Multivoiced Free Fall
Not one, not two, not three… but four gifted singing voices. Yes, in one band. The British band Ugly started out as a scruffy indie group, but during the pandemic evolved into a vocal-driven sextet that might better be described as a movement than a band. During the lockdowns, a collaborative way of songwriting emerged, and the members took their time to let all those beautiful voices blend perfectly. The result is their debut EP Twice Around the Sun, brimming with vocal harmonies and repetitive, hymn-like refrains. It’s a lyrical record too, focusing on ritual, playfulness, and absurdity.
To put it in sensory terms: Ugly is the kind of band that, within a single track, lifts you up, drops you into free fall, and then gently sets you down again. Afterwards, you’re confused but happy. What just happened? What year is it? Did I really sing along at full volume even though my voice sounds like a city pigeon on crack? A must-see for fans of bands like Black Country, New Road and Big Thief. Come see them before this infectious movement grows too big to fit in a single tour van.