So who is Alpha?
Alpha started in 1995 in Bristol and in 1997 signed to Massive Attack label though they remain fairly unknown despite the fact that they have been tagged as one of the most important bands in resent times. They have changed the lives of thousands of their listeners including many pop idols. Madonna worked with them, Prince put them at the top of his playlist, but they remain A Secret... … Alpha was formed in 1995 by two Bristol based producers and songwriters, Corin Dingley and Andy Jenks. Both were releasing records with other bands (The Experimental Pop Band and Statik Sound System) and released their debut single that year. It caught the attention of Massive Attack who signed them to their Virgin imprint Melankolic. With the help of three sensational singers; Martin Barnard, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White, Alpha released two critically acclaimed albums and a remix mini-lp, selling 150,000 copies, gaining a credible list of admirers including David Bowie, Radiohead, Pulp, Tim Simenon and Madonna (Madonna voted their lp ‘Pepper’ album of the year in Rolling Stone magazine and asked Alpha to pitch some songs for her forthcoming lp ‘Music’). They toured extensively, both supporting Massive Attack in the UK and Europe, as well as their own sell-out shows in France, gaining a considerable fan-base there. In 2001, Jarvis Cocker provided vocals for their cover of the Jimmy Webb song ‘This is where I came in’, and they toured Europe again, this time as a fully live 7-piece band. Alpha are also respected remixers, having mixed Robert Plant, Coldplay, Lambchop, Massive Attack, Brendan Benson, and Madredeus, among others. Their music has been used in many movies including: Big Little Lies (2019), Un Minute de Silence (France), My Life Without Me (Spain), No Grandpa (Japan), Derapages (France), XXXY (US), Le Poulpe (France), Accelerator (Ireland), La Novia de Lazaro (Spain), Sweet Underground (US), Beachball (UK). TV adverts include; Orange and Ford (both Europe). An extensive range of TV programmes from Channel 4’s Jam and Nip/Tuck to BBC’s Gardeners World. In 2016 Alpha released 'Loving Nobody'.
LaST Release 2016
Discography
Eleventh Trip released 2014
Two Phazed People | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dontTouch recordings on 1st August 2009 (DoToCD012) 1. Storm
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Ariel EP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
digitally released by dontTouch recordings on June 2008 1. Brasier Ardent Theme
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The Sky Is Mine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dontTouch recordings on 3rd September 2007 (DoToCD011)![]() 2. Surely 3. Brood 4. Push 5. Burn Me Again 6. May 7. Given Time 8. For the Wages 9. Home 10. Stumbled 11. Silver Bullet 12. Little Poison 13. Brasier Ardent Theme 14. Ariel 15. Morbison 16. Till You Drop 17. First Day 18. EndPurchase: CDBaby | iTunes| Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.comThe American release was spread over two discs – the extra CD featured some bonus tracks & remixes
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Without Some Help | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings on 7th August 2006 (DoTo010) 1 Receiver – Wot Da Fuk (Alpha Remix) Compilation album of remixes and collaborations. Purchase: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com 1. Receiver – Wot Da Fuk (Alpha Remix) Net edition. |
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Lost In A Garden Of Clouds part 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings on 30th January 2006 (DoToCD008) 1. Theme Mixed album of instrumental work from Alpha. Purchase: CDBaby | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com |
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Lost In A Garden Of Clouds part 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings, 2004 (DoToCD005)![]() 2. 1900 3. Motor City 4. Theme 2 5.Familiar Demons 6. Reunion 7. Hopper 8. In Between 9. Means To An End 10. Sterile 11. Keep Fit 12. Your Eyes Have Loved 13. Monophonic 14. Violet Skeleton 15. Predictable World 16. Hope Goes Blind 17. Reprise 18. Hang On 19. Song Of Silence 20. Theme End Second instrumental album. Insipired from resent cinema soundtrack performances. A continues mix of old and new instrumental work from Alpha, it’s an endless journey from reality, pure art-house, a mix of song, spoken word and recurring themes. Purchase: CDBaby | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com |
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Made In Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings, 2003 (dotocd003) 1. Roy Instrumental madness – lost tunes and surrendered up-beats. Purchase: CDBaby | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com Special edition CD tin case.
