Underworld: Second Toughest in the Infants (Junior Boys Own JBOCD4)

UNDERWORLD'S 1994 masterpiece, dubnobasswithmyheadman, set new standards for techno music, bringing a confounding humanity to the genre. Since then, they've retreated somewhat from the limelight, releasing only the stopgap single 'Born Slippy' while working on the pieces that make up Second Toughest in the Infants. That long gestation is reflected in the care and attention to detail here, particularly on the two long opening tracks, the triptych 'Juanita'/'Kiteless'/'To Dream of Love' and diptych 'Banstyle'/'Sappy's Curry', which flow seamlessly into double-figure timings without outstaying their welcome.