Laki Mera are a Scottish four-piece 'electronica' quartet (the strange name is from Greek mythology), The Proximity Effect is their debut album, and it's a cracker.

The group produce a rich distinctive electronic sound merged with simple vocals, guitar and percussion which some define as folktronic.

Lead vocals from Laura Donnelly are haunting, tender and more than once she reminds you of Enya's early sound - sometimes in light contrast to the occasional bulky overlaid electronic reverberations on some tracks.

Prominent tracks for me are Fool, which has been released as a single from the album and is currently getting good airplay, More Than You, an impressive, energetic dance track with an upbeat swaying electronic backdrop and Fingertips; more subtle, constructed and delicate, establishing Donnelly's vocal range and a noticeable change in sound from the other tracks.

The album is a fine sampler of the band members musical styles, there are underlying folk influences fused to more mainstream passages and sounds.

Their first release has a refined, atmospheric sound that suggests we'll here more of Laki Mera in the future.

Gary Baker