UGLY - 'Shepherd's Carol'
The alt-rock powerhouse UGLY returns with 'Shepherd's Carol', their final single before their debut EP ‘Twice Around The Sun’ drops on April 3rd. Balázs Altsach, who has worked on music for The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg & Blur, produced the track at Church Studios. With this single, you get a taste of the highly anticipated debut EP. They've been drip feeding tracks since 2022 and have become renowned for their experimental and shapeshifting sound influenced by choral, post-rock and 60's/70's sounds.
Originating from Cambridge and its surrounding areas, UGLY originally evolved from their choral background. A hint of its influence can be heard throughout their catalog - instantly gripping melodies, explosive dynamics, and very rich, intricate harmonies.
Similar to many of their songs, this single is hard to pinpoint where its inspiration came from - it's very ambiguous. Multiple revisions, along with so many voices adding their own inspirations and influences at the time, make it hard for listeners to pinpoint exactly what they are hearing. It's actually refreshing and exciting to experience this. It is something they hope to continue with new material this year.
Following the announcement of the single's release on February 21st, their Instagram feed has been overwhelmed with comments from enthusiastic listeners eagerly anticipating what's to come. Words like 'phenomenal,' 'amazing,' and expressions of being 'hyped' are just a glimpse of the positive feedback flooding in for their latest track. It's clear that there's a palpable excitement surrounding the offerings of this band!
The band comments "Shepherd’s carol is a song that has undergone many revisions and forms over the past couple of years. Its lyrics play with pastoral and sinister themes, being a little more humorous and playful than previous songs. Similarly to many of the other tracks on the upcoming EP - this song gave the band the freedom and a different segue and opportunity to explore what could be done with vocal arrangements with the (then new) formation of Ugly.”
After wrapping up a UK tour alongside Black Country, New Road, the band is now preparing to join Lime Garden as the supporting act, leading up to a hometown release day show in Cambridge. Keep an eye out and get ready for plenty more from UGLY in 2024!
Words by Emily Fletcher
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