POP MUSIC REVIEW : Underworld: A Serviceable Model

Underworld, the British band that made its local debut at the Roxy on Monday night, offers funky synthesizer echoes of an INXS along with the Christian peace messages of a U2. In fact, at one point singer Karl Hyde felt compelled to stretch his arms out in a crucifixion pose at the end of a particularly emotional ditty called--gulp!--”Pray.” Subtle these guys are not.

However, if you want the perfect model of the perfectly modern, “quirky” rock ‘n’ roll band, Underworld supplies a most serviceable prototype, complete with a keyboardist using a Vocoder and a bald person at the side of the stage apparently there for visual rather than musical support. (The Mr. Clean in question, Alfie Thomas, barely touched his “mutant” guitar.)

This is synthesis music: from the earthy wah-wah guitar starting “Show Some Emotion” to the bouncy nuclear-wave pop of “Underneath the Radar.” The quintet, with great professionalism and musical competence, recalls familiar strains from other memorable rock styles without ever forging a distinctive edge of its own.