London-based band Lunar & The Deception unleashes their debut full-length The Somnambulist today, March 6, 2026, through X-Ray Sound, paired with lead single ‘Ezeru Kazpam’. Fronted by South African-born vocalist Britt Xyra Dusk, whose background in costume design for film and TV infuses the band’s visuals with motifs of ancient gods and mystical warriors, the group draws from Durban and Nelspruit roots while based in the UK. Percussionist Hedge Seel honed his beats during travels across Southeast Asia and India, joined by dub specialist Thomas Hammond and engineer Greg Chapter. They’ve built momentum with slots supporting Pussy Riot at Glastonbury Festival in 2016 and 2019, gigs at London venues, and a spot at the 2022 Sync Summit Music Conference. Accolades include being named Artist of the Week by Richer Sounds and scoring a 9/10 from Powerplay Magazine, following the warm reception to prior single ‘Your Monsters’, which debuted on LOCK Magazine and picked up nods from Nieuweplaat. Co-produced with Michael Rendall, a veteran of sessions with The Orb, Peter Murphy, and Killing Joke, the record cements their spot in the indie rock and dream pop underground.
The Somnambulist blurs genre boundaries, fusing the bite of alt-rock with the shadowy allure of darkwave, the swirling textures of shoegaze, and the currents of neo-psychedelia. The album channels the haunting atmospheres of Portishead and Esben & The Witch, while nodding to the intensity of Tool and Evanescence. The journey begins with ‘Ezeru Kazpam’, where a lone piano sets the stage for a spoken-word reckoning with society’s obsession with money, soon enveloped by Dusk’s otherworldly vocals. Tension mounts as percussion snaps into place and guitars surge, building toward a tidal wave of distortion that immerses the listener in a sonic haze. As the track recedes, layers peel away, returning to the opening motif. This cyclical structure echoes the album’s exploration of tension and release. Synths and tribal rhythms intertwine, crafting a soundscape that is both primal and intricately woven.
Lunar & The Deception had this to say on the album: “We recorded the album in a secluded studio in Oxfordshire called Woodworm Studios. Originally set-up by David Pegg of Fairport Convention, it is now run by engineer Stuart Jones who did a meticulous job of recording the album with the added benefit of the unique acoustics due to the high ceilings – the studio having been converted from an old church.“
The Somnambulist Tracklist
1. No More Secrets
2. Ezeru Kazpam
3. Your Monsters
4. The Great Bison
5. Storm
6. Eclipse
7. The Way Down.
8. We Looked The Other Way
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