Everything Everything

It is the litmus test of the best; when the chips are down, they stand firm and deliver some of their best work.

Last year’s Beaucoup Fish failed to reach the dizzy creative and commercial peaks of its predecessors, and when Darren Emerson left earlier this year, few expected Underworld to last the course.

Amidst the hype and speculation, they have come up with the world’s first ever bona fide live techno supergroup album.

All opening three tracks blend into one slick, seamless sonic swoosh. ‘Push Upstairs’ is tweaked and embellished so it is nearly unrecognisable as last year’s single. While you’d expect ‘Born Slippy’ to have died a death by overplay by now, the rendition here is simply sublime – resonating with more depth and bleary havin’ it soul than any other anthem of the last ten years. This is exactly what makes Underworld so bloody crucial – each note rings in the heartstrings.

Of course, they also induce the most level-headed to dance like a lunatic, and their ass-shakin’ remake of Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ on ‘Shudder/King Of Snake’ is well matured cheesiness at its very finest.

After this perfect selection of electronic epics (this could and should have been a double album) the ‘World round it off with what is still their best moment. If you ever had any misgivings about their sometimes pretentious art-techno, ‘Rez’ spliced with ‘Cowgirl’ is bound to silence you... very loudly.