Almost Here is the debut studio album by English rock band Unbelievable Truth. Available on Virgin Records, catalogue number CDVX2849. Also available on MiniDisc MDV2849 / 7243 8 45155 8 4. Background Vocalist and guitarist Andy Yorke and drummer Nigel Powell met while attending school, with the latter later meeting bassist Jason Moulster through mutual friends. Yorke had been studying Russian literature abroad in Russia; while here, he wrote several songs and subsequently asked Moulster to form a band on his behalf so they could work on the material when he returned. Unbelievable Truth formed in 1993. Yorke would take several more trips to Russia over the next few years, offering himself as a interpreter. Unbelievable Truth signed to Virgin Records in March 1997. Composition and lyrics Musically, the sound of Almost Here has been described as soft rock. AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine referred to it as an "alluringly moody record, similar to the epic soundscapes" of Radiohead and the Verve, "only with a bit of a country-rock underpinning". PopMatters founder Sarah Zupko wrote that it "relies on largely acoustic arrangements and intricate dynamics", with influences from emo and Dog Man Star (1994) by Suede. Yorke said the music is typically written first with the lyrics coming last; Powell said he would take each individual's part and coalesce them together to form a complete song. "Higher Than Reason" evoked the sound of Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. Release To promote the "Higher Than Reason" single, the band went on a UK tour in November 1997. In February 1998, they went on another UK tour. "Higher Than Reason" was released as a single in the US on 2 February 1998. Almost Here was released through Virgin Records on 11 May 1998. The band promoted it with a launch show at the Virgin Megastore in Oxford, prior to a UK tour for the rest of the month. Shortly afterwards, they appeared at T in the Park and Glastonbury Festival. Reception Erlewine said Yorke's lyricism can be viewed as "adolescent and the Unbelievable Truth's ambition often outweighs their accomplishments, but the promise they flaunt on their debut proves that they are almost there". Zupko added to this, saying that the band had "sculpted a set of compelling, introspective songs that form a cohesive artistic statement". The Independent writer Angela Lewis saw it as a "true beaut of a debut album [...] with