Concluding this extensive discussion with Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, whose massive, 52-track project, Drift – and its 10-track, more easily digestible “sampler edition” – is out now, the gaze turns outward. (Read parts 1 & 2 …) Firstly to the present, and how the many versions of Underworld offer ways into such a trove, and then to the future, which has fewer rules and many more promises. “Rick always talks about being driven by heart, by intuition, and the three of us – Rick

Yesterday, in part one as their massive, year-long project, Drift, emerges in both brief and voluminous arrangements, Rick Smith and Karl Hyde of Underworld began to explain the genesis of, and the methods in, this 52 tracks in 52 week assignment. Today, from the same extended conversation conducted after their four-night run at the Sydney Opera House, we explore being willing to risk disaster to achieve nirvana, and how their bond, and Hyde’s inspiration, was reignited by th

Pic by Prudence Upton UNDERWORLD Vivid Live, Sydney Opera House, May 31 Rise. Rise. Rise. Exploratory signals to interplanetary craft, unhurried even as the beat prods behind, then a pause, brief, an inhalation of breath at most, before the more substantial drums arrive to drive. The signals are unchanged but now they seem more inquisitive and focused, and the voice is cutting through now. “Everything, everything, I’m invisible, an eraser of love”, and looming up behind it is

There’s an intersection of art and design, music and philosophy in the story and the songs of electronic explorers and dancefloor supremos, Underworld. How does Fluxus fit with Trainspotting, art college with raves? Easily. Naturally. Crucially. An electronic band sparked by man-made as much as natural environments, and drawing on culture beyond a heaving, peaking crowd, there are always senses working overtime with Underworld. All senses. A dance act by most measures, the du

The crushing news that Underworld had cancelled their January Australian tour sent Wind Back Wednesday looking for comfort. And comfort was found not that long back, in this review from the first of two shows in 2017, their first here in a very long time. Two things about this. I can confirm the second show, in Melbourne the following night, was as mind-blowing as this one though the band/audience interaction wasn’t at quite the same level as in Sydney. And while star ratings

UNDERWORLD Opera House, April 11 There’s a line in my favourite Underworld song, Two Months Off, - actually, now that I think of it, several lines – that act as a kind of shorthand for an Underworld show. Not just in the words but the rhythm, and the line walked between the understood explicitly and the felt implicitly, and then in the sheer visceral pleasure. “You bring light in, walking in light, glowing, walking in light, gold ring around you, the hues of you, the golden s

With April shows now announced for Underworld, Wind Back Wednesday takes a step away from their euphoric moments to get to the dark pit underneath those early hits with Karl Hyde. He spoke before their 2003 tour, looking back on a decade of cries for help not so hidden inside bangers. SHOUTING DARKER DARKER DARKER Normally, when your song has become the kind of hit sung on football terraces and in pubs and clubs around the world, you are pretty happy. Hearing thousands of lat

The best songs of the year were all over the shop as numbers 11-20 showed, and numbers 1 to 10 are no different. Brandy Clark tops the list with something sharp and punchy (and closes the list with something sad but potent, if you remember) which sounds nothing like the pulse-and-sooth of Underworld or the Indo-Australian hip hop melange of L-Fresh The Lion. Clark is not the only country act on the list but at this end of the table she’s sharing space with the liquid R&B of D

The second half of the near impossible task of pulling 50 songs from 50 years. A mad idea, filled with frustrations at all the ones I couldn’t pick. But, yeah, fun nonetheless. 1990: Sonic Youth – Kool Thing The year I finally got Sonic Youth, or they crossed over to my side. Droll, sexy and sung by one of my favourite bassplayers (along with Tina Weymouth, Bruce Thomas, Paul McCartney & Andy Rourke). Found out recently she’s a pretty cool interview too. 1991: Joni Mitchell –