Luna Rossa

Originally named "the Kindling," this acoustic side project from the two main songwriters in the Welsh prog act Panic Room reached fruition in 2012 following the release of that band's acclaimed third album, Skin. Whereas Panic Room's sound was built around crunching guitars and prominent synth riffs, Luna Rossa was an outlet for Anne-Marie Helder's and Jonathan Edwards' more subtle, pared back material. Both were founder members of Panic Room, but had initially started performing together regularly as far back as 2002, when Essex-raised, University of Wales graduate Helder worked as a backing singer on tour with Edwards' previous Swansea-based band, Karnataka.While the first two Panic Room albums had essentially been self-released, the aforementioned Skin was issued on Mark Powell's Esoteric Antenna imprint. This wider circulation and the subsequent increase in press attention that it brought, gave the pair the confidence to work toward the completion of Luna Rossa's debut album. Sessions for this record were built around Helder's ethereal vocal lines and acoustic guitar, as well as Edwards' accomplished grand piano work, but also benefited from the fluid double bass of Andy "Wal" Coughlan from Cerys Matthews' band. Released during summer 2013, the stripped-down sound of Sleeping Pills and Lullabies drew comparisons to material by heritage folk-rock artists such as Pentangle, as well as modern crossover acts like Natasha Khan's Bat for Lashes.