Underworld / Yoav

Whilst at first glance the decision to cast solo artist Yoav as support act tonight might understandably raise a few eyebrows, on closer inspection the young South African fits the bill nicely. Casting a lonely figure onstage in bare feet with only an acoustic guitar for company, there is certainly a rugged charm about the shy newcomer that sees him receive a warm reception from those that make the effort to take in his short set. His songwriting skills have evidently taken a leaf out of one Jeff Buckley's book, but the occasional and highly welcome interjection of soulful beats and rhythmic effects keeps the crowd interested, and even manages to get a few heads nodding by the time he takes his humble leave.

Underworld's arrival provokes a rain of cheers to fall over the Roundhouse, although a slightly worrying few moments soon follow as the electronic veterans choose to kick off their set with a slow mix that attracts a decidedly lukewarm reaction. Predictably, this is soon forgotten, as the introduction of 'Cowgirl' sees the dancefloor explode into life in an orgy of arms, hips and smiles. From thereon in it takes some doing to slow down the party, as songs old and new attain mythical status through the furiously ecstatic responses they receive. Classics such as 'Pearls Girl', 'Rez' and 'Two Months Off' are reeled off in the midst of new favourites 'Crocodile' and 'Beautiful Burnout' with frightening ease, and there are few moments for a breather as maestros Karl Hyde, Richard Smith and relative newcomer Darren Price do their best to maintain the band’s formidable live reputation.



Having said that, it is the smartly-dressed Hyde that provides the real focus point of the evening, choosing to reacquaint himself with the frontman persona that so clearly suits him. Whipping the crowd into a euphoric frenzy on more than a few occasions, his honest enthusiasm is contagious, and even his cheesy sequined jacket can't outshine the beaming faces of those in front of him. His trademark vocals are clean and crisp; echoed by many to the point where the unified voice of the crowd and the downright dirty bass lines of the songs themselves begin to compete for supremacy – a knockout blow for the former being scored during the irrepressible 'Born Slippy (Nuxx)'. The song which brought the group to the masses courtesy of that film may well be a cliché choice for a reference point these days, but even the most cynical fan can't help but marvel at the emotional impact that those few notes still produce.


It is difficult to gauge whether Underworld will ever now reach the same level of national recognition that artists such as The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers and Faithless have commanded for over a decade, but on the evidence of tonight, they certainly don't need to. Those who still follow them have now been rewarded with not only one of the best albums of 2007 in 'Oblivion With Bells', but with one of the finest gigs that Camden has seen in some time, and there are few leaving The Roundhouse tonight that will argue to the contrary. Anyone who has yet to truly appreciate the talents of these ageing party starters may well have missed the boat by now, but for as long as Underworld continue to pull off shows as enjoyable as tonight, it can never be too late.

FUTURE GIGS