Introducing: The Underground Sound Society
Hometown: Sheffield
FFO: Everything Everything, Foals, Glass Animals
Listen to: To The Dogs EP
Already tipped by local Sheffield legend and BBC Introducing presenter Christian Carlisle as ones to watch, we recently sunk our teeth into The Underground Sound Society’s new EP, To The Dogs, and thought it was a little too good to gatekeep. Originally Ben Morton’s solo project, the addition of brother Conor Morton and lifelong friend Luke Price has propelled the outfit into a refreshing tonic to the Steel City’s near-constant smattering of Alex Turner wannabes.
More indie-soul than indie rock, they are chilled but with self-evident control of their instruments; EP opener and lead single ‘Hangin’ On’ is a woozy, tropical cruise. Lo-fi easy-listening vibes also abound in the EP’s ethereal title track ‘To The Dogs’, which sounds like tiptoeing somewhere you shouldn’t late at night, and boasts storytelling reminiscent of American folk rock outfit Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
‘Angels Fallin’’ and ‘In My Paradise’ have a huskiness evocative of bass baritone singers like George Ezra in his less made-for-radio moments. These tracks are predicated on a simple rhyme scheme which might at times err a little on the side of cliche (see “please don’t break my heart / we can’t be apart”), but is nonetheless catchy and would undoubtedly lend itself well to a live environment. ‘Forever In The Sunshine (Interlude)’ feels a little like they couldn’t decide how to finish ‘Angels Fallin’’ – but that’s forgivable given the otherwise tightness of their debut offering.
‘King of the Antifreeze’ has a Maccabees-esque quality from the staccato vocals, before taking on a rockier guitar texture towards the track’s second half; range that makes it an exciting EP standout and a reflection of the melting pot of influences that have shaped The Underground Sound Society’s own output. With talent like this, it’s likely they won’t stay underground for very long at all.
Catch the band at Sidney & Matilda in Sheffield on Saturday 30th September, with tickets available here.
Words by Beth Kirkbride
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