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Stargazing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings on 12th May 2003 (DoToCD001) LP released by dont Touch recordings on 12th May 2003 (DoTolp001) 1. Sleep Dust This album was the first on our own label, dontTouch recordings. It features vocals from Martin Barnard, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White and Kelvin Swaybe. Purchase: CDBaby | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com 1. Sleep dust The special edition, which was released in America only, added three tracks (Horseshit, The Things You Might & Roy) but removed two others (Double View & Waiting).
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Revolution E.P. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by dont Touch recordings, July 2002 1. Version 1 vocals by Helen White The various versions of Revolution are covers of the Beatles track. Purchase: CDBaby | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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South | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic, 14th May 2001 (SADD12) LP released by Melankolic, 14th May 2001 (SADT12) 1. South (Pole Mix) Track 1 is NOT a remix by Stefan Betke (aka Pole). Track 2 is a cover version of a Jimmy Webb song with vocals by Jarvis Cocker. Purchase: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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The Impossible Thrill | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic, March 2001 (CDSAD12) LP released by Melankolic, March 2001 (SADLP12) 1. Still Featured singers Martin Barnard, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White. Track 5 contains a sample of ‘Blues’ from ‘La Dolce Vita’ (Nino Rota). Purchase: iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com |
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Pepper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic on 22nd September 1998 (CDSAD6) LP released by Melankolic on 22nd September 1998 (SADLP6) 1. With (Underdog Remix) Remixes and B Sides. Purchase: iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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Slim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic, 20th April 1998 (SADD2) 12″ single released by Melankolic, 20th April 1998 (SADT02) 1. Slim Slim contains a sample from ‘Summertime’ as performed by Memphis Sli, and from ‘Plus FortQueNous’ as performed by Francis Lai. Lewis Parker raps on the Underdog Remix which also contains a sample of ‘Down By Law’ from the ‘Wild Style’ soundtrack. Purchase: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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Sometime Later | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic, October 1997 (SADG1) 12″ single released by Melankolic, October 1997 (SADT1) 1. Sometime Later Track 2 was a remix by Tim Simenon. Purchase: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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Come From Heaven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CD released by Melankolic Summer 1997 (CDSAD2) LP released by Melankolic Summer 1997 (SADLP2) 1. My Things This was out first album, which was released on Massive Attack’s Melankolic imprint and featured singers Martin Barnard, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White. Mixed by Andy Bradfield. Purchase: iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.fr | Amazon.com
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For the Armchair Traveller | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7″ Vinyl Single released by Swarf Finger Records on June 1995(SF004)![]() b1. Horseshit b2. PepperThis was Alpha’s first release – they were previously called Ariel. It was a limited edition of 500 copies. The lyrics on ‘Back’ where written and sung by Martin Barnard (who was in a band called Moorhaven at the time) and Helen White sang backing vocals. |
Lately I made a list of my 100 favourite records of all time (seems childish but I’m kind of obsessed with lists, can’t help it…), and I found 5 Alpha albums in it. The only musician to get more is Sole with 6 albums but under 5 different names and bands so I guess it doesn’t count. :p
Maybe it’s time to refresh this page with 11th trip?
Both Ariel and Made In Space are available thru Amazon and CDBaby, but unfortunately not in high quality (at least 320kbps). I hate variable bitrates. Google Play offers its entire music inventory in 320kbps, and so does 7Digital (for the most part). I’d love to have both Ariel and especially Made In Space in 320 or higher kbps.
We will look into why CD baby is low, that’s not good. We are planning to release a special edition of Made in Space on CD. We will keep you posted.
Ariel EP MP3 only. No, there will be no more represses of Made in Space
is there any chance that ariel ep will be ever release as cd (if it is possible without awful remixes on american edition of “the sky is mine”)?
what was in special edition cd tin case of “made in space”, proper cd or cd-r? also, is there a chance for it to be re-released on proper cd?
We will put some of these tunes on the alphaheaven compilations