Romford, UK · techno · progressive-house

Underworld

2 upcoming festivals

Karl Hyde's stream-of-consciousness vocals over Rick Smith's builds — 'Born Slippy' was only ever the doorway into a much stranger catalogue.

Underworld are Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, who worked together in various forms from the early 1980s before settling into the electronic configuration that made their name. Darren Emerson joined in the early 1990s and was part of the group through the albums Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Second Toughest in the Infants and Beaucoup Fish, after which Hyde and Smith continued as a duo.

Their music runs from long, patiently built progressive house and techno tracks to ambient and more song-shaped material, with Hyde's fragmented, half-spoken lyrics layered across the top. "Born Slippy .NUXX" became widely known through its use in Trainspotting. Smith also served as music director for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

technoprogressive-house