Beaucoups Fish!

While a lot of electronica is just designed to sound pretty or be danceable, there's a core of substance in Beaucoup which becomes aparent after several listenings. These songs describe real scenes, characters and situations, even if their language is always vague, and the overall effect is cohesive. A song like 'Cups' perfectly describes the sweep and weird beauty of urban life, while the punchier 'Push Upstairs' and 'Bruce Lee' are remarkable because, for all the violence and energy implied in their lyrics, they have the same sterile sound as Cups. The album is human life seen (or heard) through a filter of sterility and detachment.

More objectively, while 'Cups,' 'Jumbo' and 'King of Snake' are great, there are some weak songs on the album, all toward the end; so, four stars.

Oh and as requested, I want to recommend another instrumental CD, a killer instrumental CD, by Mr.Deviant called "Techno Obsession". It's a killer mix of power rock and hard dance music. Check it out if you don't fear any conspiracies.

Although I understand that this release may not be among Underworld's best, I have no other point of reference, except that of the two aforementioned singles and some songs that friends have introduced me to. At first listen I actually liked this CD, but although it is rare for me, the more I heard it the less I liked it. It is flawlessly produced, but it lacks passion. "Cups" starts out like a placid "Café Del Mar"-like song, it never reaches goes anywhere. "Push Upstairs" is energetic and I would love it, instead of just liking it, if it did not sound so much like "Born Slippy." "Jumbo" is a good journey. I love the "I Feel Love"-like synth of "Shudder/King Of Snake" and although it's my favorite song of the release, it does not inspire nor energize me. The rest of the songs are not that different, with maybe a little Gregorian chant here and traces of energy (i.e the beginning of "Kittens"), but mostly tired and repetitive sounds that are passable at best.

After listening to this release I guess my biggest problem with it is that it mixes acid-house and trance and does not go for the complex ubber beats that I loved in songs that I have heard from their previous releases. There is nothing wrong with trance or acid-house, but there are "capable" artists in those genres that do it better, In my view Underworld should keep challenging themselves and their audience with the loud passion and quiet power of their best work. This release only gets 2 stars from me, but you may want to check out their earlier work and the "Born Slippy" remixes are a must!!!