Last Friday it was time for the return of Underworld to The Netherlands, the first time they played here this year was at the lowlands festival at the end of the summer and now they were back at the Heineken Music Hall (HMH). Two times a year for Underworld to visit The Netherlands is a treat you cannot miss.

At exactly 23.16 Rick Smith and Karl Hyde got on stage to play a 12-track concert that was going to rock Amsterdam. They opened in style with Rez/Cowgirl and immediately the atmosphere was set to go. Carl's voice sounded a bit lower then on their albums and I had the feeling he still had to oil his instrument a bit, but the sound of their twisted beats, long delays and typical Underworld samples, made up for that easily.

The sound system at the HMH is fantastic, when it (HMH) opened they claimed to have the best sound in Holland and they probably do. Although the huge system is designed for reaching out to a 5000+ audience it is a shame that the best sound is heard in the middle of the venue and not in front, its just too loud. Standing on the balcony at the back gives you a feeling you are surrounded by one big headset, wicked!

They really got started at their second track 'Two month's off' from their new album. This summer track proves they have not been sitting still production wise the last year, because it is a beautifully made deep production, and it has rocked Ibiza shores this summer. Going directly into their third track and in my opinion their best production ever: 'Dark + Long' (Dark Train mix). This mix part of the 'Trainspotting' movie, really got the underground vibe going through the venue.

Their fourth track was from their new album: 'A Hundred Days Off ' called 'Dinosaur Adventure 3D' and this is possibly the best dance track on the new album. The typical voice of Karl Hyde did not do it this time though. Some songs still sound better on the album and this is one of them.

Before 'Born Slippy (Nuxx)' hit the crowd as track 10 it was nice to hear that Karl told the audience that their Lowlands gig in The Netherlands this year was their best gig ever. A nice compliment before playing the track that made them famous instantly all over the world. It needs no comment that the audience was in frenzy and had been waiting for this track to be played out. It just cannot be missed although the boys are possibly tired of playing it over and over again. Nice touch of Mojo (organizers and part of Mean Fiddler UK) was they let Darren Price open for Underworld. Darren remixed many Underworld dance floor tracks including 'Born Slippy'.

If you could compare Underworld Live with other big live acts like the Chemical Brothers, then you would find Underworld doing a better job, this might have to do with their musical repertoire they can select from. Their songs and CD's have sold so many copies a show of Underworld takes you back as far as 1994 when they released 'dubnobasswithmyheadman'.

So to look at Underworld is looking at a huge part of dance history, which is pure quality. What did not effect me at all at the Underworld show in comparison with the Chemical Brothers were the visuals, I do not understand why they did not make more of it, especially when you realize that 'Tomato' (The Underworld visual department) is one of the leading companies around the world, doing visual workshops all over the world. The Chemicals do a better job at that.

Musically Underworld ruled, it is probably the only electronic live band that gets away with the vocals, the guitars and the beats combined into almost every track and accomplish to make more of those elements. Many times vocals and live instruments are more of a distraction, but they show how it should be done.

Turning into an age that dance music is getting more and more acceptance from traditional music and is using more and more live instruments and vocals combined with big phat beats, Underworld shows this formula builds towards a bright future for the genre and may lead the way.

They closed the show with their classic 'Moaner' released for the movie 'Badman' in 1997. A movie that sucked, but a track that stands the test of time easily.

In conclusion you might say that they are not purely out there to promote their new album, new songs are not played that much, but especially their older songs are kept alive through their new tour. You will find yourself re-visiting their 5 albums in full flight, added with the live effects and the show Karl Hyde puts on, this is a show not to be missed anywhere in the world.