Underworld
Barking

The anticipation that had built up (especially in me) regarding this new album release was almost obsessive, knowing the Underworld very well (one of the most representative bands of the electronic scene of the 90s, and there is no debate about that), I had placed high hopes in this project... but from the album cover alone, I began to have some doubts (bright rainbow-style colors, nursery drawings, Looney Tunes-style graphics similar to MIKA's albums), what's happening? Have the Underworld perhaps abandoned the Techno/dark/rock style that I had been sexually accustomed to with their first two works of the '90s? Dear readers, if you haven’t listened to this record yet, I have some bad news for you.. the answer is yes! A change of course and a sharp turn towards the commercial disco dance from the 90s "superclassifica show" (to clarify: in the 90s they were ahead, now they are just 90s). Quite a blow.. but fortunately not so bad as to knock the album out.

The opening is indeed among the best, the first few seconds of "Bird 1" (possibly the best track on the album) vaguely recall the intro of "Confusion The Waitress" (a track present on the album "Second Toughest In The Infants") where we find Karl Hyde’s deep voice in great form, unfolding over the typical Techno percussion to which the group had accustomed us, but from the first strike of the chorus my mind goes back to the CD cover, I sense in the distance a slight whiff of "commercialness" but I let it play... until the following two tracks give me confirmation of our heroes' cheesy/dance-oriented intent. Described by someone (actually, by many) as the best on the album, "Always Loved A Film" and "Scribble" seem to me to have come from an embellished version of "Striscia La Compilation", with a Synth sound like an anthem for screaming teens holding beers (you know the kind of 90s tacky dance hits by the lovely Corona? Well.. listen to the chorus of the second track, "Heavenn heavennn heavennn heavennn" oh my God have mercy! I’m no longer 16!!!!), do keep in mind though.. the comparison is just about the kind of composition and not the sounds themselves.. because the sound quality of Underworld has always been impeccable, and Hyde’s voice never fails to drag you in (the just criticized "Always Loved A Film" still has a great vocal part in the verses) unfortunately it’s the album’s plot that’s off, or at least it is for me.. who is used to other (their) sounds.. decidedly darker and more intense ("Dark and Long" a monumental turning point).

In these new songs winking at Gigi D’agostino (and don't take this jibe too seriously..) there are a couple of pleasant surprises like "Hamburg Hotel", psychedelic and hypnotic built on a drum'n'bass base (more beautiful than "Scribble") that for a moment takes us back to the good times, and finally the track you wouldn’t expect in such an album, that splendid "Louisiana" with piano, Synth, and Karl Hyde’s melancholic voice (a song also accompanied by a great music video). Perhaps we are not at the levels of "Tongue" which could melt you on the floor, but the impact of "Louisiana" after the range of Saturday night dance sounds is quite stunning.. if not shocking.

Regarding the dancefloor session (which is six out of nine tracks), not all evil comes to harm, and if we want to make a qualitative selection of the dance tracks, more than decent works emerge, like the excellent electronic orchestration of "Between Stars," catchy with epochal-sounding synthesizers (another lesson learned from New Order). A note apart for "Moon In The Water" which though not too elaborate in the arrangement is certainly the little dance gem of the album, a marked drumbeat but perfectly listenable while seated, the chorus in electronic keyboard sticks to you like glue and after two/three listens, it doesn’t leave your mind. Here we truly find the Underworld class.

Ultimately, "Barking" is a qualitatively good return but stylistically off track. A step forward compared to the previous "Oblivion With Bells" but two steps back compared to their masterpieces.

However, a clarification must absolutely be made, otherwise, it may seem like an almost negative review: an electronic album of this level is very hard to find in today’s scene! As of now.. the best around.

Being someone who doesn’t download Underworld from the internet, I recommend the CD/DVD edition where our guys (on the wave of the latest Chemical Brothers and other previous colleagues like Lemon Jelly) accompany their songs with video clips and visual videos. I especially recommend the DVD viewing for the beautiful videos of "Moon In The Water", "Louisiana" and the hilarious "Diamond Jigsaw" (with a similar idea to the Daft Punk video "Da Funk").

A return... colorful.