Loma'senigmatic debut feels beautifully adrift in time and space.  It's an albumthat takes you to a place you've never been, with a rare confidence in thestrength of its own vision.

Thoughit was recorded off a dirt road in rural Texas, there's no hint of countryhere: from the first airy notes of "Who Is Speaking?" to the decayingchoir of "Black Willow," Loma create a hypnotic world of their own,where rustling leaves, fuzzed-out basses, panting dogs, prepared pianos, and awilderness of percussion form a backdrop for Emily Cross's translucent voice. She's a steady, clear-eyed presence throughout, even among theheart-pounding pulses of "Relay Runner", the skittering drums of"Dark Oscillations" and the galloping release of "Joy"; insparer songs like "Shadow Relief" and the haunting "I Don't WantChildren," she's a fearless ally, swimming calmly with you against apowerful undertow.

Lomais inviting butalso beautifully self-contained, like a dream that stays with you all day.There's something here for lovers of Nina Nastasia or Broadcast, but also LindaThompson, or The Silver Apples—even early Pink Floyd. But most of all, thisarresting and mysterious album marks the arrival of a band whose first stepsalready feel timeless.  Loma was recorded by the group at DandySounds Studios in Dripping Springs, Texas and mastered by Greg Calbi atSterling Sound.

Lomais Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski (), and Jonathan Meiburg ().