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underworld, now 10 years into their mark II stage (after their stint as a 1980s pop band), release their first album in 3 years and their first album without the young dj darren emerson, who helped to steer their club sound through the 1990s.

down to just two members, underworld maintain their heady status as the older statesmen of the dance scene with their trademark loops and stream-of-consciousness chants, but with a more minimal hypnotic focus. in contrast to their last album, beaucoup fish, this approaches the tranquil trance of their earlier work, mostly second toughest in the infants, with a dark yet feathery touch. lots of plucked instruments and very little way of lyrics make this a moody trip through the nighttime, with brilliant bursts of light when falling on old dependencies.

the first single, two months off, is a euphoric highlight that stomps the housefloor and then floats off it. dinosaur adventure 3d brings to mind previous driving songs such as kittens and the ecstatic born slippy.NUXX. other than that, mo move and sola sistim show a graceful yet deliberate slide into more headphone rocking than warehouse tromping. beautiful evening music.