1201_Alarm is a London-based musical collective that fuses jazz, electronica, classical, and experimental sounds to celebrate the wonder of science. Founded by composer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Thompson, the band draws inspiration from the intersection of technology and human creativity. Named after the “1201 alarm” during the Apollo 11 mission, their music explores themes of innovation, exploration, and the cosmos.
Their debut album, Hello_World, released in 2020, was inspired by interviews with renowned scientists and thinkers, including Dr. Aleks Krotoski and Prof. Helen Czerski. The album features unconventional instruments such as the Yamaha Tenori-On and a 400,000-volt Tesla coil, blending acoustic and electronic elements to create a unique soundscape.
In 2023, 1201_Alarm released their second album, Moonshot, which celebrates the first album’s mission to the Moon. The track “Ozone 3” features Helen Sharman OBE, Britain’s first astronaut, playing piano accompanied by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Moonshot was released on November 10, 2023, and is available for purchase and streaming.
“1201_Alarm are a musical collective who are merging the worlds of jazz and science like no other!” – Jammerzine
“The album is a wonderful intertwining of genres, soundscapes, and creative exploration of ideas, all created with a clear directional musicality and wonderfully textured harmonies.” – Sammy Stein, Platinummind.net
