Underworld
Strawberry Hotel


3.7
great

Review

by Raul Stanciu STAFF
October 25th, 2024 | 78 replies


Release Date: 10/25/2024 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Sonic exploration resumes.

Underworld threw caution to the wind on their massive Drift 1 Series, which spanned over the course of a year between 2018 and 2019. This led to an epic amount of music that reached out in multiple sonic directions. Of course, the legendary electronic act could not provide stellar output every week, however, quality was prevalent throughout the entire collection. They needed to let it sink in for a number of years, before presenting any new music. That diversity raised the following question: what will be next for them? Then, “denver luna (acapella)” arrived out of nowhere. A gorgeous rendition of the main tune’s latter half verses, it offers a completely different perspective than expected. As “Black Poppies” followed a similar pattern, but with accompanying synthesizers, it was clear Karl Hyde and Rick Smith had no intention to stop exploring new sounds. Thus, Strawberry Hotel lies at a crossroads between the pumping tracks we are most familiar with and a mellower, cozy side.

As far as the classic Underworld stuff goes, the guys provide the trademark, mesmerizing mix of techno and progressive house that mainly graced their late ‘90s-‘00s LPs and then revisited on Drift. Tunes such as the powerful, throbbing “and the colour red” or the smooth, retro futuristic grooves of “Techno Shinkansen” share quite different vibes, yet they play brilliantly back to back. Both were definitely composed with the live element in mind. Same for the main “denver luna” cut, which goes as hard as “Cowgirl” instrumental-wise, only Hyde’s vocals turn more tuneful in its second half. As we reach the middle stretch of the record, the songs steer towards melodic territory, with shorter than usual time spans. “Hilo Sky” & “King of Haarlem” toy with warm synths set to immersive house music rhythms, whereas “Burst of Laughter” takes a late night type clubbing path. At 3-4 minutes long, they feel bite sized, kind of like walking through multiple rooms in a huge warehouse full of different parties. Each has its own charm though. There is also “Gene Pool”, which builds up in waves, using ethereal and krautrock inspired beats, gradually giving way to the LP’s chilled out final stretch.

Overall, Strawberry Hotel manages to create a very dynamic experience, especially by introducing shorter tracks. Only during its latter half it starts meandering, a thing that could have been avoided had a couple of intense numbers been introduced at the right moments. Nevertheless, the album is another successful entry in Underworld’s catalogue, one that seems to be a grower this time around. Like they mentioned, please don’t shuffle.



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user ratings (22)
3.7
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
October 25th 2024


6250 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

The first half is really strong IMO, but towards the end, maybe 3-4 songs could have been left off the LP. "Denver Luna" is excellent, both versions.



Stream here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUL5J4JzRDA&list=OLAK5uy_mq5IXdNUtauFzMiSMgxG5Hk6SJtGN4Ejg

mindleviticus
October 25th 2024


10599 Comments


Do my ears deceive me?

Do we have an actually great Underworld record in 2024??

Trifolium
October 25th 2024


39974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

YIPPPEEEEEEE!!!!



Super glad this got reviewed. Listening now, halfway through, strong first half is definitely true but we knew that already because of the high quality singles. Curious for the second half!

Harff7
October 25th 2024


11 Comments


That summary made me think this was somehow Sonic the Hedgehog related and now I'm sad. Good review though.

gabba
October 25th 2024


1614 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

"Hilo Sky" is a wonderful track.

trilo
October 25th 2024


6616 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

so excited to jam, the singles were great

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
October 25th 2024


10447 Comments


Helpful reminder that I need to run through their classics ty!

Trifolium
October 25th 2024


39974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes. Everyone always should.

TheWatchman71
October 25th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

First listen and this definitely feels like it’s a grower. So the jury is still out for me. Although first listen did come with a sense of disappointment. Nothing really grabbed first time other than and the colour red and gene pool. The album definitely should have ended then. Those last 3 tracks just feel like add ons and misfits compared to the overall lush deep house synth bias of the album - and maybe that’s also its undoing - it just bubbles away in lush, warm wave after wave of deep house vibes. Worst moment - distinctly misplaced lyric ‘I was more smashed than you were’ on what is otherwise a lovely smooth mellow number - really took me out of the song.

