Contrary to its predecessor, Beaucoup Fish is convincing and demonstrates that Underworld is not just a soundtrack band.

The big news is that the group has gone back to singing (or murmuring) just as it did on its first album. The album oscillates between pure robotic style and The Orb’s ambiant.

So the excellent Push Upstairs, Shudder (and its I feel love sample), Kittens, as well as the fabulous Moaner (previously affiliated with the disastrous Batman & Robin) hammer away at your syrupy spirits with their robotic rhythm while the minimalist Cups (with its disturbing bass), & Jumbo lull you with their melancholy ambiance. Worth an honorable mention is the surprising Skym, a sort of electronic Dead can dance with its incantations.

It appears the band has profited from taking a break from movie soundtracks to simply concoct a good album for us, now that Fatboy Slim has invaded all soundtracks.

  Fred Thom