Second Toughest in the Infants

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Second Toughest in the Infants
Second Toughest in the Infants cover
Studio album by Underworld
Released March 19, 1996
Recorded ???
Genre Techno
House
Trance
Electronica
Length 73:01
Label Junior Boys Own
Producer Underworld
Professional reviews
Underworld chronology
dubnobasswithmyheadman
(1993)
Second Toughest in the Infants
(1996)
Beaucoup Fish
(1999)

Second Toughest in the Infants is a 1996 album by Underworld.

This 1996 album was Underworld's first album that could be classified as Progressive House, being a mixture of techno, progressive rock, and having some other influences as well. The first track is the best example of this. A track in three movements, "Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream Of Love" resembles some of the longer progressive rock songs in the mid seventies such as Joe's Garage, "Supper's Ready" and "Close to the Edge", while retaining elements most common to trance music. The second track, "Banstyle / Sappy's Curry", is also a journey, though not as enthralling as the first track; the song features acoustic guitar throughout the second half. The third track, "Confusion the Waitress" is a dark track, which leads up to the lighter yet driving "Rowla". "Pearl's Girl" is the most straightforward song, featuring fast breakbeats leading to a sound closer to drum and bass. Clocking in at over nine minutes, this was their dancefloor hit. "Air Towel" is an interesting track, with many unintelligible lyrics and some odd instrumentation. "Blueski" is a two minute guitar section, similar to "Horizons" by Genesis, in its function and placement on the album. The final track, "Stagger", is a slow, quiet ending to the album.

[edit] Title

The unusual name of the album derives from a comment made by duo member Rick Smith's six-year-old nephew, Simon Prosser, when asked on his progress at school. "The Infants" refers to Infant School, which is attended by four- to seven-year-old children in the UK.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Darren Emerson, Karl Hyde, and Rick Smith unless noted.

  1. "Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love" – 16:36
  2. "Banstyle / Sappy's Curry" – 15:22
  3. "Confusion the Waitress" – 6:47
  4. "Rowla" – 6:31
  5. "Pearl's Girl" – 9:36
  6. "Air Towel" – 7:37
  7. "Blueski" – 2:55
  8. "Stagger" – 7:37

[edit] Bonus disc

After the release of "Born Slippy .NUXX" as a single, the album was re-released with a second CD:

  1. "Born Slippy .NUXX" – 11:40
  2. "Rez" – 9:55 (Hyde/Smith)
  3. "Cherry Pie" – 8:25
  4. "Pearls Girl (Carp Dreams Mix)" – 10:06