A Shining Future

The new Underworld album Barbara, Barbara We Face A Shining Future is a real return to form, the duo sounding completely re-energised and refreshed. I'm not sure that they really recovered fully from losing Darren Emerson, their songs since his departure have sometimes seemed a bit below par to these ears, lacking something. Their new regime of writing a song a day for this one, being spontaneous, has paid off. The album strikes a balance between the first few songs that have pounding drums and buzzing synths, Karl's chants and found lyrics sounding more and more like a dancefloor Mark E Smith and the second half which starts off with a slow South American inspired instrumental and then for the final few songs turns euphoric. It's also a shortish album, only seven songs but focussed and concise. Lead single I Exhale, an almost glam sounding stomp, has been out for some time now. You've probably heard it already but there's no harm in hearing it again.