Underworld

Underworld, formed in 1987 in Cardiff, Wales, is a British electronic music group known for its innovative approach to dance and techno, influencing a generation of musicians and appearing in major film and cultural events. After their critically acclaimed 1994 album Dubnobasswithmyheadman solidified their innovative approach to electronic music, Underworld, led by Karl Hyde and Rick Smith alongside DJ Darren Emerson, achieved significant commercial success with their 1996 follow-up, Second Toughest in the Infants. This period was notably defined by the inclusion of their tracks ‘Dark & Long (Dark Train)’ and the iconic ‘Born Slippy Nuxx’ in the seminal film Trainspotting, with Dubnobasswithmyheadman certified gold in 1997. Hyde and Smith had previously formed an iteration of Underworld in 1987, releasing Underneath the Radar (1988) and Change the Weather (1989) on Sire Records, after scoring the 1985 horror film Underworld.

This period also saw significant collaborations, notably with Iggy Pop on the single ‘Bells & Circles’ and the Teatime Dub Encounters EP, both released in 2018. Continuing their prolific output, Underworld released new material including ‘Two Months Off (2021 Edition)’ and ‘Drift 2 Dark Train’ in 2021, followed by the ‘Juanita 2022’ remix in 2022. Their latest works include ‘And the Colour Red’ from Strawberry Hotel (2023), leading up to the full album release of Strawberry Hotel in 2024, showcasing their ongoing evolution and impact within the electronic music landscape.