No surprise really to find that Underworld has frequently cropped up on music magazine promos, often end of year 'best of' collections, whether Jockey Slut, Mojo, Muzik or Select. Collecting all of the ones I had (7), I dropped a similar number of randomly picked Underworld songs into a "long list" and then compiled a (nearly) hour long selection.
In the end, only 3 magazine promo tracks made the final 8-song track list. Mo Move and Luetin are the opening and closing tracks from A Hundred Days Off, an album I don't have and am otherwise largely ignorant of. Likewise, 2019's Schiphol Test, which formed part of Underworld's ambitious Drift project, begun in 2018 and hailed both as a huge success and a stunning return to form for Karl Hyde and Rick Smith. I like the track very much but to my shame, still haven't investigated further. The full CD+Blu Ray box set is available on Discogs and will currently set you back around £100, including shipping.
The remaining songs include the only version I own of Diamond Jigsaw, which I got as a free download from the RCRD LBL website. It's an instrumental remix of the track by The Invisible aka Dave Okumu, Tom Herbert & Leo Taylor and apparently one of nine versions, including the original, featured on the album Barking, another one that I don't own.
In fact, the only Underworld album I do have is Dubnobasswithmyheadman, which was their first as a trio with Darren Emerson and a hell of a statement of intent. I've featured the downtempo Tongue here and whilst the album edit of Cowgirl was the one that featured on Muzik magazine's Best Of Dance compilation back in 1997, I went for the Irish Pub In Kyoto Mix instead, as I prefer it. Likewise, I think Darren Price's remix of Push Upstairs is superior to the Beaucoup Fish album version.
Last but not least, and second track in the selection, is Underworld's contribution to the soundtrack of 2000 film The Beach, directed by Danny Boyle and based on the novel by Alex Garland. I haven't seen the film for a long time but there's no denying that the album is a great selection of songs and artists. The Underworld track 8 Ball does not disappoint.
1) Diamond Jigsaw (The Invisible Instrumental) (2011)
2) 8 Ball (2000)
3) Tongue (1994)
4) Cowgirl (Irish Pub In Kyoto Mix) (1994)
5) Mo Move (2002)
6) Push Upstairs (Darren Price Remix) (1999)
7) Schiphol Test (2019)
8) Luetin (2002)
1994: Cowgirl EP: 4
1994: Dubnobasswithmyheadman: 3
1999: Push Upstairs EP: 6
2000: The Beach OST: 2
2002: A Hundred Days Off: 5, 8
2011: Diamond Jigsaw EP: 1
2019: Drift Series 1: Sampler Edition: 7
Excellent stuff Khayem. dubnobass... is one of, if not THE, album of the 90s for me and if they've never quite reached its heights again they've come close. The Drift single disc CD that came out in 2019 is their best album for a long time, a superb selection/ distillation of that project.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, Adam. The deluxe reissue from a few years back has just made me love it even more and I really enjoyed your posts last year with new versions of Dark And Long and Cowgirl. I definitely need to buy the Drift single CD.
DeleteAs Adam said, dubnobass... was a real highlight of the 90's. And for many years they were not on my radar until a couple of years ago they returned with their Drift collection and their excellent collaboration with Iggy Pop Teatime Dub Encounters.
ReplyDeleteI've just focussed on Underworld tracks here, but they have also been responsible for some incredible remixes over the years and decades, enough for a post & selection in their own right. And that's another vote for Drift! Thanks also for reminding me about the Iggy Pop collaboration, Walter. I remember being really intrigued when I read about it, then promptly forgot to add it to my wish list. I will go looking for it!
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