[WhiteNoise]

I want to say I'm also disappointed that Underworld's live show isn't what it used to be. I've been an obsessive fan since I was 13, but I've never had the chance to see them live thanks to age and geography. Nearly flew out to California this tour because of how over the moon I am with BBWFASF, but it just wasn't worth the money after reading the reviews and fixed setlists here...

Thing is, I don't think it's old age turning them away from improvisation and surprises. I think a well-polished setlist is something Rick really wants. Look at Everything Everything, for instance. The songs are all edited and polished after the fact, there's no transitions after the first 3 songs, each is a safely perfect definitive live rendition - it's how Rick wanted their live show to be presented to the world, and it's so polished, it launched the creation of Bootleg Babies just to show off their skills in improvisation!

Karl talks often about how, starting with Dubno Live and continuing on to record Barbara, the band no longer feels trapped by the "idea of what Underworld is supposed to be" that started with Born Slippy and Beaucoup Fish, and supposedly plagued them from there on out. Maybe performing by the seat of their pants was part of the "idea of Underworld" that they didn't want to do anymore, but felt forced to deliver. It's a bit telling that their more scripted shows started around 2009-2010, when Karl and Rick's creative partnership was splintering.

In that way I'm still really disappointed that the shows aren't wild and free anymore, even visually... but if it's part of their current creative process of "escaping Underworld", I guess I understand it. Hopefully it leads to more creativity in the future.