BRITISH DUO Underworld have been together now for a whopping 36 years. Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, Karl Hyde and Rick Smith scored their biggest hit in 1996 with the beat-heavy Born Slippy, considered one of the greatest dance records of all time. More recently they directed the music for the London 2012 Olympics, and return with a new album, Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future.
It’s easily their best work in years. Not only does it sound futuristic and very Berlin (where much of it was recorded), it also sounds like the best Underworld record that you’re ever likely to hear. Marc Andrews sat down with Karl Hyde in a posh London hotel to talk about the band’s welcome return.