Product Description

Revolutionary British electronica group Underworld move their innovations to another format with this video release. Using some of the most advanced sound technology available, Underworld are able to recreate the unpredictable euphoria of their live performances. As artists as well as musicians -- the band members also run the renowned graphic design firm Tomato -- Underworld have designed live performances which are all-encompassing multimedia experiences. This hypnotic pairing of cutting-edge sound design and innovative visuals lends itself perfectly to the video format and makes EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING a must for the Underworld fan and technophile alike.

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Yes, electronica has taken over the world of music. All you need to do is take a look at the first shot of Underworld's live concert video to see that. The sprawling, dancing masses that cover the fields testify that the medium has found its way out of dark, sweaty raves and into the global mainstream. The shot makes the crowds at Woodstock seem small. However, while seeing electronica live can be a thrilling experience, watching it performed at home on your television is a completely different story. The British trio Underworld is widely considered to be one of electronica's most popular acts (same class as the Chemical Brothers and the Orb), and this DVD presents nine of their hyper, 10-minute-plus jams in five different countries (Japan, Holland, Belgium, England, and Ireland). While the sound is crisp and the beats infectious, there's not much to watching an electronica band (you usually have your eyes closed at a show, frantically dancing). The band tries to rectify this problem by using Alan Parker-esque, headache-inducing editing techniques and more strobe-lighting effects than the human brain can possibly handle in one sitting. Also, to make up for the lack of dynamics, Underworld has packed this DVD with a ton of goodies. You can program the concert any way you'd like to hear it; it contains five minutes of outtakes and a couple bonus tracks; and, most quizzically, they included the full 90-minute visuals shown on the large video screen behind the band. Some hardcore fans may find the screen graphics mesmerizing, but mostly it feels like watching a screensaver with a soundtrack. If you can't wait for Underworld to come to a field near you, grab the DVD; otherwise, just go to a rave. It's cheaper. --Dave McCoy