Bathing Beach

Released in 2017, Bathing Beach is the definitive bridge between Novo Amor’s early lo-fi experiments and the more expansive, orchestral sound of his debut full-length, Birthplace. Recorded largely in Ali Lacey’s home studio in Cardiff, the EP showcases his mastery of 'the swell' - a production technique where layers of strings, brass, and percussion gradually overwhelm a sparse folk foundation. The four tracks function as a cohesive suite, unified by themes of distance, memory, and the natural world. Critically, it solidified Lacey’s reputation as a peer to artists like Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens, though his focus on coastal imagery and Welsh-inspired atmosphere provides a distinct geographic identity. The track 'Anchor' became a breakout hit, exemplifying the project's signature blend of intimate vulnerability and cinematic grandeur. It remains a high-water mark for the 'ethereal folk' movement of the late 2010s.