New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Canadian-Ukrainian duo Ummagma will be releasing their EP (mini-album) 'Frequency' via UK label Raphalite Records on November 13th. Apart from five smooth, grounding and uplifting original tracks, the EP also features remixes from Cocteau
Twins legend
Robin Guthrie, Wales' celebrated
Lights That Change, and Malcolm Holmes of Orchestral Maneouvres in the Dark (OMD).
"Ummagma have something very special about them that you don't find in many bands, that is an honest, believable & beautiful lyric delivered by an honest, believable & beautiful voice," says Malcolm Holmes (OMD).
Now based in Peterborough, Ontario, Ummagma consists of Shauna McLarnon, who hails from Canada's Yukon, and
Alexander Kretov, who is from western Ukraine. They make a potent cocktail of uplifting and melancholic textured dreampop, shoegaze, postpunk, ambient and electronica.
Since emerging on the music scene in 2012 with 2 simulaneous debut albums, they have done some very cool things. Representing Ukraine from 23 countries, they won the 2013 Alternative Eurovision on Britain's Amazing Radio. They've landed press coverage and radio play in more than 50 countries, including Rolling Stone Russia, and have charted and received awards in 5 countries. They've also struck an endearing chord with a good number of notable artists from Creation Records and early 4AD rosters.
"I love the sound, the emotion, the clean cool space. If
Underworld or Chemical Bros did Lama, it would be proclaimed an instant classic," says Rudy Tambala of seminal 4AD band A.R. Kane. "Ummagma's music is very powerful and very dreamy," says Graham Bonnar (Swervedriver, Brian Jonestown Massacre).
Joe Foster of Creation Records says "This is really very cosmic music. Made of stardust," while Ray Dickaty (Spiritualized) calls this "A nice slice of electronic pop with a psych folk twist".
While Ummagma may have been influenced by the likes of Cocteau Twins,
David Sylvian,
Peter Gabriel, The Sundays,
Pink Floyd and Slowdive, they don't immediately wear their influences on their sleeve. They have their own beautiful and unmistakeable sound and lead you on sonic trips and awesome detours. Ultimately they tell a story in an aesthetic that is wonderfully unique, invigorating and absolutely loaded with hope.
"Everything about this music has gotten us two through some very rough times, giving us moments of peace and joy, however fleeting they may be. A kind of grounding while still maintaining an ethereal space of dreams, possibilities and exploration," explains Ummagma vocalist Shauna McLarnon. "We also hope listeners will be able to take something uplifting from this".
TRACKLIST:
1. Orion
2. Lama
3. Winter Tale
4. Galacticon
5. Ocean Girl
6. Lama (Robin Guthrie Remix)
7. Lama (Malcolm Holmes' OMD Remix)
8. Lama (Lights that Change Remix)
