TONIGHT... Scribble - New Single

[34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j]

Just got the d/l. First thought - doesn't really sound like UW. Beat is very untypical for these guys. Cool vocoder effects but I liked the unfiltered vocal in the original. Overall very cool and I hope they do more tracks like this one...cant wait for the 12er

[Dunwho]

Originally Posted by khouri

The Good

The lush and upbeat production style is a welcome change from the more spacious and decidedly quiet sound Underworld have been playing with since the RiverRuns. "Scribble" is also further evidence of a more pop-oriented direction, following "Between Stars" and "Diamond Jigsaw", which I quite like. It remains to be seen if Underworld will be successful in this direction, but it's an exciting change nevertheless. Imagine an album full of tracks as intricately written and produced (perhaps overproduced?) as "Scribble", as opposed to the more leisurely (but still brilliant, obviously) stuff like "Beautiful Burnout" or "Best Magmu Ever", I think that's exciting.

I also love the "Scribble" artwork, really nice change of pace for Underworld/Tomato to create something so feminine.

The Bad

"Scribble" isn't very good. To be fair, it's difficult to give the song its due as we've been living with the fairly brilliant "You Do Scribble" for five years. My initial reaction to "Scribble" was like my reaction to "Holding the Moth", which was also a somewhat dubious rework of a better live track ("Globe"). I would have preferred a studio version of YDS with the "Small Conker with a Twix" intro, it's possibly one of the best things Underworld's ever done.

I think the biggest problem with the song is the new melody, it just seems very non-Underworld, which is possibly a consequence of the collaboration with High Contrast (who I like). It sounds too cheesy, too candy raver-esque, and it exits to the virtual exclusion of the great synths from YDS.

The Ugly

"Scribble" seems like an aggressive move by Underworld to engage an audience beyond Dirties, which is absolutely reasonable and perhaps it's that audience's reaction by which the single's success should be judged. But speaking for myself, a hardcore Underworld fan since the mid-'90s, I have to call it like I hear it and I don't think this was a wise choice for a lead single. Regardless of its relative quality, why risk disappointing the built-in audience with a rework of a track they've been literally begging for years to pay money for in its original form?

I agree completely...


but still think its actually just a High Contrast track..

"Wooops sorry guys i put the wrong record on the radio... here is the actual Underworld song you've all been waiting for!"

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by fraser

Can't seem to play it loud enough

it definitely demands loudness.

[the mongoose]

So when is the WAV file going to be available to buy from the UWshop?

edit - Nevermind, I found it. Sounds much better too!

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

hey guys, if this is generic dnb, please point me to or list 3-5 examples that sound similar enough to warrant calling this track 'generic'.

i'll wait...

thank you!

also who was it who said "crocodile" was bad a few pages back? blasphemy!

[unwound floors]

The wait for this lecture to be over so I can jam my headphones on and give Scribble a good listen is killer...

[ThingInABook]

i was wondering about the contents of the download... but it's just 75p! for the radio edit

can't wait to hear the full version. i love Scribble, it feels very autokratz-y. yeah, i also love underworld when they pull out things like vanilla monkey or stagger, but it's nice to hear something different and fresh, even if it sounds fitted for the radio. it has energy, thing missing from the latest singles (i'm looking at you, TMO and crocodile).

[BrotherLovesDub]

You guys, it sounds EXACTLY like YDS but with a 5 note melody and lyrics added. All you people saying you loved YDS but think this sounds like a High Contrast track are delusional. The majority of the track is exactly the same beat as YDS.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by Sean

I'm gonna need to listen to this a few times before forming a real opinion. I am excited right off the bat that it's a bit of a departure from the typical Underworld sound - not that I don't want to hear the typical "Underworld sound" any more, but I love when incredibly talented artists work a bit outside of their comfort zone.

i'm the same way. i love to hear them sound un-underworldish. i was thinking on my way home today about how much i loved peggy sussed the first time i heard that, and there are absolutely zero similar UW tracks that sound like that one. i remember being totally shocked the first time i heard ring road and then falling madly in love with how risky it was. this one is so very un-underworldish but i feel like it's a lovely little mad rush of adrenaline, and i have to appreciate that. i could add it to my "music to play on bright, sunny, perfect days" playlist, right by 8 ball.

Originally Posted by Sean

I have a feeling I won't know how much I like it until I listen to it really loud in the car on a road trip. Luckily, the wife and I are heading off to do just that tomorrow evening...

haha i'm about to leave the house to run to the store, although the store trip is a flimsy excuse to blast this track in my car and really get my head around it.

[cacophony]

Originally Posted by khouri

I would have preferred a studio version of YDS with the "Small Conker with a Twix" intro, it's possibly one of the best things Underworld's ever done.

agree 1000%, which is not a commentary on the quality of this single. so far i like the single just fine. but small conker into YDS is quite possibly the most perfect thing UW has ever done and my soul aches for a clean studio version that i can listen to over and over and over and over and over.