Following their intense 52-week audiovisual project Drift in 2019, collaborations with Irish producer Kettama, and a busy touring schedule, the unstoppable Underworld is back with their 11th album, Strawberry Hotel. This album is a departure from their previous work, ranging from Born Slippy-inspired tracks to a simple closing guitar piece, with a standout performance by opera singer Ottavia – also known as Esme Bronwen-Smith, daughter of Rick Smith – delivering a poignant lament set to electronic beats.
The album kicks off with high-energy rave tracks like Techno Shinkansen (a blend of gleaming disco house and Giorgio Moroder basslines) and Sweet Lands Experience, where Karl Hyde reminisces about wild nights over infectious beats. These tracks showcase Underworld’s continued dedication to the dancefloor, three decades after their groundbreaking album Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994).
As the album progresses, it delves into more abstract territory. The mesmerizing Doppler synths on Burst of Laughter offer comfort to the lonely and broken, echoing the soothing vibes of the album’s opening track, Black Poppies – a powerful ode to embracing change. Hyde’s lyrical prowess shines on tracks like Denver Luna and King of Haarlem, where his cut-up style of writing somehow manages to make perfect sense.