B-Side Guys

There’s an architectural quality to Almamor’s “All Along” that defies conventional song structures—instead building sonic chambers that expand and contract with emotional precision. The multinational trio (with members from the UK, Portugal, and Greece) has weathered both lineup changes and a global pandemic to emerge with a composition that feels both calculated and deeply intuitive.

The track unfolds like a carefully calibrated tide—beginning with crystalline guitar work that establishes an immediate intimacy. This measured introduction serves not as mere prelude but as essential counterpoint to what follows. When the composition eventually erupts into its heavier passages, the contrast feels earned rather than arbitrary, a conversation between dynamics rather than a simple loud-quiet formula.

Lyrically, “All Along” navigates partnership and creative collaboration, exploring the vulnerability inherent in both. When the vocalist delivers “Although you were free/You stood by me,” there’s a rawness that acknowledges the fragility of human connection. This thematic thread of chosen commitment extends throughout, particularly in the repeated phrase “all along”—suggesting both duration and proximity, a journey shared rather than parallel paths.

What distinguishes the track from other post-rock offerings is its refusal to sacrifice melody at the altar of atmosphere. While the band clearly values textural exploration, they maintain a melodic throughline that anchors even their most experimental moments. The rhythm section deserves particular credit, providing a foundation solid enough to support the composition’s more ethereal elements while remaining dynamically responsive.

The production captures both delicacy and force, allowing clean passages their full transparency while ensuring the distorted sections maintain definition rather than devolving into muddiness. This technical achievement reflects the band’s name itself—derived from Portuguese words meaning “Higher Soul”—in how it elevates rather than obscures the emotional core of the material.

For a band that faced significant lineup changes following their debut album “Shelter,” “All Along” suggests not just survival but evolution. The track demonstrates how creative obstacles can forge new pathways rather than dead ends, resulting in music that feels simultaneously exploratory and assured—the work of musicians who understand that the most interesting journeys often follow unexpected detours.