TheWatchman71
October 25th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Love Underworld so I will persevere!!

Trifolium
October 25th 2024


39974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Ride the train

Ride the traaaain!



Ride the train

Ride the traaaain!



Ride the train

Ride the traaaain!



Trifolium
October 25th 2024


39974 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Second half is different from the first for sure, but I love it. Karl's vocals are as good as ever too, man! They really shine on this one.



I think The Arts Desk put it very nicely when they said "This music sets up the release of collective partying, a shared dream expressed in moments of transcendence and unadulterated happiness. There is something beautifully child-like about Underworld’s music – as if getting out of your head was in many ways a return to innocence."

Slex
October 25th 2024


17265 Comments


Very excited to check this

MiloRuggles
Staff Reviewer
October 26th 2024


3140 Comments

Album Rating: 3.8

AaaaaaaawwwwSHI

insomniac15
Staff Reviewer
October 26th 2024


6250 Comments

Album Rating: 3.7

Agreed, Karl did a great job here with the vocals.

TheWatchman71
October 26th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Black Poppies 3.5 – decent opening track – love the church choir-like layers of Karl’s vocals for the you are, you are beautiful lines

Denver Luna 4 – your typical pumping, driving, intensity-building Underworld track – no complaints here – this is what they do best.

Techno Shinkansen 3.5 – could have been a 4 if it was given a few more minutes to develop into something further – but short is sweet is no bad thing either and it really does work perfectly as a bridge from Denver to Red

And The Colour Red 4.5 – glorious repetitious and relentless beat with plenty of squelchy acid sounds floating in and out. This one slowly buries itself inside your brain.  

Sweet Lands Experience 3 – vocals and especially the lyrics here just feel so out of step with the song. I was more smashed than you were – don’t like that line at all and ruins the experience for me – would be fine if it was more of a techno banger. Otherwise the hypnotic deep house pulse of this one is wonderful.

Lewis in Pomona 4 – more deep house sounds with the wonderful undulating vocal wailing – all very dreamy – until that is, the big beat and crashing cymbals come crashing in halfway

Hilo Sky 4.5 – vocally Karl is on top form here, the beatlessmiddle section is wonderful – one of my favourite tracks from the album

Burst of Laughter 3.5 – more great vocals from Karl and another strong track but another one that ultimately feels under developed at under 4 minutes and doesn’t really do a great deal in that time

TheWatchman71
October 26th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

King of Haarlem 2.5 – the vocals here are a big no no for me – like he’s aiming for some kind of black London stylised vocalisation and it just sounds all wrong to me. Sort of half raga-half spoken. Musically it’s a little bland and by now the proliferation of mid-paced deep house is beginning to feel a little tired

Ottavia 2.5 – just not digging the vocal delivery here. I’m sure there is a powerful message being shared but the presentation of the song does nothing for me

Denver Luna (Acappella) 3 – not much to say here the title says it all – it’s okay

Gene Pool 4.5 – after tracks 9 and 10 completely derail the album for me – this beauty recovers everything – this track feels like your brain is like floating in syrupy, warm tropical waters

Oh Thorn! 2.5 – a reprise or coda of King of Haarlem – same issue here as before with whatever Karl was aiming for vocally

Iron Bones 3 – complete comedown with this mellow number – initially did not like this, but it is growing on me. It feels like it’s in the wrong place on the album but I’m not sure where I would place it to fit in better

Stick Man Test 2.5 – what an odd choice as an album closer, just feels like it has nothing in common with the album – and with it proceeding Oh Thorn and Iron Bones the album just feels like it suddenly ran out of steam. The album should have ended with Gene Pool – the perfect sublime ending.

TheWatchman71
October 26th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The orange, yellow and magenta hues of the album cover perfectly reflect the overall soft focused, layered, velvet smooth and relaxed emphasis of deep house grooves/vibes that are all over this album.

TheWatchman71
October 26th 2024


364 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Just created a playlist from the album - removed 6 songs and repositioned Iron Bones - and to my ears it’s an absolute flawless listen

DoofDoof
October 26th 2024


15914 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Decent on a first spin



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