Underworld at Alexandra Palace

Crazy, that’s what comes to mind when thinking of last night’s show from the godfathers of trance and acid house. Rick Smith and Karl Hyde are masters of the craft in the hot, humid and heaving Ally Pally.

Centre stage, both musicians are in their element and give a whirlwind performance that is raging and brash. As a duo who have been producing music since 1987, they have enough energy for the entire sold-out auditorium. There is a mix of both old and new material, giving fans ample opportunity to delve into the catalogue. Another much-appreciated element to tonight’s show is the slightly unconventional creation of two sets, bringing a vital reprieve. 

In raves, you can expect the atmosphere to be elevated, and tonight is no different. Hyde carries the vocals, that are not always clear, obscured as they are through vocoders and nifty productions, while Smith is relentless on his synthesisers, audio samplers and various other software, largely hidden from the crowd. The standouts in the first set are Nylon Strung – one of the softer tracks from the duo – backed by poetic lyrics, as well as Trim with its melodic guitar riffs and the catchy Dirty Epic. It helps with screens on both sides, although it isn’t really about seeing the artists, but rather the overall ambience, with the sound, lights and mostly smiling happy faces all round, which must have been a sight from Smith and Hyde’s vantage point. It feels increasingly better to stand toward the back, where you can feel the slightest of breezes, whereas in the midst of it all, there is no AC, which can make you feel extremely faint, an ongoing issue with the venue.

As the first set continues, another highlight comes in the form of Juanita 2022, with the soft synth notes complementing Hyde’s modified vocals, and it is evident the duo are pros and know how to up the ante. Admittedly, there are moments when the tracks are incomprehensible, but from this concert, it seems that that’s not the point; it’s the knowledge that you’ve just witnessed a legendary act.

After a 30-minute break, the second set starts off very strong with Jumbo, the acoustics markedly improved compared to the nerve-shredding industrial sounds that ended the first part. Beautiful golden light shimmers over everyone for Two Months Off, with the chorus of “You bring light in”, producing an immeasurable amount of serotonin. If you’re familiar with Star – heavily inspired by the classic British children’s book Each Peach Pear Plum – you’d be singing along with the memorable rhymes, a surefire highlight. The madness that is at the heart of an Underworld gig continues with Pearl’s Girl, as Hyde chants “crazy” repeatedly, with fans raising hands in ecstasy.

Ending with tracks that have the same thumping beat (which can make them interminable), but playing one of the biggest hits of the 90s, Born Slippy, the final light show can be summed up as insane, and the best word to describe the Underworld rave. 

Selina Begum
Photos: Miguel de Melo

For further information and future events visit Underworld’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Fen Violet here: