British electronic music band, Underworld,  formed by Rick Smith and Karl Hyde in 1980 with prominent former members Darren Emerson and  Darren Price, are known for both their out-of-this-world visual and live performances, as well as, their phenomenal discography.

Their brand of sound is one of a kind, blurring the lines, between techno, trance, breakbeat, downtempo and incorporating subtle indie rock attitude, their sound can be regarded as a true example of electronic music as art.

Throughout the years, they have successfully managed to bring some of their creations into the popular spotlight, such as their million-selling Trainspotting soundtrack, “Born Slippy.NUXX.”.

Despite their commercial success as a band and the usual critique that they are simply making ‘techno for the masses’, we believe they have been and will continue to be genuine to their own artistry Underworld.

Underworld will play at Portugal underground electronic music festival Neopop. The 14th edition of the festival will take place from August the 7th to 10th, making the city from Minho region, once again, the national capital of Techno.

Others on Neopop’s bill include:

Jeff Mills / John Digweed / Julianna / KiNK (live) / Lewis Fautzi / Maceo Plex / Magazino / Mashkov / NA O MI / Nastia b2b Daria Kolosova / Nicolas Lutz / NONOTAK presents SHIRO / Nuno Carneiro / Ø [Phase] b2b Matrixxman / Paco Osuna / Plaid & Felix’s Machines / Rebekah (live) / Richie Hawtin  / Rødhåd / RoundHouse Kick (live) / Rui / Vargas / Rui Trintaeum / Ruuar / Sensible Soccers / Serginho b2b Ze Salvador / Solar b2b Lokier / Surgeon (live) / SURTO / Switchdance / Tiago Fragateiro / Tale Of Us / TERZI b2b / TIAGO / The Advent (live) / VIL (PT) / Wata Igarashi (live) / Yassine

Tickets: https://madeofyoutickets.com/

Website: https://neopopfestival.com/

Event: https://www.facebook.com/neopopfestival

The following five Underworld pieces would make not only a fine start to a party but are also a great reason for you to start digging in the pioneers’ electronic encyclopedia discography.

Cups

The opening track of the group’s fifth album Beaucoup Fish (1999), Cups has a soulfully sonic opening itself. Hence, we include this as the opening track to our Underworld Party Starters article. And in this wonderful Underworld era, Darren Emerson was part of the band…

Thing in a Book

The twenty-minute journey, included in Underworld’s ‘Dark and Long 2’ EP is an ambient bliss. There is no best part of this track, you just have to listen to the whole … Thing!

Threat of Rain

Released in 2019, under ‘Drift Episode 2 ‘Atom’’ new release, ‘Threat of Rain builds from a murky locked techno groove and a looped refrain of “I’m good, I’m good… I’m alright” into an orchestra of analogue noise that swells and surges and at times obliterates everything around it, which, with the accompanying film by Tomato’s Simon Taylor and Rick Smith, looks and sounds like a lost recording of a musique concrète symposium being broadcast from the DJ booth of the Omen.’

Confusion the Waitress

Is there a meaning behind Underworld’s lyrics? Well, listen to this sublime track, part of their album ‘Second Toughest In The Infants’, and wonder – can we consider it as techno-poetry or what?

River of Bass

Part of the must-have Underworld album Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994), River Bass is a more of a relaxing ambient piece, it flows like a river of bass vibration and will take you down, down, down to a river of sweet relief…

Neopop Festival

From August 7th to 10th, Neopop – Portugal’s most respected electronic music festival will take place at the coastal town of Viana do Castelo. Again, the festival will host the greatest techno names in the historic port for three days of partying and musical appreciation

With live performances and DJ sets from some of the underground’s most exciting talent, Neopop has become a must- festival for techno fans all over the world, who want to experience their favourite sounds in the right environment.

This is your chance to hear all of the following artists in less than four days:

Jeff Mills / John Digweed / Julianna / KiNK (live) / Lewis Fautzi / Maceo Plex / Magazino / Mashkov / NA O MI / Nastia b2b Daria Kolosova / Nicolas Lutz / NONOTAK presents SHIRO / Nuno Carneiro / Ø [Phase] b2b Matrixxman / Paco Osuna / Plaid & Felix’s Machines / Rebekah (live) / Richie Hawtin  / Rødhåd / RoundHouse Kick (live) / Rui / Vargas / Rui Trintaeum / Ruuar / Sensible Soccers / Serginho b2b Ze Salvador / Solar b2b Lokier / Surgeon (live) / SURTO / Switchdance / Tiago Fragateiro / Tale Of Us / TERZI b2b / TIAGO / The Advent (live) / VIL (PT) / Wata Igarashi (live) / Yassine

Tickets: https://madeofyoutickets.com/
Website: https://neopopfestival.com/ 
Event: https://www.facebook.com/neopopfestival