Named after a mountain range that runs westward across the south of the Guantanamo Province to south east Cuba that was prominent in Che Guevara’s uprising, Sierra Maestra is the new musical vehicle of London musician Richard Acosta. After fronting an indie band back in early 2002 in his formative adolescent musical years,  Acosta vacated the band after it seemingly fizzled out after a lack of direction.

But now, with a renewed focus, Acosta has embarked on a new musical jaunt. And it says a lot for a musician when he’s not even fully formed a band and is already garnering acclaim from indie schmoozer Alan McGee. Recording material after the aforementioned lengthy hiatus at Ignition studios in Finsbury Park, his sound pricked the wily old ears of the Scotsmen. It wasn’t long before Acosta was having to speedily put his plan into action for one of McGee’s upcoming Greasy Lips night which is lined up for early February.

And if the hype mill could provide another hurricane in the schedule of Acosta to whip his new fangled band into action, Alabama 3, yes you heard right -one of the most acclaimed live bands in the UK- have booked the band to support them at the Brixton Jamm for their New Years  Eve, Outlaw night. So with things moving quicker than a blink of an eye, lets get down to the music that’s fish hooked industry types so early in the bands infancy. Acosta bares the weight as the sole-songwriter as well as being the lead vocalist. And what comes from the Londoners thoughts is a hazy stream of melancholic synth stabs, industrial drum beats, hypnotic vocals and classic indie overtones.

‘(When) The Lights Go Down’ would find pride of place immersing revellers as the sun sets on a Balearic island, simmering the night away as Acosta sings “Remember those nights, the sun didn’t fade and morning came around, we went our own way, never to meet again”. ‘Desert Waters’ is a murky, sandy pot hole of enthralling swirling synth beats that hover on the surface with Acosta’s languid tone, samples sprinkled around it with its multitude of indie grooves awash with effortless electro ruptured layers.

Now with Acosta fleshing the band out with a new drummer and bassist, Sierra Maestra are in rehearsals ready to begin their musical internship. And, who better to oversee their infancy than the watchful eye of Alan McGee at their second live show. Watch this space, these guys might not be a cinematic backdrop but they have enough in their armoury to ineluctably force you to fall in love with their fusion of slick grooves and loungy synth trajectory.

Below are Sierra Maestra upcoming dates;

31 Dec 2009 Alabama 3 Presents…Outlaw @ Brixton Jamm  Brixton, London
13 Feb 2010 Greasy Lips @ Brixton Jamm – Alan McGee’s Club Night  Brixton, London
9 Mar 2010 Dead or Alive @ The Comedy  Leicester Square, London