The Spell is…
Extremely confusing. It’s good. It’s actually quite good after like 8 plays all the way through. BUT, it just is NOT Alphabeat. And that kind of saddens me.
The album is directly and very obviously influenced by early Madonna, Janet, Paula; however it seems they feel better citing their inspirations as Snap! and Black Box. Regardless, this album is through and through a 90s pop record. Every single inch of it reeks of 90s electronic pop.
So, how does that fall in the lap of a overzealous fan of their first album Alphabeat ?
Well. I just don’t know yet.
When Alphabeat transformed their debut into a more 80s inspired record for a UK audience, I was okay. Pleasantly surprised. However, when I put on an Alphabeat record I don’t listen to This Is Alphabeat. I listen to the record in it’s original state - Alphabeat. Songs like Rubber Boots/Mackintosh and Into The Jungle still remain my favourite Alphabeat tracks. Fun, dark chord progressions, but dance tunes nonetheless. Alphabeat was and is a fantastic and fascinating pop album. This Is Alphabeat took those songs and gave them a new flavour that luckily did not destroy the record, just made it a little more approachable in a pop sense.
So… this 90s bit is just kind of hanging over my head but I’m not seeming to grab onto it. Songs like Heat Wave, Chess, and the title track The Spell are instant clickers; however other tracks such as Hole In My Heart and Always Up With You seem more like reasons to avoid a return to 90s pop rather than re-approach it. It reminds me that 90s pop fizzled away for a reason. I feel like taking off down the catwalk. Which may be appropriate at times, but not in most cases.
Tracks like Heart Failure, DJ, and The Beat Is are quite good, but they just don’t seem like they can hold a candle to earlier Alphabeat tunes such as Boyfriend, What Is Happening?, and of course Fascination.
I wouldn’t go as far to call it a Sophomore slump, but it definitely leaves me confused and a little desperate for the type of jams I know Alphabeat is capable of making happen.
It’s a good record. It’s a solid record. It will grow on me. It may just take time.
EDIT : After listening to the album multiple times throughout the day I think I’ve become more accustomed to Alphabeat’s new sound. I think the best way to approach listening to this record as a concept album. A 90s concept. A concept in which a band in the year 2009 has decided to create an album to reflect the 90s and nothing more. Each track is quite strong and impressive when you compare it directly to a lot of early 90s music. It’s dead on. It’s electro-dance record, similar to what you hear when watching models walk down a runway - Just a whole bunch of club banging 90s synth tunes.
After a whole day of overanalyzing the record I’ve come to love the whole thing; however, the verses in Hole In My Heart are really awful. The hook is great. The verses are not. It’s just too dark and bizarre. That said, It will probably be my favourite track on the album by the end of next month.
The album is a strong second release. Alphabeat have once again made a record that stands as a basis for a handful of solid singles and remixes. (Here’s to hoping that Chess is the second single!) It is not as instant as Alphabeat and This Is Alphabeat were and still are, but it does the trick and cheesily enough will eventually cast it’s “spell” on you.
Galaxies is a sampler ep with 5 songs from White Trees/The Prophecy.
1. White Trees
2. Dissolve & Conquer
3. Jamie
4. Geometry
5. No You're Not
+iTunes digital booklet
White Trees is no longer available as a digital download. It will be re-released in March 2010 as The Prophecy.
I still have about 10 copies left of the second pressing. If you would you like one, you can purchase it at a live show. Live shows are set to begin again in November.
The Blue Science EP is available as a free digital download. However, it is not online at this time. Check back in the next week or two for a link to the free download.
1. Look, A Meteor! (Instrumental)
2. Blue Science (Early Demo)
I still have about 25 copies of Box of Rocks left for purchase.
This is my first demo album. It contains 12 piano/vocal demos of songs that were performed at the May 2008 Box of Rocks showcase.
1. Ink
2. Falling Down
3. Jump Ship!
4. These Bodies of Liquid
5. Seaweed
6. Pessimism & The Patriot
7. Outside the Lines
8. Seconds
9. Jamie
10. Seafoam
11. Supine
12. End of the Mantle
Each copy is $8 You can purchase a copy by clicking the button below to send Mie an email asking for a copy. Include your paypal info and a shipping address.
A digital release of this demo album is not available.
