"F@#K ME!!".
That was the first thing that came out of my mouth, when I was told that Underworld will be doing a gig in
Switzerland. Eversince Danny Boyle's Trainspotting, it has been my life-long dream to catch them "live" in a concert.
Even with the departure of Darren Emerson, could not deter me otherwise.
*This is when the video montage of my journey to Montreux begins*
As this is my first visit to the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of it.
Everything was so proper and funtioning very well, I have no difficulty in entering the concert hall. It
was a fresh and pleasant experience.
The Underworld's concert is supported by Jamie Lidell - one time Super Collider's charismatic singer.
Jamie, dressed in his "media suit" costume which was actually made out of ribbons from cassette and video
tapes, kicked off his showcase with a track that was built up entirely by beatboxing sequences. Each beatbox
sequence was recorded individually into a sampling machine and then looped seamlessly. Each sampled sequence
was then enhanced by sound effects such as, reverbs or delays and he layered them effortlessly to create a mind
boggling tune that would make Mozzart weep in his grave. My amazement towards his creativity didn't end there.
After all the beatbox sequenced were looped and layered with precision, he lifted a microphone and belted
the vocals, oh yes he can sing, with a voice that fits somewhere between Prince and Micheal Jackson.
Throughout his showcase, together with visual maestro Pablo Fiasco, he has taken the concert goers through a
mystical journey of sounds ranging from, Acid Jazz to Mowtown to R&B with a dash of turntablism
(without turntables) and funky dope beats. Absolutely Live, Absolutely Spontaneous and Absolutely Electic.
For more information and sound samples from Jamie Lidell's latest album Multiply, please visit www.warprecords.com.
Jamie's set ended at about 10:45pm and nobody in the front two rows even dared to move, too afraid to lose
his/her spot. Underworld's sound enginners and roadies quickly siezed the stage and loading it with tons of
flight cases and commanding centerstage is Underworld's command console. From where I was standing, which is
smack in the middle of the first row, I am only able to see three computer screens and nothing else. Unlike
Jamie's working desk, all the keyboards, sound modules and mixing desk are nicely hidden from prying eyes.
Exactly at 11:00pm, screams and shouts filled the concert hall, the moment when Karl Hyde and Rick Smith came
on stage. Following close behind them is a gentlemen. Could he be the third player, who will filling the
empty space that was left behind by Darren Emerson? With that distinctive Sony MDV-700 headphones around his
neck, he automatically took up his position by standing behind the command console and the screams and shouts
grew louder as soon as the first synth note came out of the Meyer Sound loudspeaker arrays.
Rick looked ultra cool, calm and collected standing behind the console. Nodding to the mystery third player,
as if he is giving the cue and the other acknowledging it. Even though, they both looked very attentive
working behind the console, that didn't stop them from smilling at their adoring fans.
While Rick Smith were busy twiddling the knobs, pushing the faders and pressing the buttons, Kyle, apart
from was dancing and boucing around like a flamboyant aerobics instructor, circling the stage and flailing
with a cordless microphone, was busy triggering the voice samples by manipulating the jog wheel of Pionner
CDJ-1000.
My most memorable moment of the concert was when Rick, right after Cowgirl, mixed in the drum beats of Born
Slippy and just when I thought the song has ended the moment Karl spitted the last verse of the lyrics, the
speakers blasted the infamous piano riff. Almost everyone in the concert hall held their hands high up in
the air.
Underworld was absolutely brilliant.
Author: Armand
