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Ugly Unleashes Art-Rock Epic 'The Wheel'

Ugly ascends to art-rock greatness with the unveiling of 'The Wheel'.

Fresh off the announcement of their headline show at London's esteemed venue, The Lexington, and securing coveted support slots for the enigmatic Black Country, New Road on their ongoing UK tour, Ugly unleashes their magnum opus 'The Wheel'. True to their idiosyncratic and genre-defying nature, 'The Wheel' embarks on a labyrinthine journey that spans a glorious seven minutes of art-rock extravaganza. Brace yourselves as Ugly guides you through a sonic odyssey crafted from three distinct, intertwining movements. This track frolics like a mischievous sprite, leading you through a mesmerizing tapestry of a capella choirs, ambitious harmonies, folk-rock surges, and obscure, bacchic frenzies.

Guitarist and vocalist Samuel Goater sheds some light on this tantalizing creation, saying “‘The Wheel’ is a song that shows-off the band’s lineup, boasting the best it can offer and playing in favour of many of the singers’ choral background. Painting a sinister cultish image tied to nature and the elements, ‘The wheel’ explores themes which the band explore in a number of songs in their current live show.”

Hailing from the depths of Cambridge in 2016, Ugly has since blossomed into a mainstay of the vibrant London grassroots gig circuit. And while the pandemic may have enforced a temporary hiatus, it allowed the band to revamp their lineup and soak up a whirlwind of eclectic influences ranging from choral music to post-rock, while paying homage to the golden era of the '60s and '70s.

So, who exactly is Ugly? Allow me to introduce you to the visionary minds behind this sonic revolution: Samuel Goater, the vocal and guitar maestro; Harrison Jones, the guitar wizard; Tom Lane, the vocal and synth sorcerer; Harry Shapiro, the bass guru; Jasmine Miller-Sauchella, the keys enchantress; and last but certainly not least, Theo Guttenplan, the drumming dynamo. Together, they form the unstoppable force that is Ugly. Listen to their latest single ‘The Wheel’ below.