My guess is that there isn't a particularly vibrant Shoegaze scene in Ukraine which makes Ummagma something of a novelty.
The husband and wife duo comprise Canadian Shauna McLarnon and Ukranian Alexx Kretov.
The stage name is a shortened form of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma which tells you a lot about the influences on music they describe as "a soundtrack of reverie for trailblazers and stargazers".
Take a few drops of the swirling intensity of My Bloody Valentine and add a generous portion of celestial Cocteau Twins and you'll get a pretty good idea what the tunes on this double A-side single sound like.
Rotation is well named as seems to follow a perpetual loop . Live And Let Die is more of a recognisable song with a greater sense of momentum although it is never likely to be confused with Paul McCartney's Bond theme.
|
McLarnon's vocals compete with a dense sound and I can't help feeling that allowing more space and light would give a more luminous and accessible quality.
As it is, there remains something impenetrable about their sound which is probably deliberate.
Ummagma's website
|
