Last November I heard a song by a British group called Embrace during a Radio1 segment that featured U2. Despite Radio1’s propensity for talking over the final minute and a half of a song–whether or not the vocals are finished–the song “Ashes” by Embrace stood out. It had a real piano- and choir-backed rock feel. I tried to find out more about the band, but it seemed they had yet to cross the pond. No record store carried their album (including iTunes), Out of Nothing, and you’d have to pay import prices on Amazon to get it (though now you can buy a used copy for under $10).

Well today their single “Ashes” showed up on iTunes as a pre-release. I snatched it up (thank you Pepsi) and am enjoying the anthemness. Sadly, it’s the only song iTunes has, though I’m hopeful that its status as a “pre-release” means there’s more to come.

Update: And more has come, now that the band has released their album in the U.S.