Home · Albums · Underworld · Second Toughest in the Infants

Second Toughest in the Infants 1996
Album · by Underworld ↗ View artist

Second Toughest in the Infants

When Underworld released Second Toughest in the Infants in 1996, they already had a track record that allowed them to explore without constraints. This album, their fourth studio effort and the second featuring Darren Emerson in the lineup, delves into a sound that blends pounding rhythms with sing-along melodies. The essence of the record draws from the raw energy of pirate radio and the atmosphere of nighttime cities, creating music that feels both intimate and exhilarating. The title, curiously, stems from a family anecdote: the response of Rick Smith’s nephew about his performance in elementary school. The recording took place between 1994 and 1995 at London’s Lemonworld Studios, and the result is a work that expands their sonic palette while retaining their signature blend of intense beats and melodic hooks.

Year
1996
Songs
10
Duration
92 min 57 seg
Listen to the album ★

About the album

Second Toughest in the Infants, according to DoReSol

Within Second Toughest in the Infants, the opening is a multi-part suite: Juanita : Kiteless : To Dream of Love, where the sections flow seamlessly into one another, justifying the use of colons in its title. Later, tracks like Banstyle and its more subdued counterpart Sappy's Curry explore different textures. The album also showcases Underworld’s evolving sound in cuts such as Rowla and Pearl's Girl, which feature powerful rhythms ready for the dancefloor, while Blueski and Stagger incorporate more organic elements, like acoustic guitars or subtly melancholic arrangements. In fact, Pearl's Girl is one of the few tracks where breakbeats are used. The names of several songs, including Sappy's Curry, Pearl's Girl, and Born Slippy, were inspired by greyhounds at an English racetrack, whose finishing positions during a visit by the band matched third, second, and first place.

Second Toughest in the Infants received highly positive reviews. It was praised for not being simple dance music but rather a bold expansion of techno and jungle intensity, transitioning into moments of ambient calm. Critics commended Underworld’s ability to take jungle elements and fuse them with their own style, describing their approach as fluid and rhythmically agile in their pursuit of a “Western groove.” The album was hailed as one of the most important electronic works of the mid-1990s, proving it was a leading dance ensemble of its time. It was included in “essential albums” lists and recognized for its meticulous attention to detail, where even the entry of a hi-hat could sound thrilling. In 2015, the album was reissued with expanded editions, including the track Born Slippy .NUXX, which became one of their most well-known singles.