Underworld became one of the most crucial electronic acts of the 90's via an intriguing synthesis of old and new. The roots of Underworld go back to the dawn of the 1980s, when vocalist Karl Hyde and guitarist Rick Smith formed the new wave band Freur releasing the singles Doot Doot and Get Us Out Of Here before disintergrating in 1985.

They later reformed as Underworld in 1988, putting out two albums of more guitar orientated electropop, before Darren Emerson joined the duo in 1992. This brought a new direction for the group with traditional pop song forms jettisoned in favour of Hyde's whispering surreal wordplay stretched out over heavy techno breakbeats, while Smith's cascade of guitar-shard effects provided a bluesy foil to the stark music.

The first album by the trio, Dubnobasswithmyheadman, recieved mass critical acclaim. It was considered more accessible than previous work, covering a large spectrum of dance genres and a result crossed over to the British pop charts. The band relished playing live and spent much time touring with many of their shows becoming the stuff of legend. Their next album was an even greater success, propelled largely by the popularity of the non-album single 'Born Slippy NUXX', which was famously featured in the controversial Scottish film Trainspotting.

Emerson left the band in 2000 after the release of the live album Everything, Everything - A CD/DVD package which faithfully reproduces the immense Underworld Live experience. Underworld reverted back to being a duo,  with occasional help from collaborator Darren Price, releasing the album A Hundred Days Off as well as several online and limited release projects. They have also succesfully branched out into score and soundtrack writing providing music to films by Danny Boyle and the late Anthony Minghella.

Their most recent full length album, Oblivion With Bells, was released in 2007 and is hailed as their best work for over a decade. Underworld continue to make sophisticated, intelligent and heartfelt dance music.