DRIFT Series 1 - New album, Nov 1, 2019

[holden]

Originally Posted by 34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j

Well of course it's gonna feel like a compilation if you've listened to the EPs a bunch (as I have). No way around that. I'm curious how it'll sound to people hearing it for the first time.


also we'll have to hear what edits they make on the actual product. Clearly the tracks are edited and maybe remixed some. It'll probably flow quite nicely. I wouldn't expect anything less from them

Every album is a compilation of tracks, we just don't know the pool from which they're drawn until later, if at all. With Drift, we've seen behind the scenes, gotten a sense for tracks that have been trouble, have come together quickly, have sparked improvs, been road tested, been reworked, etc.

In retrospect, the strongest albums always seem so deliberate and focused. But take for example the Pre-Dubno DAT... What if that was the final album? To me, with benefit of years of admiring dubno, it sounds disjointed, full of works-in-progress and uncertain how to move from mki to mkii. But how many bands approach a new record with thematic or conceptual focus anymore (ever)? There's always experimenting, choices. For me, Drift has been a peering into the creative mindset of R&K, and it's illuminating. Some are finished and fantastic, others seem like deadline best efforts, and of course, subjective taste on the part of the listener.

Anyway, if we didn't have a look/listen at the year long process of creating, culling and compiling, and just had the sampler/LP, I think we'd be pleased, as the tracks are varied, well produced and appeal to a wide spectrum of genre fans. I think the compilation actually holds together very tightly, pretty sure I can mix the tracks continuously and convince myself it's a concept album (!) and there are really no duds (though that's a judgement call and even classic ALBUMS have them).

Tl,Dr: Drift gives us a look at what it must be to create an album. The "Sampler" without this Drift process is the finished commercial album we're accustomed to and wed then debate each track's merits. We've just never before seen so much of the material available for compilation (and likely Underworld has never been this prolific). Called sampler, compilation, proper album, whatever... it's great music, and now we have so much source material to rearrange into personal playlists and debate/enjoy.

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

good post holden - I've never thought of Underworld as having an album mindset the way many of their contemporaries do. they make albums because they have to and in most cases those albums are fantastic, but we all know there's so much great stuff outside of that. not just the rare stuff but their most famous tunes as well. I don't think their creative process necessarily leads there and they've said so themselves many times (including in the interview just posted). I agree with Karl, for all this to just lead up to another album seems anticlimactic. I'm glad the focus seems to now be on the entire series, not just the hour or so "best of".

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

by the way, I'm not sure if this means anything or not, but did anyone else notice all the "Film Edit" tags are missing now? this potentially means different versions of Appleshine & Dune plus a lot of the stuff on EP5. though EP5 ain't out yet. so who knows if "Mile Bush Pride" actually did get extended.

[purlieu]

The album thing is interesting, because at certain points it's really felt like the 'album' was a definite end product - the lack of b-sides to Beaucoup Fish, the entire Barking process... the closest thing to what we've had in the last 52 weeks is probably the Dubnobass era, which provided us with 33 tracks in less than two years (plus some radio edits), over the course of various 12"s, singles and CD EPs.

[dubman]

Yeah! it went from "okay well I guess b-sides aren't really the productive thing to do anymore and the AHDO ones are just generous side-notes" to a literal embarrassment of riches and an open look into the process. my high school brain would have *popped* at this. even now as a tired 30-something they've still dominated my musical interests for the year with this series.

[potatobroth]

as much as i love dogs, this cover art does nothing for me at all

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

hah did not notice the 'R' thing before, now it's gonna bother me forever


for what its worth I thought all the cover art for this series felt kinda placeholdery. like something generated by the label because you didn't turn anything in. doesn't really fit in with their other covers.

Originally Posted by purlieu

the closest thing to what we've had in the last 52 weeks is probably the Dubnobass era, which provided us with 33 tracks in less than two years (plus some radio edits), over the course of various 12"s, singles and CD EPs.

if I remember correctly around the time of the mega-deluxe reissue there was an interview with Karl where he spoke highly of this era and called it "true Underworld" or something like that, then implied that UW were heading back into that direction (by which I mean, no direction at all, just doing whatever sounds good to them). I guess they really did mean it after all.

[lemonjelly]

tracklisting appears to be changing. Appleshiner on the official site is now listed as Appleshine (All The Lights) (previously unreleased).

[domsgotsideburns]

the Japan bundles include this very nice DRIFT Series 1 t-shirt
https://rockinon.com/news/detail/189592

[dubman]

bit of an odd design, that. if i wore a shirt of a show i liked, would i be celebrating a particular season of it?


anyway, checked today on the offchance that they changed the sampler tracklisting, or the cover art. looks like they're really gonna stick with that.