Home > Baltimore Music > CD Review > Underworld, "Oblivion with Bells"

Backstory: England’s Karl Hyde and Rick Smith have been making music together for more than 25 years. They first gained international attention as Freur, a synth-pop group that opened for Eurythmics. But as Underworld (now on its fifth album), Hyde and Smith found an organic fusion of their shared interest in rock, electronic and even dub/reggae grooves. By the time the Underworld club banger “Born Slippy” (and its inimitable chorus of “Lager, lager, lager, shouting!”) made it into the 1996 film “Trainspotting,” the group broke out of techno circles into wider renown.

Why you should care: Hyde remains one of the most creative linguists in popular music, offering a blend of stream of consciousness with calculated wordplay that rides the line between genius and insanity.

Verdict: Longtime fans of Underworld’s classic amped-up dance anthems might be disappointed by the lack of pub party music on “Oblivion With Bells.” The opener “Crocodile” is a blissful nod in the right direction, with a chugging undercurrent anchoring bright keys, but proceedings mellow out considerably from there. After that, there’s really no lager, nor any shouting. This sounds more like the after-party, with songs like the piano-driven “Good Morning Cockerel” and the beatless ambience of the curiously named “Cuddle Bunny vs. Celtic Villages.” Still, this is no wonky unplugged effort, and there are still exciting, electric moments—even if they may not be so obviously booty-shaking.

X-Factor: Apparently, Hyde and Smith have a soft spot for Darrens: DJ/producer Darren Emerson was a member of the group for almost a decade, and another British jock, Darren Price, has been touring with Underworld for the past two years.

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