For me, this album is obviously a product of their Drift experience... experimenting, playing, exploring. It feels like more of an "artist" album, if that makes sense. Like more of an overall artistic statement, rather than a collection of big club bangers. Which is GOOD. I'm sure they don't want to just keep making Rez and Moaner over and over forever. And honestly - I already have plenty of those from them. Anyways...
“Black Poppies” gets better with each listen. I’d love to hear some combination of the album and string versions. “Denver Luna” might be my favorite track from them since “Beautiful Burnout” If this kind of piece is what Drift gave us, the whole project was worth it. “Techno Shinkansen” feels like a one-off piece that was kind of shoved into the album to fill it out. I like it, but it feels out of place to me. I really love the closing chimey section of “Sweet Lands Experience”… makes me wish that section was longer. And while I wouldn’t put “Lewis in Pomona” on a personal playlist or anything, it feels good in the middle of the album.
“Hilo Sky” is my favorite new song on here. The intro has some familiar Underworld ambient synth, and when it really kicks in, it’s one of the highlights of the album for me. It reminds me of “Always Loved A Film”, which is a plus for me… I don’t share the same disdain for Barking that many of you seem to have.
It feels like such a joyful album to me.
Burst of Laughter is a fun little 6/8 four-on-the-floor combo, short and sweet. King of Haarlem’s okay, very STAR-like, which I didn’t love either. I find Ottavia to be a cool little palate-cleanser and transition into the back portion of the album. I don’t know that we need the Denver Luna (acappella) on there, because together with Octavia it does seem to chop the album into two pieces.
But man, Gene Pool is great. So glad we get 9 minutes of it. I hear some Brian Eno influence towards the end. The last few songs are good, enjoyable, but they haven’t made a huge impression on me. I have to admit that they do feel a bit like added bonus tracks.
Overall, probably my favorite album from Underworld since Oblivion With Bells.
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As to the “off-key” vocals... I don't LOVE them, but I know that it's an intentional choice. It's not like they didn't notice or don't care. Rick's attention to detail and melodic ear is not going to just let that slide. I think the dissonance is the point. (The medium is the message after all.) It's like Bob Dylan belting out long held notes that sound wrong, until you realize that half the time he's actually singing jazzy 7ths and 9ths... or is just trying to sound like a desperate and crazy person who can only scream to be heard.
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Also - to whoever talked about editing the album tracklists... I cannot imagine editing Barking and removing Diamond Jigsaw! I love that song, especially the turn to the minor chord at 2:20… One of my favorites from the album.