20 YEARS AGO: Underworld - Cups

Underworld's 1999 masterpiece 'Beaucoup Fish' is another album that will be turning 20 this year. From it comes the epic 11 minutes-plus opening track 'Cups'. Following a euphoric house-flavoured intro, the hooks kick in and take hold. Built on heavy repetition, nagging bass and nocturnal ambience, there's almost a hint of jazz in its splendid vocodered vocal.
Expanding the possibilities of where dance music could venture, Beaucoup Fish was their fifth album, released in 1999 at a time when the group's profile was at its highest. Following the huge success of the single Born Slippy a few years previously, Beaucoup Fish was Underworld's most anticipated release. It went on to sell over 2 million copies, and was the last studio album to feature Darren Emerson, who departed in 2001. The album's working title was 'Tonight Matthew, I'm Going to be Underworld', inspired by the famous catchphrase "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be...", used on the celebrity impersonation TV game show Stars in Their Eyes.
Karl Hyde and Rick Smith's most recent releases have been the online "Drift" tracks, which are published regularly on the group's YouTube page. 'Drift Episode 1' collects together the first set of songs, and is available to download and stream now.