A lot of bands make anthologies of their work; sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't because many of these bands do not have tenure to be putting out a collection of songs. Underworld, one of the best electronic acts to come out of the United Kingdom, does, and this collection of 10 years of its work is a solid compilation of some of the best underground dance music the industry has to offer.
Underworld came into existence in 1989 when Rick Smith and Karl Hyde met DJ Darren Emerson. The group has since released six albums, spawning over 20 singles. Underworld has remixed works by Bj?rk, the Chemical Brothers and Depeche Mode. The group went from a trio to a duo in 2000 when Emerson left to pursue his solo career as a DJ.
The anthology comes on two discs, which offer some of the group's best works, the most famous of which is "Born Slippy," which appeared on the soundtrack for Danny Boyle's 1995 "Trainspotting." "Born Slippy," which was remixed in 1996, is slightly more pounding than some of the band's other songs, but was popular enough to have the distinction of being overplayed on the radio for about four years.
The standout track on this collection, however, is the lesser-known "Pearl's Girl," a brilliant fusion of trance, rock and, to a certain degree, hip-hop. The song melds hypnotic beats with rhythmic vocals to create arguably one of the best songs of the past 10 years.
Other inclusions, such as "Cowgirl" and "Dirty Epic," both of which were released as singles, display the band's versatility and unique sound that is very unlike a lot of dance music to come out of the last decade.
This double-disc set is like a what's what of underground dance music that is much more complex and melodic than much of today's popular dance music. Underworld's sound was more relevant in the '90s, since that is when it hit its peak, but its music is certainly still listenable today. This anthology is both warranted and desired, and is a must-have for anyone looking for something original in the music industry.
