Alpha 9
Alfa 9
singer-guitarist - Phil Mason,
vocals/bass -Ali Heath
guitar - Leon Jones
keyboardsvJamie Gordon
drums - Andy Shaw
Formed in Newcastle-Under-Lyme eighteen months ago, this photogenic quintet are the latest in a long line of musicians who tap into the British equivalent of 'cosmic americana'.
Inspired initially by The Stone Roses, Shack, and Verve's debut album 'A Storm In Heaven' they have traced their influences to the source, embracing everything from 'Dark Side Of the Moon' to the West Coast Pop Art Experimental band en route. The name, meanwhile, was indirectly inspired by literary great William Burroughs.
"I was reading about what Burroughs and Brion Gyson got up to in Paris" explains singer Phil (dark, bit of a catch, looks like a star-gazing Carl Barat).
"They experimented with dream machines, which are these revolving lights which when looked at for long enough produce alpha-wave activity in the brain, leading to other-worldy visions. "
So far, so esoteric. But Alfa 9 aren't here to wallow in a fug of narcotics whilst the world drifts by their window. There's a grainy realism to their lyrics prompted by an adolescence where excitement came and went with whoever played the Wolverhampton Little Civic.
"I think the lyrics are a reflection of where we grew up" continues Ali.
"It's pretty fucking grim where we're from, and you're not encouraged to do anything different" adds Keith Moon-a-like drummer Andy.
Duly snapped up by the management company responsible for psych-godfathers Echo & the Bunnymen, the band signed to Blow Up records for debut single 'For Your Bones' (released Dec 2005).
The lessons learned at over a hundred gigs have been channelled into debut album 'Then We Begin' (released August 7th). Recorded over six weeks at The Charlatans Big Mushroom studios, it is, quite simply, a gem. Full of euphoric surges, cool dignity and a scope to shame the guitar-pop scenesters clogging up the charts, it is as expansive as Secret Machines but as neo-folky as Dungen. If the meticulously layered instrumentation, and glacial pop tunes don't move you, songs like new single 'Deadman' suggest chart occupation is imminent.
Alfa 9: watch the skies.
Perfroming as part of Off With The Octopus at Fat Cats, Hanley with
Tall Stories and The Black Apples
Friday 25 April, Fat Cats, 9:00pm, Gig
Tickets: free!
