Underworld preceded the release of Barking, their first album in three years, with the single ‘Scribble.’ The public’s response was decidedly mixed. Showcasing a new dependency on drum ‘n bass (no doubt due to their collaboration with High Contrast), the problem isn’t that Barking is a bad record. It’s just not an Underworld record as we know it.
Dub Fire is the least obtrusive of the various producers involved: his work on ‘Bird 1’ and ‘Grace’ retains traces of the oscillating beats and hypnotic vocals that used to be an Underworld hallmark. Overall, though, the original and unexpected hooks that used to make Underworld exciting are missing here. Mark Knight and D.Ramirez put their stamp on ‘Between Stars’ and the upcoming single ‘Always Loved a Film’. The latter is a euphoric offering but lacks the edge needed to elevate it to the standard of Underworld’s finest moments. What a shame.