How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

I've been doing a lot of thinking about Barking since it came out a few weeks ago. I'm finding the record to be a solid B... not sure where I'd rank it against UW's other albums but the way I see it is that it's certainly not bad and really quite enjoyable at times.

Now, Underworld is one of my favorite bands (since BF came out when I was in 7th grade), but also one of the only electronic bands I listen to. I don't think I've ever heard High Contrast, Dubfire, PVD, etc. etc., and if I actually have I would have no way to identify their style. (They're involvement with Barking doesn't make me especially interested in seeking out their stuff, either).

So, here's what I'm thinking: those of you who know the work of these guest producers, I suspect you are a lot more critical of what they did to Underworld's songs. And, those of you like me, who can't really tell what the guests have each specifically contributed, are enjoying the album more.

Is this totally nonsense, or do some of you agree? And if it is true, what does this say about the Barking's target audience?

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

this isn't total nonsense....i think its what rick and karl wanted

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

This post makes me barking mad!!

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

Oh, how I wish
that for this post
here I could leave
my marking bad.

:p

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

I don't know if Underworld ever has a target audience. I'd think not because it's some of the most honest music you'll ever hear.
I was familiar with High Contrast with True Colours and Paul Van Dyk through several of his albums (my fav probably Out There And Back).
Hmm, when I heard Scribble if I hadn't already known High Contrast contributed on that one, I would have guessed him but I would not have been sure.
But when I did hear Diamond Jigsaw I was like, "Yep, this is it, this is PvD." His style is so noticeable/trademarked even.

did I answer your question? truthfully when artists collaborate I love it, I think the end result will always be good.

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

Certainly been listening to a lot of Mark Knight's stuff since his involvement with UW. Am loving his remix of Sun to me by Faithless :)

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

no effect whatsoever whether they collaborated or worked on it solely by themselves it is what is was supposed to be. :cool:

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

I like to think this same thing of myself, not being influenced by the background info on the collaborative production. If anything, it's a concomitant thought but neither can I discern any external influence (although I'm an avid electronica listener) nor do I care. "It is what it is supposed to be" sums it up perfectly for me.

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

I think they were chosen specifically because Underworld had a sound they wanted to achieve and a target audience they wanted to reach; making a mainstream album has even been talked about in interviews.

and on the flip side, i feel like you can really tell that the songs are not Underworld songs because of these collaborations. I may be biased against trance djs/producers, but the intricate build, the quality of the sounds, the rhythms, and more are all different, and unfortunately they changed for the worse.

if they wanted to try something new, why not look to people who are actually progressing the sound of electronic music (modeselektor, trentemoller, four tet, flying lotus....hmm i just named a bunch of non mainstream acts...how about a hot chip or royksopp collaboration)?

Re: How your knowledge of the guest producers affects your Barking experience
 

I've decided I love them as they are after much deliberating. And it's all about longevity at the end of the day...sounding too current usually adds up to a short shelf life.

They're in their own little bubble and I'm happy for it to stay that way.