Oblivion with Bells

Oblivion with Bells
Studio album by Underworld
Released	3 October 2007 (2007-10-03)
Recorded	2000–2007 at Abbey Road Studios, Lemonworld Studios, and around the world
Genre	Techno, progressive house, progressive trance
Length	58:12
Label	Different Recordings, Traffic, Side One Recordings
Producer	Rick Smith
Underworld chronology
Live in Tokyo 25th November 2005 (2005) Oblivion with Bells (2007) Barking (2010)
Singles from Oblivion with Bells
"Crocodile" Released: 12 September 2007 "Ring Road" Released: 6 July 2008 "Holding the Moth" Released: 7 December 2008

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(64/100)[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Alternative Press	[3]
Gig Wise	[4]
Laute.de	[5]
NME	8/10[6]
Pitchfork Media	(6.0/10)[7]
Prefix Magazine	(7.5/10)[8]
Release Magazine	9/10[9]
Resident Advisor	[10]
Slant Magazine	[11]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[12]
URB	[13]
Virgin Media	[14]
Yahoo! Music UK	[15]

Oblivion with Bells is the seventh studio album from Underworld, released on 3 October 2007 (2007-10-03) in Japan, 15 October 2007 (2007-10-15) in the EU and 16 October 2007 (2007-10-16) in the US. Due to the success of lead single "Crocodile" and the use of "To Heal" as a central theme in the film Sunshine, Oblivion with Bells has sold over 93,000 copies worldwide, as of 23 May 2008.

Critical reception

Oblivion with Bells received mostly positive reviews from most music critics. The album has a score of 64/100 on Metacritic based on 24 reviews. Allmusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars saying "The acid techno is firmly in place, with little or no regard for developments in the form after the '80s. Still, unlike other electronica mainstays who have occasionally revealed a little weariness -- either from trying to change or trying to stay the same -- Underworld never sound particularly tired on Oblivion with Bells". NME gave the album 8/10 saying that "Oblivion With Bells is less the comedown than the sound of the party still going 10 years on". Drowned in Sound gave the album 6/10 saying that "After an auspicious introduction Oblivion With Bells has disappointingly descended into an irreconcilable docile abyss".

Track listing

All songs by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith.

Side A

1. "Crocodile" – 6:32
2. "Beautiful Burnout" – 8:11

Side B

1. "Holding the Moth" – 5:31
2. "To Heal" – 2:38
3. "Ring Road" – 4:33

Side C

1. "Glam Bucket" – 5:48
2. "Boy, Boy, Boy" – 6:07
3. "Cuddle Bunny vs The Celtic Villages" – 2:24

Side D

1. "Faxed Invitation" – 4:46
2. "Good Morning Cockerel" – 2:30
3. "Best Mamgu Ever" – 9:12

Additional track on the Japanese release (Traffic, TRCP10):

12. "Loads of Birds" – 5:30

Book of Jam – Video DVD [UWR-00017-5 (UK) and SOR0001 (US) only]

1. Crocodile (video) – 3:57
2. Tokyo Makuhari (slideshow with "Boy, Boy, Boy") – 1:32
3. Metal Friend (video) – 1:37
4. Abbey Road Recording Session (slideshow with "Globe") – 1:31
5. Good Morning Cockerel (video) – 2:31
6. Rez Live (video) – 9:28
7. Art Jam (slideshow with "Faxed Invitation") – 1:46

Release history

Appearances

To Heal appears as part of the score for the movie Sunshine. Glam Bucket and To Heal both appear in the video game Need For Speed Undercover.

Translation

• The word "mamgu " (pronounced "mam-ghee" ) from the track "Best Mamgu Ever" is the Welsh word for grandmother^[16]

Charts

References