90s Jams #71: Underworld "Dirty Epic" (1993)

Injecting a much-needed dose of darkness and cynicism into the increasingly scrubbed, hygienic dance scene of the early '90s... Underworld never fell into the tar pits of major electronica artists during the '90s: even while remaining a concert draw witnessed by millions and presenting themselves as tremendously effective album artists, they continued releasing tough tracks -- not pop-oriented singles -- and never slipped into the album rock crowd (led by the Chemical Brothers and Orbital) or the indie rock crossovers of techno experimentalists (Aphex Twin, Autechre). - Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:avfoxqualdte

Not a huge fan of that description.. The vocal melody is a huge part of what makes this song work. I know their production was Underworld's forefront element, but the subtleties in their songwriting shouldn't be underestimated, which is what set them apart from other "electronic" artists from the 90's, who certainly weren't as obviously influenced by New Order. "Dirty Epic" is what made this baton-passing of sorts just that much more official. In recent years, artists such as Cut Copy have been (less effortlessly, but albeit pleasingly) carrying the New Order/Underworld torch into the new century.