[Liam]

Beefheart is a huge influence on Underworld, and you can really see this when you compare their lyrics. Beefheart was one of the first artists (that I can think of anyway) to pursue such abstract lyrics that don't make any sense in a linear kind of way but are beautiful nonetheless. Karl Hyde fits right in line with this. A lot of the vocal effects are also very simmilar (I'm not sure that Beefheart ever actually used a vocoder but he certainly modulated his voice a lot).

Underworld also state Gil Scott Heron's B-Movie as one of the most influential songs they've ever heard, re-defining their view of music. I'm not sure that I can pick out any musical connections, but I have to say that it re-defined the way I look at music as well.