Underworld Album: “Everything, Everything”

Indeed, fearless and brilliant. And Underworld build to crescendo better than just about anyone I've ever seen. In an auditorium, they make thousands synch together like a single, unified organism. And on disc...wow, it still works.

They bring along all their ingredients, hard-coded to sequencers and samplers and tape, and then, like a "traditional" rock band, they gauge the mood of a crowd and bend the mix to maximum effect. Listen to the way they turn "Juanita/Kiteless" inside out, all the pieces true to the original version, but assembled in a new way to create amazing new shapes. Get inside the audience-fueled peaks of "Push Upstairs" or "King of Snake" or "Born Slippy NUXX," and feel the small hairs on the back of your neck rise up. And finally, this version of "Rez/Cowgirl" leaves me winded, wired, and slack-jawed with admiration. It makes me want to jump up and down and shout and break things. It is a definitive moment in electronic music. Incredible.

For me, the best parts of "Everything, Everything" make me feel like I'm in the middle of the concert all over again. Like I'm seeing and hearing history being made before my eyes, and this is something only the best live albums of the best bands can accomplish. Buy it now, and then wonder how you ever survived without it.

Yeah, it's that good.

I have been vexing over this review for a while.

A live album needs...hmm, context I guess. So it looks like its going to be a long review.

Underworld were one of the bands of the nineties. Three studio albums - a stunning opener (Dubnobasswithmyheadman), a view from the top (Second Toughest In The Infants), and a closing chapter (Beaucoup Fish).

As if to confirm my description of the third album, Darren Emerson has left the band to develop his DJing career (develop is hardly appropriate - Emerson is one of the worlds leading DJs).

Underworld's work in the studio was only a sideline, for they were the greatest live band on the planet. A bold claim - but many thousands of fans know it as fact.

All gigs start with a room mixed with the followers and the curious. An Underworld gig always ended with a room full of crazed disciples, an orgy of sound and motion.

The songs are mixed up and turned inside out, so that the intro to one turns subtly into another. Playlists are irrelevant, and everything is mixed live so that the band can respond to the audience as they in turn respond to the band.

Karl Hyde's aura extends into the first 20 rows and his body moves like he is possessed... but always with an enormous smile on his face, matched only by the cheesy grins on Rick and Darren. Underworld LOVE to play live!

I saw Underworld three times - the allnighters at Kentish Town and Brixton, and Paris last year. Sadly the English language lacks the words to describe them properly, but I have no doubt that the mere mention of Kentish Town has resulted in a massive smile on the face of anyone who was there!

So, where does that leave us?

Everything Everything is an attempt at capturing the experience of Underworld live. I say 'attempt' because no live album can ever truly reflect the reality.

The track selection is good as far as it goes, but Underworld gigs are long and this should have been a double album - there are simply too many great songs to hold it to one disc.

But that is my only gripe. The sound quality is excellent and it brings the memories flooding back. The crowd are clearly going beserk and it makes me want to wind back the clock and be there again.

The highlights for me are Pearls Girl, Shudder/King of Snake and Rez/Cowgirl (I was never a great fan of Born Slippy).

If you have never seen Underworld live, this is probably as good a recording as could have been made, and will give some insight into what it was all about. If you have seen them, you might well find a lump in your throat and a desire to wave your arms around.

3 stars for the length... 5 stars for the music... and a million twinkling points of light for the memories

Put the headphones on. Close your eyes and tap the vibe. As the first few loops of Jaunita/Kiteless ring out, the hair on the back of your neck stands up. For those of you who have experienced a live Underworld show, you know what I mean. However, this live release by our favorite mates from the UK comes as a mixed blessing. It's the culmination of years of mind-blowing tours and throbbing live mixes, but with the split of Darren Emerson (new GU015 double-CD, buy it) you know things will never be the same. Nor should they. Underworld are the plastic surgeons on the face of techno. With the world's ears tuned in, they've rearranged and raised the bar on what we expect from electronic musicians. This album proves it. My only disappointment with 'Everything, Everything' is that with soooo much material over the past years - why isn't this a double-CD? (The companion piece to this live album is a DVD of live shows with all the Tomato visuals you love to love. Release date is Oct. 9. I can't wait.)

I've never seen Underworld live before and with this cd, I dont think I need to. 'Juanita',Kiteless' and 'Cups' kick things off nicely getting the crowd ready of what's to come. Their version of 'Pearl's Girl' sends shivers down my spine and I love the 'aaahhh' bits on the trancey chords really get me into a state of ecstacy. Amazing breakdown. 'Jumbo' is simply breath taking."Click"! 'Born slippy' live is mesmerising with a nice twist of analogue-esque twiddling mania. And 'Rez/Cowgirl ends things off superbly,getting the crowd to interact and sing along the riff at the end. Class. For anyone reading this review would you please let me know where I can find the 'Micronauts' remix of 'Bruce Lee'. thanks.

I'll admit, I'm biased to electronic music. Underworld has made a phenomenal live album with this CD. It contains some of their best-known tracks like Res/Cowgirl and Born Slippy.nuxx. The energy of the live album VS a studio album can really be felt in this CD. I can't stop listening to it.