A-plus for Alpine

Two years after the release of their critically acclaimed EP, Alpine is back from the recording studio and a national tour supporting The Jezebels with a debut album that has something for everyone and a fan base that is growing at avalanche pace.

 By PIPPA SKILLINGTON

IT'S BEEN two years since Alpine released their critically acclaimed EP Zurich, with fans and critics waiting patiently as the band retreated to write their debut album. A is for Alpine is the final product: an upbeat, breathy chameleon of a record that has something for everyone.

 From supporting Australian rock outfit The Jezabels on their national tour last year to releasing their debut album and embarking on a month-long national tour, the six-piece ensemble, formerly named ‘Swiss’, have been gaining fans and recognition at an avalanche-pace.

Their unique combination of soufflé-light vocals, hypnotic chords and popping drumbeats make Alpine a standout on the Australian music scene.

Opening with ‘Lovers’, listeners are placed in a trance of tranquillity. It is a simple yet entrancing song, building in the middle to a rhythmic crash of cymbals that then evolving seamlessly into ‘Lovers 2’, a marriage of gentle vocals and catchy chords.

The album features some familiar tracks from Zurich, including ‘Hands’ and ‘Villages’. But Alpine keeps things fresh by adding some intriguing and memorable numbers, such as the staccato-laden ‘Gasoline’ and the onomatopoeic ‘Seeing Red’.

If the reaction of the crowd at their recent sell-out gig at the Corner Hotel, Richmond, is anything to go by, ‘Gasoline’ is a crowd (and critic) pleaser. It is underscored by a flourish of staccato electric guitar, building to the Bjork-esque vocals of Lou James and Phoebe Baker. An injection of power chords from keyboard give the song a modern electro twist.

The album seems to have a common thread of love, sex and relationships; ‘Lovers’ 1 & 2 are clear indicators of this, as is ‘Softsides: Gotta step away / From my heart / Fragments of myself / I forgot’. Each song has a theme that will play to the heart of its listener.

Vocalist Lou James says the band drew on their experiences as twenty-something year olds when writing the album. 

“The songs are a reflection of where we’ve come from and where we are today,” says Lou.

The band’s creative process is unusual, with many songs being written independently.

“The process usually begins with a riff by [guitarist] Christian [O’Brien]. He then passes it over to Phoebe and I who individually go to town with melodies and lyrics. We then get together over whiskey and cake and go through our ideas…This is where the magic happens,” says Lou.

The unusual method pays off. The album is a mix of styles and personalities, with several genres of pop, folk and disco coming through.

If A is for Alpine is an indicator of the future, it looks like fans will be bopping for years to come.

A is for Alpine was released nationally on August 10.