The Act: ALMA

The Release: 'THE GREAT ESCAPE' / 'THE GARDENER'

The Formats: DIGITAL DOWNLOAD & BEER MAT

The Release Date: MAY 18TH 2015

The Label: FIERCE PANDA RECORDS

The Truth: ALMA is a London-based ambient group formed in 2014, fronted by songwriter Pete Lambrou. With the kind of impeccable sense of timing which eludes so many of us they are releasing their debut single 'The Great Escape' just as the hangovers subside from The Great Escape by the seaside. And as hangover cures go, ‘The Great Escape’ is one mightily gentle sonic comedown which is already hoovering up comparisons to fellow fragrant explorers Sigur Ros, Patrick Watson and Explosions In The Sky.

Indeed, last week Bearded magazine decided that ‘The Great Escape’ “feels like it would sit at home as the background music to an ambient explosion in space,” and further noted that this is more than fitting seeing as how ALMA takes its name from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array – “a really bloody powerful telescope.”

All of which is perhaps unsurprising when one considers that as mainstay of Codes In The Clouds and Monsters Build Mean Robots Lambrou’s gently cosmic post-rock provenance is impeccable. Joined by fellow Code In The Clouder Ciaran Morahan, ALMA deploy a loop station, multiple delay pedals, a piano and strings to create a slow-moving, high-flying soundscape of luscious gravitas.

"Sad, uplifting, haunting, atmospheric and oozing confidence." - flushthefashion

ALMA hereby join the melodic procession that is the rejuvenated fierce panda singles 'club'. Not since 2006 when the likes of The Maccabees, Battle and Boy Kill Boy appeared on the horizon have fierce panda released any one-off singles. Since the start of 2015 however the likes of indie dreamboats Fake Laugh, grrrrrl-fronted punkstas Doe, sweet soul man Albert Gold and ragged troubadour Kieran Leonard & The Horses have all released such flirtatious delights as we intend to release one one-off single each month this year. As May's pop-tastic pin-up ALMA is the fifth one-off singles 'club' release, and like the previous four releases, is available on download and limited edition beer mat (yes, beer mat!!). Go see ALMA reach for the stars here and here…

June 2nd: LONDON THE FINSBURY
July 4th: LEICESTER THE FIREBUG

www.facebook.com/almatheband