Underworld - Oblivion With Bells (2007)

Review by Mig

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The last release from techno duo, Underworld, was entitled "A Hundred Days Off", when in actual fact it should have been called something like "A Few Thousand Days Off".

It’s been a few beers between albums for the band, whose latest release, "Oblivion with Bells"; a work in progress that has been eagerly anticipated by its massive fan base, the question that remains is whether they will like it.

I always wonder about techno music in its purest form: what is it that people want to get from it? Is it the euphoria induced by the high one gets when out dancing? Is it the creativity of compilation in its production? Is it the thumping bass lines that pulsate in time with your rapid heart rate? Does the duration have to be at least over five minutes to be classified as such?

Whatever the case may be, Underworld, who put their name out there in a big sense with their hit single from Trainspotting, “Born Slippy”, have certainly attempted to embrace the creative muses.

And it seems that the group are also considering the notion of techno further a field. They have, with "Oblivion..." incorporated more powerful emotion and warped bass lines; perhaps aspiring to be deeper and more resonant.

However, they don’t necessarily succeed at re-inventing the wheel, as they flit backwards and forwards between ideas and genres. Perhaps in this case, it may ring true that 'If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it'.

The opening track and first single, Crocodile is a bit of a cracker and has been generally well received by all who have got their hands on it. This is because of its genuine, quality sound, and also in terms of keeping in line with the 'Underworld sound' without being repetitive. This is also true of others such as, Beautiful Burnout and Holding the Moth.

It would be nice if the same thing could be said for all of the tracks, but in some cases one has to wonder if the boys have in turn been under and over inspired respectively throughout the production of "Oblivion".

Tracks such as Boy Boy Boy and Ring Road are obviously trying to touch a deeper vein than the average euphoric beats that you may have come to expect of the lads. Captivating and haunting synthesised moments ups the atmospheric intensity but is it the stuff you want to hear at your local discotechque? Are the boys simply overreaching now to a higher level than the average dance outfit should aspire to?

So, have Underworld done their dash in their residency amongst the industry heavyweights? I’m just considering the potential of the next album, which could well be released in ten years time and comprise of a whole new wave of dance music.

Failing that, they could once again rearrange their line-up and become a highly successful boy band...

ALBUM RATING: 2.5 out of 5

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