Search - Alpha :: Stargazing Special Edition

Intoxication once more

W. Y. Yang | New Haven CT USA | 05/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"alpha's 1997 debut, comefromheaven, stands as the best morning-after comedown album ever made. on that cd, the bristol england duo of corin dingley and andy jenks brought the trip-hop scene to a new level of chill. massive attack quickly signed alpha to its label, melankolic, and let loose 'comefromheaven' as the lable's flagship release, and the rest was pretty much history. alpha's lush soundscapes were anchored by stylized vocals and in short, they perfected the hazy, smoke-filled after-hours atmosphere and added an extra layer of heartbreak. after a remix project called 'pepper' and 2001's 2nd LP 'the impossible thrill', now alpha returns with 'stargazing' that easily re-establishes alpha as masters of downbeat electronica. if you want to get a sense of what stargazing sounds like, just check out the cd liner art. rarely has an album's sleeve so perfectly evoked the music within: the glowing spirals of light bathed in a warm blue background are otherworldly and inviting, abstract but perfectly coordinated. it is inevitable that the rippling keyboards, lush strings, and languid rhythms absorb the listeners from the get go. a crucial element to alpha has always been its use of guest vocalists to give shape and emotional resonance to their compositions. regulars wendy stubbs, helen white, and martin barnard are joined by kelvin swaybe, and the four contribute to some of the album's best songs. stand out tracks include 'once around town', 'blue autumn', 'elvis' and the undeniable 'lipstick from the asylum' and 'portable living room', both sung by barnard with just enough yearning and regret to make the heartbreak palpable. though the samples return (albeit fewer), occasional live bass and drums lend a more organic feel to most songs. just like the best comedowns, 'stargazing' is peaceful, intense and ultimately intoxicating."

Gazing at the stars and beyond>

Math 27 | baltimore | 08/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Alpha team has improved on they signature sound with 'Stargazing', their lastest release which is really a concept album, maintaining a constant theme of yearning for affection among the constellations. I may be looking too deep into this album, but to put it simply, Stargazing is easy listening with occassional momments of quirky fun.



Martin Barnard's voice and delivery has improved here on haunting tracks like 'Lipstick from the Asylum' (one of my favorites), 'Saturn in Rain' and 'Portable Living Room'. On Alpha's previous releases Barnard tended to vare off into over emoting crescendos but here he has shown restraint. New coming Kelvin Swaybe is to Alpha as Horace Andy is to Massive Attack, lending his soulful voice that reminds me of oldschool R&B and soul.

I think the male vocalist stand out more on this album, where as the female vocalist, Wendy Stubbs and Helen White, tended to stand out more on 'Come from Heaven' and 'Impossible Thrill', or maybe it just seems that way because Barnard has improved and the addition of Swaybe. Yet Stubbs 'once around town, & 'silver light' and White's 'Blue Autumn' are bright and sweeping.



Thanks again to the dynamic duo of Jenk and Dingley for their amazing musical talents, setting a particular mood and tone to ditinguish each vocalist. Their production is slick and layered and never monotonous, blending in each track nicely as they go from hypnotic swirls to epic soundscapes, to moody blues then quirky & bouncy instrumentals with ease.



Fans of Alpha will love this blissful album and I think this is most accessable to new comers. If you are new to Alpha it is safe to start with 'Stargazing' then go back to there dreamy first lp 'Come From Heaven', then complete your collection with the meandering 'Impossoble Thrill' if you want. If you're looking for smart, mellow Trip-hop you'll enjoy Stargazing till the Perfect End.





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Landmark record

The H | Hell A, CA | 08/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't hear of Alpha, until I saw the film, "My Life Without Me". Their song, "Sometime Later" (from the ComeFromHeaven release) played during the credits. It took me a while to discover this, since the film does not have a soundtrack.



Their music is somewhat hard to find in conventional music stores, like Best Buy. All I could find was a used copy of Stargazing at an independent record shop. I purchased it immediately, since I had read so may great reviews about it.



This group reminds one of Air. Two arrangers/songwriters with an assortment of singers/musicians, and like Air, it makes for incredible background music. You can read a book, clean the house, have a drink with some friends, spend some quality time with a lover and it totally enhances the environment. I've had several friends ask, "Who is this playing?"



Dreamy, spacey lounge music. I would compare it to jazz, since it is relaxing, yet invigorating. The immediate stand out tracks are "Once Around Town" and "Elvis".



Many critics call this music Trip-Hop, which is no surprise since they were signed to the same label as Massive Attack, who are believed to be responsible for beginning the genre. This is the only similarity though.



Overall, this is great stuff! If you are interested in this band, I would definitely start with this record. Buy it used, buy it new. You won't be disappointed."