Two of electronic music’s most enduring pioneers are joining forces this weekend, as Underworld and Moby take over Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, with Nia Archives and Fcukers joining the bill. The two acts will also share the stage at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Thursday.
Ahead of the Pasadena show, we asked Underworld’s Karl Hyde and Rick Smith to put together a playlist of tracks they’ve been listening to, from longtime influences to more recent favorites. The resulting mix takes some unexpected turns, moving from contemporary electronic artists like Brutalismus 3000 and Logistics to rap maverick Vince Staples and Brazilian greats Naná Vasconcelos and Gal Costa. There’s also Kraftwerk’s “Computer Love,” which the duo describe as “one of our origin stories,” before the playlist closes with Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris” and a selection from Joby Talbot’s choral work Path of Miracles.
Listen to the full playlist below, accompanied by Hyde and Smith’s commentary on each selection, and pick up tickets for their Brookside at the Rose Bowl performance here.
Brutalismus3000, "Horime"
We love B3K!!!!! This is their first single and we pay homage to it in our live show. Theo and Vicky we love you.
Vladimir Dubyshkin, "whats bitting you"
Absolute filth. We love this track, the rhythmic range is staggering it almost knocks you back.
Logistics, "Lotus Flower"
We love liquid DnB… this is on the more present side of ‘Liquid’ but the journey of this song is so visceral and we had to include it .
Dub Phizix, Skeptical, Strategy, "Marka"
Don’t know what to comment on here, it's all just too much.
Vybz Kartel, Popcaan, Gaza Slim, "Clarks"
Our management played us this song over the summer and it’s since been a massive part of our tour life. When it comes on, it’s impossible not to be immediately happy. Grinning ear to ear.
Vince Staples, "Yeah Right"
Incredible sounds, so industrial. Metallic and beautiful.
The Mary Wallopers, "Eileen Og"
Originally recorded by the Dubliners, this recording by the Mary Wallopers is so evocative, they’re such a tight group of players you can feel the playfulness in the sound. Storytelling at it’s best.
Kraftwerk, "Computer Love"
One of our origin stories.
Nana Vasconcelos, "No sul do polo norte"
The musicianship here is baffling. They manage to achieve something that feels like the essence of trance music. Beautiful.
Gal Costa, "Volta"
What a voice. And those CHORDS.
Joni Mitchell, "Free Man in Paris"
Another VOICE and another impeccable storyteller. The voice and the band are so intertwined here, each individual melody in the perfect place.
Joby Talbot, "Path of Miracles: iii. Leon"
Just one part of a masterwork. Modern choral writing at its best, finding inspiration from the rich history but with just the juiciest harmonies and textures.
