Album: Underworld

London Roundhouse. England. 18.10.2007 (www.underworldlive.com)

To coincide with the release last October of Oblivion With Bells, Underworld embarked on a world tour. Sadly, just a few dates in, it was postponed due to a sudden illness afflicting Rick Smith. Though dates have been rescheduled, the band have released this live double-album as a stopgap for fans. Recorded at the Roundhouse, it's a formidable affirmation of the duo's strengths, mingling old favourites like "Mmm Skyscraper I Love You", "Born Slippy" and "Cowgirl" with new material such as "Crocodile" and "Glam Bucket". The juxtaposition is illuminating, confirming that Oblivion With Bells is their best album since dubnobasswithmyheadman, and that there is an unbroken thread of style and method linking these two eras. Karl Hyde's loquacious introduction – part-Chaucer, part-Artful Dodger, part-Peter Ackroyd – brings a distinctive human character to the usually faceless domain of dance music, while the subtle unity of rhythm and melody in "Glam Bucket", in particular, illustrates their superiority over less imaginative peers.

Download this: 'Glam Bucket', 'Mmm Skyscraper I Love You', 'Born Slippy', 'Crocodile'