ALPINE – “A Is For Alpine”

“…this is going to be a super fun ride on the back of a pop album that’s genuinely laid back, boasts nice depth in its layering, and delivers a solid first go around for Alpine.”

Beth Yeckley

8
out of 10

ALPINE
A Is For Alpine
May 21st, 2013
Ivy League Records

Listening to A Is For Alpine, a couple things become quickly apparent about the band and the album.

The first is that the six member band from down under is fronted by two incredibly talented women (Phoebe Baker and Lou James), who I continually want to remind me of other girls in bands, but they really don’t–they’re lovely all on their own.

And the second is an immediate knowing that this is going to be a super fun ride on the back of a pop album that’s genuinely laid back, boasts nice depth in its layering, and delivers a solid first go around for Alpine. Rest assured, you will awkwardly dance to some part of this album.

A Is For Alpine offers a balance between its whimsical side–playful and dreamy, coalescing sweet “ooooohs” and “aaaaaahs” over guitar riffs and handclaps–and a darker, more flirtatious side explored by songs like “Seeing Red” and “Softsides” (also, more handclaps). Either way, the trademark for the band seems to be the extensive creative application of Lou and Phoebe’s vocals as additional layers of instrumentation often in completely different, non-competing ways within the same song.

I’d suggest listening to: “Lovers 2” (it’s a great extended intro), “Gasoline” and “Hands” (those two are tied for me as the most fun songs on the album).