Paul Van Dyk is a musical genius. How amazing will he make Diamond Jigsaw?

[stimpee]

only listened to it once, but I dont like it. Its just too generic and bland. Theres not enough variation. Which is a trademark underworld sound. Its disappointing to hear Underworld dumbed down like this.

[Dirty Canuck]

100% agree, Stimpee. I actually never liked this track in any shape or form and PVD hasn't helped it at all. The lyrics are boring, and the sound is out of the 80s.
From what I've read, seeing it live is something to see, though.

[Dirty0900]

I really like it. Especially the breakdown towards the end.

PVD will have nothing to do with the lyrics.

[big screen satellite]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

Doesn't nearly have the sound I was fearing. Overall I think I appreciate his delicate touch more than what Ramirez/Knight did. My biggest complaint on the whole album is the quality of the kicks and simplicity of the rhythms on Diamond Jigsaw, Between Stars and ALAF. It proves how good Rick Smith is at the little details and how downright boring PVD and Knight/Ramirez are with tech-house kick drum programming.

sadly thats their job and thats what works for them, UW needed these elements to make this album what it is though... it needed undersimplyfying if thats a word...

UW, Rick, in particular, can make their sound too complex and difficult for 'normal' persons ears and as such the touches by the external producers have generified this album for the better.

I know most ppl don't want UW to be a generic band, but thats what they guys wanted with this album - to make it accessible - and thats what it is... the strangest thing i have noticed is that ppl who are undecided about the tracks on Barking like different tracks, some like the poppy numbers some like the downbeat tracks, but most like some elements...

If Diamond Jigsaw was released without knowledge of PvD's production - no one would have noticed, because its the same song UW wrote, and it maintains most UW elemets, including a Guitar which KH has been playing for over 30 years... don't forget KH was a session guitarist for many people back in the old days before most of you were born...

keep the faith guys...

[big screen satellite]

listen to the guitar solo at 4:20 onwards - tell me that isn't a riff straight out the New Order school of rock...

which, imo, makes this track even more awesome....

Underworld, I love you more than the way you used to love me....

[King of Snake]

Originally Posted by BrotherLovesDub

Doesn't nearly have the sound I was fearing. Overall I think I appreciate his delicate touch more than what Ramirez/Knight did. My biggest complaint on the whole album is the quality of the kicks and simplicity of the rhythms on Diamond Jigsaw, Between Stars and ALAF. It proves how good Rick Smith is at the little details and how downright boring PVD and Knight/Ramirez are with tech-house kick drum programming.

If anything Diamond Jigsaw's drums sounds more like a rock band than tech-house. Who knows if it was Rick or PVD who programmed those. UW have done plenty of tracks with very simple rhythms. We've definitely heard UW do a bit more rock-style sounds in recent times (Boy Boy Boy, that Manic Street Preachers remix...).
Can't really say I agree with you about Knight & Ramirez doing boring programming either. There's a lot of details in the rhythms of ALAF and Between Stars (have you listened on a good pair of headphones?), and who knows which bits were programmed by who? Personally I was kinda getting tired of all the shakers and bongo's on the previous two UW albums and appreciate a little bit of a different, more varied sound. The rhythm sounds (fucking synth plop) on Bird 1 are pretty bad though

[bazwint]

Originally Posted by big screen satellite

listen to the guitar solo at 4:20 onwards - tell me that isn't a riff straight out the New Order school of rock...

which, imo, makes this track even more awesome....

Live it reminded me more of Robert Smith but either is good news for me

[King of Snake]

btw I liked Diamond Jigsaw from the start and I still do. The New Order-ish guitar is a nice bonus in this version I think. It's simple but fun, kinda like TMO

[starfox203]

UW channels New Order. It's awesome!

[Professor]

everything is awesome. in every way.