Search - Underworld :: A Hundred Days Off

The Definitive Version to own....(for Hardcore Fans only!!!)

fetish_2000 | U.K. | 06/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A strange one this.....I've had this album when it first came out in 2002, then I sold my copy a couple of years later, after thinking that it lacked the momentum and progression, or even ideas of previous albums, only to pick it up very recently having stumbled across the rare Australian 2-Cd tour edition. This is the album that will be forever associated with the departure of one of the founder members, DJ Darren Emerson. And although his presence is missed, with this release, routinely sounding more relaxed and less tightly focused then previous albums, with far more of the softly spoken stream-of-consciousness vocalised house blues of Karl Hyde vocals, and less of the pulsating tracks that broke up other albums.



Initially this was one of the reasons, why I've never quite fully engaged with "A Hundred Days off"....seemingly comparing it with the long dense hypnotic eclectic fusion songs of "Second Toughest in the Infants", the distant, detached melancholic minimal ambience of "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", and progressive, energetic, tough breakbeats of "Beaucoup Fish". The problem I had with "A Hundred Days off" was that it seemed to be a slightly untidy mish-mash of areas explored in previous albums, but with diminishing returns. There was nothing that grabbed in on this album, in quite the same way as "Push Downstairs/Blueski/Dirty Epic/Moaner/Juanita/Dark & Long", and although this album had it's moments "Two Months off/Bullet Lane/Trim/Luetin", I found myself mostly neglecting what is essentially a good/great album, but compared to past glories, it didn't seem to engage in quite the same way. Don't get me wrong, I did/do like the album, but it was arguably the album that I listened to by far the least, and begin to gather dust in my Cd collection.



So I ended up selling my (1-cd) edition of this album.....only to find a really cheap copy of the limited 2-Cd edition, which featured Live tracks from previous albums, and remixes of tracks of this album, as well as a couple of videos. And having gone back and listened to this album after having not heard it, for a least 2 years, and without the comparison issue not looming large over my impression of the album. And having said that...and listening to this without any preconceived notions of their previous work (and the realisation of Darren Emerson, not contributing, here), its actually a great record, and considering that this was the best album that could have made, given the circumstances...which referenced their past, without being completely tied by it. Yet, not diversifying from what they'd become widely known for. Its an album the mixes a brilliant succession of harmonies and basslines, tone's down the arrangements, and made them more accessible, a little self-indulgent, a little more nuanced and subtle, with the majority of the tracks moving less intensely, with any rough edges smoothed off, as it flows along with nice BPM's and smooth beats, and although the album glides along without much in the way of any particularly innovative or unexpected twists, this is Underworld, creating an album with one less member, and thus playing to their strengths. Which is melodic, relatively subdued, mood music, with the occasional concessions to the dancefloor, a heavily augmented sound framed around the ubiquitous vocals of Hyde, punctuating atmospherically detached tracks, which highlight Underworld's trait for songs which have an elegance and a recognizable stamp.



The Bonus Cd for this particular release, was as mentioned before, the reason for picking this album up again, and the extra material contained here, is definitely worth the price of admission. The Live Track "Rez / Cowgirl" is taken from their live release "Everything Everything", which fans will know is a superb document of underworlds live performances. But the main portion of the disc is handed over to remixers, who remix "Two Months off" and "Dinosaur Adventure 3D", and the results are surprisingly good....as Underworld are just as well known for their remix work, as their original material, its refreshing to here somebody actually remix their work, rather than the other way around. Rounding out the disc are videos for those tracks. Ultimately this 2-Cd edition is squarely designed for the hardcore Underworld fan, casual listeners need not apply, as the regular 1-Cd version, will suffice...but owing this extra disc of excellent material, (for me) easily makes this the definite version of this album to own.



Ultimately, though this is probably Underworlds weakest album, compared to "Second Toughest in the Infants", Dubnobasswithmyheadman", "Beaucoup Fish". It doesn't quite have the legs to feature as prominently as those albums, which (for me) tip on the right side of classic albums. But not to take nothing away from Underworld...as they could have called it quits, with the departure of Darren Emerson, and his absence is felt on this album. But to not recognise the achievement of Karl Hyde & Rick Smith on this album would be foolish, as they've created a great and very solid album, and providing you can be prepared to listen to this without prejudice for their previous albums, this is definitely recommended.

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