Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman (2LP, 2025 Reissue)

Underworld entered the 90s by completely shifting their MO. The band was pared down to core duo Karl Hyde and Rick Smith alongside rising star Darren Emerson, joining Junior Boy’s Own and releasing the label’s first LP: Dubnobasswithmyheadman. After a series of singles, the chameleonic band had settled into the throb and pulse of dingy underground clubs, debuting their new lineup by merging smooth and smoky vocals with the concrete sound of progressive house pummel. Tracks like ‘Tongue’ drift on a softer note, dreamy sunset guitars melting into breezily slow breakbeats and the warm thrum of vocoder, while the syrupy bass licks of ‘M.E.’ drive chunky rhythms, crystal clear pianos crescendoing out with jazzy improvisations.