On 27 October in Moscow and 28 October in Petersburg, what all fans of electronic music have dreamed of for the last 10 years will take place! As part of the event closing the MXTronica project series in 2006, against a backdrop of kilometres of plasma panels, a perimeter of LED screens and hi-tech installations, the world's foremost electronic group will perform – Underworld.
On the eve of the concert, 44100Hz correspondent Ilya Rozov managed to talk with one of the group's members, Karl Hyde:
Hi Karl, tell us, what are the members of Underworld up to now? How is the work on the new album coming along?
What we've been doing lately is writing the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's new science-fiction film 'Sunshine'. More than a hundred and fifty pieces of music that we've made over the last few years – they're all part of it. Quite a lot of time is also taken up by our online radio show (dirty.org), on whose airwaves we play all sorts of independent music from small labels. John Peel's team (John Peel; 30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004. A British radio presenter and disc-jockey, awarded the Order of the British Empire. Known as one of the most authoritative experts in the field of contemporary music. As part of his programme he recorded radio concerts by many famous musicians. His broadcasts featured very diverse music, from rock'n'roll, punk-rock and metal to folk and techno) gets in touch with these labels and they send us their releases so that we can play them on the programme – it's so great!
And what do you think about Lily Allen? Is she also considered 'independent' or is it not that simple?
She has a fantastic voice, just stunning. Although I don't usually listen to daytime radio – it gives me a headache (laughs).
Well, and what about M.I.A. and this whole story with grime music, which was popular a couple of years ago and has now sharply lost ground, with dubstep taking its place? In general, how about broken beats, Jamaican beats?
Oh, you know, I've never claimed the title of 'music expert'. Say I hear something, I like it, and then it turns out this song is number one in the charts. So here you've caught me out – I'm not a music specialist.
In your opinion, the so-called 'rave revival' being savoured by the English press (numerous articles about clashes between police and ravers throwing illegal open-airs and parties in squats) – what is it, a genuine revival, or an artificially inflated hype?
As I understand it, it's new rock bands throwing these 'illegal raves' in open fields, under marquees or in abandoned warehouse buildings. Recently something like this happened near where we live –
and it should be noted that this is generally a very quiet area. But suddenly millions of policemen appear, running here, there and everywhere, helicopters – amazing, really. In short, I think it's like this – these are new rock bands that grew up on rave culture, using rave as a platform for their own music. I think that's magnificent. We, for example, grew up on punk – that was the first thing that really impressed me. First and foremost, as a musical movement. And then came acid-house, and illegal raves, and that was like the punk era multiplied by a hundred. Fantastic, just amazing! People do it for themselves, and that's always wonderful.
And other manifestations of independent culture, like street art? What, for instance, do you think of Banksy (the cult anonymous street artist)? You haven't happened to see his face, have you?
My kids really like him. They see his work everywhere, all over the city. And I like him too, I have a few of his books, great work, Banksy! But I don't know him personally, no.
Have you ever worked with the group Coldcut – another long-awaited duo from the UK who came to us this autumn?
I think we met last year when we played at a festival in Tokyo. We may even have ridden the bullet train together. But it's a strange thing in general – we all knew each other back in the early nineties, we were close with the guys from Phats&Small, with the musicians of Leftfield, with Björk. The scene in London back then was very small, we supported each other as best we could, but then everyone became sort of 'stars' and got very busy. Now only a few acquaintances from that crowd remain with whom we keep in touch. It's a shame it works out that way.
Tell us, what's your favourite film?
I think the film that influenced me most strongly was '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Director Kubrick did an amazing job, but what struck me most was the soundtrack. I was 11 years old, I bought the recording
of the film's soundtrack, and listened to it, having climbed into a wardrobe with a little mono player, and imagined myself in space. All of this, of course, left its mark on me – both the wardrobe and the music. In general, cinema occupies an enormous place in our life. When we had no money and had to live in the docks, we would rent videos and watch them for nights on end. Then we formed a band, and started making music for films. And now we're writing music for Danny Boyle's new film; he's very easy to work with. He gave us complete freedom – do whatever you want. And that's great, because it's very important to us.
Underworld concert!
27 October, Friday, Moscow, Business Centre 'Nagatinsky' (22/30 Andropov Avenue), start 23:00; also performing are MXTronica live show (Vincent Vega, Vitalik, Kimbar and live vocals), Dj Grad and SCSI-9
28 October, Saturday, St Petersburg, 2 Ploshchad Pobedy, start 23:00; also performing are Kimbar, Vitalik, MXTronica live show featuring: Vincent Vega, Vitalik (drums), Kimbar (electric guitar) and live vocals.
