Alphastates go pop on their new record - Limerick Independent News

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Alphastates go pop on their new record

Written by Alan Jacques

Wednesday, 20 May 2009

   THERE music has been hailed as 'grand', 'delicious' and even 'dark', but when I ask Alphastates singer Catherine Dowling how she would describe their new album 'Human Nature', she's quick to put me in my place by saying, “I probably wouldn't”.
   “I'd say pick it up, listen to tracks on our myspace, I'd prefer people make up their own minds and take from it what they will,” Dowling explains resolutely.

   And well, you can't really argue with that can you?
   But having heard the album and lived with it at close quarters since its release last month I would have to say that 'Human Nature' is one of the best albums of the year. It's a gorgeous electro-pop gem that overflows with catchy hook-laden sparklers that manage to reassure you that there's still urgency, passion and art left in music.
   “The reaction to the album has been really great. Lots of people have been saying great things about it. It is really nice.
    When you make a record you have no idea how people will react to it, particularly the press. We just try to do our own thing and do it with passion as best we can. After that it's out of our control.
   We're proud of the record we made. We didn't set out to make a pop record but it just kind of happened that way.
   A good pop record is probably one of the hardest feats to achieve and we're pleased with our achievement,” admits the Alphastates frontwoman.
   According to the Dublin quartet's press blurb, they were raised on a diet of Joy Division, Portishead, Tom Waits, Sonic Youth and Edith Piaf, but Catherine Dowling, a lady with the most evocative vocals in Irish music, is a bit more vague when it comes to pinpointing the influences for their deliciously dark pop sound.
   “Our influences come from loads of place, I guess it's hard to say,” Dowling tells me.
   “We all bring our own bits to the table, and then with lots of healthy and sometimes heated discussions our sound takes off. We all have an eclectic blanket of tastes and some of the tastes differ to the tastes of others.
   That always adds to the quirks in the soundâ€¦ dark is a delicious word,” she adds.
   'Champagne Glass' the first single taken from the exquisite second album 'Human Nature', the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed 'Made From Sand', is already proving a huge hit on the dance-floors in New York.
   And with the band currently dotting the i's and crossing the t's in a contract with a US record label, 2009 is looking like being a year to remember for the ethereal indie-popsters.
   “It's all very exciting but in these volatile times anything can happen. We are going to wait and see the ink dry on the paper before we truly believe it.
   To release in the US would be a major dream come true. Ireland is a small place and although it's wonderful for honing crafts and there is a wealth of great music here, it remains very small. To bring your music outside these waters, that's truly exciting.”
   Having toured with Cat Power, Mercury Rev, Deus, Zero 7, Sinead O'Connor, The Beta Band to name but a few, Alphastates have had their music appear on both Irish and International film productions.
   They've played Oxegen numerous times as well as the Electric Picnic together with a number of high profile festivals across Europe.
   “We just want to make lots and lots of great music and enjoy and have lots of fun in the process.
   Music is and should be fun. Sometimes the industry and band's obsession with career success gets in the way of this.
   It should never be taken too seriously because art without fun is pretty dull,” Dowling proclaims.
   To get a taste of Alphastates' twisted off-kilter melodies and catchy hooks in a live setting, make sure to check them out when they take to the stage at Upstairs in Dolan's later this month.
   “Dolan's is a wicked venue and we've always had a blast playing there. It has been ages so we can't wait for it. We shall sing our hearts and play our socks off for you.”
   With declarations like that from one of the country's best bands you'd be mad to miss Alphastates when they visit Dolan's on Thursday May 28.
    Special guests include Deaf Animal Orchestra and Drumming Room. Doors open at 8pm and admission is free.

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