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Ummagma - 1​+​1​=​3

from AMBIELOGUE - Chapter I by Pretty in Noise

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about

Ummagma – a Canadian-Ukrainian duo comprised of Alexander Kretov and Shauna McLarnon – deliver an eclectic yet harmonious potpourri of alt pop, dreampop, post-rock, post-punk, ambient/ethereal, shoegaze and space rock, bringing sublime resonance, beats and rhythm to create dreamy soundscapes. McLarnon’sdelicate airy gossamer-like vocals often draw comparisons to Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins fame with glimmers of Stereolab, The Sundays, Curve, Nathalie Merchant and Slowdive. Kretov's spellbinding potion of guitar, vocals, synths, beats, programming & effects create an impeccable soundscape with elements ofPink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Bill Nelson and Brian Eno to help the listener take flight.

Alexx handles composition, all instruments, arrangement and vocals, as well as recording, mixing, mastering and video production, while Shauna McLarnon deals with vocals, composition, lyrics and band management. For Alexx, making music began in childhood in the recently free post-Soviet Ukraine. Shauna’s songwriting experience began with solo compositions while studying in Russia's Siberia and Moscow and living in northern Canada. Sasha is originally from Kremenets, a town in western Ukraine, and Shauna is from Whitehorse, Yukon in northern Canada.

Ummagma began in 2003 as an affair with love and sound in Moscow, where Alexx and Shauna were living. They met at an acoustic guitar concert, their relationship developing into a marriage and the musical partnership we know today as Ummagma. Until then, Shauna was mainly singing acapella and working with various Moscow musicians, while Alexx was a solo guitarist experimenting with home recording. Upon making music together, they set up a studio, which they brought with them to Kiev during the Orange Revolution in 2004. With every move (Moscow-Kiev-western Ukraine-Yukon-western Ukraine), they continued to hone their musical and recording skills, upgrade their studio and record music. They currently live in western Ukraine with their daughter Nika, working in their studio, where Alexx also records and produces other artists’ work.

In July, Ummagma independently released 2 full-length LPs ("Ummagma" and "Antigravity") on Bandcamp and, in May, released the "Split" EP with Finland's Virta on the Som Non-Label. Despite the fact that their music encompasses several music genres, it has a common remarkable theme, elevating and stirring effect. Apart from the above groups, Ummagma is often likened to Talk Talk, Ultravox, Broadcast, Mew, Sigur Ros, Air, Lush, Rumskib, Arcade Fire, Pink Floyd, Michael Brook, Mercury Rev, Snow Patrol, Exitmusic and Bowery Electric, but listeners will find an unmistakable sound truly unique to Ummagma. In May, Ummagma won the 2013 Alternative Eurovision, hosted by Amazing Radio, representing Ukraine from amongst 21 countries. Ummagma has also held steadily in the Scottish New Music Chart since August and NY City’s Indie Darkroom Chart since July.

credits

from AMBIELOGUE - Chapter I, released July 8, 2013

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