Darren Emerson leaving UW was the worst thing that happened to the band!

[khouri]

The immediate post-Emerson shows demonstrated a noticeable, um, downgrade, I agree, but since then the band has redefined their live sound in a way that I comfortably recognize as Underworld. I love the Emerson era but when I listen to that '90s stuff it tends to sound dated (sometimes very dated, like that Sonar show) whereas the new shows -- particularly from 2005 onward -- sound like a reenergized and retooled band with a more timeless sound.