.

also, I'm shocked that "Another Silent Way" was recorded during the 'Barbara' sessions...

Honestly, it has everything that's missing from the tracks on that album.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Japan has a 24 bit option...
https://ototoy.jp/_/default/p/286104


UGH... gonna be a painful wait until I can buy this release with my check in a couple of weeks.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Molehill is quite different than the version they gave away- especially the ending. Maybe i've just been skipping it more?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

I'm not sure why US and UK retailers don't have 24-bit releases for both ATOM and the Appleshine Continuum releases, and yet Japan retailers do. Everything else released since last year has had 24-bit, so I'll ask what's going on. Hopefully just an oversight.

It's only different from the 3:40 mark where the new vocals come in. In the original version, it just went into the quiet outro. In the new version, that outro is delayed 1.5 minutes for the new vocal section.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Those two are not MQA in Tidal either. Hope to see them changed! :)

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Yeah, I 'm glad. It really improves it.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Soniamode seems to be fixed everywhere, except Amazon (and streaming on Spotify and Deezer). Redownload if you bought it yesterday.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Ugh! The download I have in FLAC seems to be the bad master. Tried redownloading it with no luck. Does anyone have the better master of Soniamode in FLAC?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Where did you download from?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

I bought mine off 7Digital. They seem to be clueless when I wrote them. This sucks.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Ugh, I bought from 7Digital and my Soniamode is still crap master. Tried writing them and they seem daft about the situation. Been trying to explain to them the situation. It seems Deezer also has not fixed theirs.Ugh, I wanna listen to this EP proper already! I'm waiting until the fix to listen to the EP as a whole. I've been trying to warn others about this issue. Sucks as an artist when something like this happens and people are listening to a compromised version.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Thank you. Got mine on iTunes for now, but I will get back there to buy them soon! Yay!

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Love this whole thing and while I did like Molehill from the start, the Coda makes it even richer.

I am a bit sad to loose the noise intro to Threat of Rain; I really like that kind of stuff, but coming in from the Coda of Molehill I can get the idea.

And by god, please, pretty please, Sleeve notes for the next releases, too! They are awesome! Though I would also love the original recordings of each discussion. Reading it is fine, but I love to hear them talking shop. :)

Finally, I really wonder what's next. Episode 3 or a break with some fancy pants unreleased stuff? (I would take either, but honestly I am bonkers for some new old stock :D )

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Can anyone tell me of a lossless store or stores where the download was corrected? If I must rebuy it, I wanna make sure I don't go thru this again.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Answer is in the News Section on UWlive about this release:

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

I did not see this. Nice, so we have space for possible extras?! Pretty please :D

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Was looking through Simon Taylors Instagram feed and came across this gem from APRIL 4, 2018:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhI-Yd0lYBa/

(I do not get the instagram embedded to work :confused:

This was not in the notes, was it?

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

I am really disappointed with this release. Drift Episode 1 was very, very, very good, fascinating, great, outrageous etc. Episode 2 is dull, boring and most tracks are totally pointless. Appleshine Continuum is so boring that I barely listened to it once.

Re: Drift Episode 2 "ATOM"
 

Completely the opposite. This is turning into one of my favorite offbeat releases of theirs. Drift 1 was a three tracks of straight madness with a let down of an ending. Drift 2 strikes a brilliant balance between the madness and color in Underworld, and brings back the long-form jams!