Send "Underworld " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Underworld like records. And not just records, mind you, but an eclectic array of records not entirely composed with sequencers and drum machines. Such seems to be the message of Athens, the new full-length compilation put together by the 1990s dance music figureheads. A spattering of jazz, techno, and pop, Athens is almost exactly what you would expect Underworld's record collection to look like, plus or minus a Mahavishnu Orchestra track.Credited to Underworld vs. the Misterons, Athens-- 12 mostly unmixed tracks (the record features slight transitions but for the most part presents its tracks in full)-- was compiled by Underworld's Karl Hyde and Rick Smith as well as studio buddy Darren Price and friend-of-band creative-type Steven Hall. The draw here, even for dedicated Underworld fans, seems dull: The cover features a painting by Hyde, and included are the 1997 soundtrack instrumental "Oh" as well as a "hidden"-- it's track 12-- collaboration between Hyde and Brian Eno that closes the album on a strong note. The selections are mostly bulletproof: If you're looking for bad words against Alice Coltrane, Carl Craig, and Roxy Music, please look elsewhere. Athens actually flows fairly nicely. From the near-ambience of Coltrane's "Journey in Satchidananda" and Squarepusher's extra-jazzy "Theme From Sprite" to Roxy's comparatively cohesive "2 H.B.", then culminating with a trio of banging dance numbers, Athens makes a reasonable case linking improvised jazz and Underworld's brand of hard-charging dance. Surprising choices like Laurent Garnier's "Gnaumankoudji (Broken-Afro Mix)" and Miroslav Vitous' "New York City" prove Underworld's crates at least a little deeper than their average fan's. The always underrated Moodymann's "Rectify" even offers the missing link between the earlier jazz fusion and the later electro-funk: looped jazz samples....full text |
| Drownedinsound |
| Ok, I’m going to level with you. I know lots about Underworld, hence pitching to review this record. However, what I don’t know ANYTHING about is jazz, hence why I may not have pitched to review this record had I known it formed 70 per cent of its innards. Still, I can see why Underworld have gone and released a compilation of this ilk. For they have always had that certain something that makes them that bit different from their other electro peers; and that something is the ability to combine instruments, rambling vocals and experimental compositions to create a coherent, rich sound which – if left in the hands of most other electro acts - would seem ill-fittingly cringeworthy or devoid of any soul. Athens sees Hyde and Smith once more combining with Darren Price and Steven Hall under the guise of The Misterons, but this time producing a record of ‘jazz improvisations’ that the quartet feel were either overlooked at the time or unheralded for being great pieces of music. The only constant running through the mix is the emphasis on live instrumentation, with Hyde himself talking at length within the album’s sleeve about the lack of musicianship on most modern dance records. Indeed a few of the names here will likely be familiar, but not necessarily their selected output....full text |
| Flyglobalmusic |
| So the idea of getting some techno heads to compile a CD is not that exciting so who would have thought that they’d get as close to total completeness as it’s possible to get! OK, we’ve had some absolutely fantastic compilations this year but when it comes to “the outer limits of dance music, jazz-rock, fusion and progressive pop” this is the one to get with some rarities and leftfield gems. But before we get to them, at one time Romford was known for the market, the dog track and the white spark of Essex girls’ stiletto heels on a Saturday night. That was until Underworld (aka Karl Hyde & Richard David Smith) hit it big with ‘Born Slippy’ that took them and DJ Darren Emerson to the heights of remix superstars and International recognition, especially as the track made it onto the soundtrack of the film Trainspotting. Emerson later split to concentrate on his DJ career and the Underwater label leaving Hyde and Smith to release various albums over the past ten years, the last being Oblivion With Bells in 2007 that was followed with a world tour. In addition to their music, Hyde and Smith are also founding members of a graphic design company called Tomato, which not only does their own cover art design as well as providing art for all of Underworld’s releases. Karl Hyde’s original painting called ‘Athens’ provides the cover for the CD and it harks back to the ‘jazz’ covers of the 60/70s that are much revered these days....full text |
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