‘Dust’, the new album which marks number 20th release since 1997 which started with Come From Heaven which celebrates its 25 Anniversary.
Corin Dingley, The man at the Helm and Hannah Collins, vocalist and part of the Alpha family.
This record exudes the essence of Alpha’s dreaminess and cinematic qualities adventuring into themes of cosmic space dust, death, depression, inner healing, love, togetherness, novas, energy fields and the being ok with not knowing any of it. At times obvious nods to the Beatles and Jimmy Webb as well as other cleverly placed familiar sounds make this an album that instantly feels like home.
‘Dust’ also has a freshness and an imaginative element for old and new Alpha fans alike. Although differing somewhat in the sound of ‘Come From Heaven’ Alpha’s 1997 hit record, ‘Dust’ maintains the core quiddity of Alpha.
Dust number one in essential releases
Whenever I’m staking out an unfamiliar or obscure artist on Bandcamp, I always consider listener endorsements: fan comments, Rate Your Music scores, friends’ recent purchases, and, most crucially, recommendations from artists I admire. Founded by Corin Dingley and Andy Jenks in 1995 (the latter has since left the band), discovered and signed by Massive Attack in 1997, and active ever since, the Bristol trip-hop outfit Alpha have garnered props from Madonna, David Bowie, Jarvis Cocker, Radiohead, and Prince. They never reached the same level of commercial and critical success as their compatriots in the mid-’90s trip-hop boom, but hey: holding onto the “best-kept secret” title for a quarter-century is nothing to sneeze at either. The band’s 20th album, Dust—a Bandcamp exclusive—further testifies to that time-tested credibility with a wide range of sophisticated chillout fare that spans dreamy, impressionistic downtempo instrumentals (“Eve”), warm acoustic pop (“Tea and Toast”), and dusky lounge ballads that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Bond film (“Hypothetically Speaking”). Perfect for rainy mornings, lazy afternoons, romantic evenings, or whenever you need a break from reality. –Zoe Camp
Alpha.dust
Tea and Toast
Fear is a friend
Institute
Hold me
Interlude 1
Kaleidoscope seas
Take your time
Chewed tape
Dust
Interlude 2
Save your mothers soul
Happy place
Eve
Hypothetically speaking
Out now on CD, download and streaming from band camp
