Review Summary: Creative and melodic, this is a step forward in their career...
With such an aspiring title, Underworld look like they have returned with a fresh perspective. After reissuing the two classic LPs,
Dubnobasswithmyheadman &
Second Toughest in the Infants, the veterans seemed eager to move forward, establish new goals in order to continue expanding their horizons. Overall,
Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future presents a rather elegant approach when compared to previous works. Albeit less frenzied, the mesmerizing rhythms and beautiful melodies of the songs share this invigorating energy that rarefied during the past decade. The time off, working on different projects, has definitely offered Karl Hyde and Rick Smith a welcomed change of pace, thus returning more focused than before.
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Barking, their latest record is split in two main moods. You have the party mode kicking in through ‘I Exhale’, a track that represents their classic style, complete with sharp synths, cool driving beats and Hyde’s reverbed narrations. This vibe continues with the moody jam, ‘If Rah’, featuring throbbing bass lines over stream-of-consciousness vocals, before ascending into a more melodic coda. Then, Underworld go deeper into the night with ‘Low Burn’, a hazy highlight that constantly adds layers of keyboards, aural pads, entrancing you in a similar fashion to their career classics. One important thing to mention is the benefit of trimming the overall length (about 1/4 shorter than usual), leaving out the surplus. It is clear the band needs space to develop their ideas (as evidenced in previous works), but managing to contrive them into 45 minutes did wonders here.
Barbara Barbara, we face a shining future were some of the last words Smith’s father told his wife before he passed away. There’s a duality in those words that’s reflected throughout the LP, as they can be interpreted with both hope and despair (because the context). Midway, the second mood takes the forefront since Hyde gets noticeably emotional during the subdued tunes. ‘Motorhome’ is like a comedown, however, he insists to “keep away from the dark side”. So amid the distress there should always be room for optimism. Luckily, focusing on the bright side, Underworld pick things up towards the finale to deliver some of the most essential minutes in quite a long while. ‘Ova Nova’ brings back lighter vibes, making for a really cool dance number, while paving the way for the climax, ‘Nylon Strung’. Tied to the album’s title, this song hits closest to the heart. The mantric lyrics ‘Open me up, I wanna hold you, laugh with you’, backed by the uplifting beats and melodic keys produce some gorgeous, sincere moments. Its simplicity creates the blissful atmosphere, but to be honest, I wouldn’t want more from this track. It’s the perfect ending that makes even more sense after spinning the entire record.
In the end, I believe
Barbara… takes the step forward
Barking was supposed to. There are several elements from their entire career fused with new ones, as well as a newfound accessibility that also signals a creativity boost. It's great to see Underworld this vital once again, indeed facing a shining future.
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