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Alpha



Last Updated: 11/19/2009

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City: Bristol
Country: UK

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[10 Nov 2009 | Tuesday] 

Blog.....

 ....

Hi, Thanks for all of you that have been buying our music recently, it’s great to see some real support for our music. We have seen that lots of you use itunes to buy, did you know that we have put lots of links up on the donttouch website to places to buy our music? Go to www.donttouchrecordings.com/catalogue.html for all our releases.....

 ....

I wanted to let you know what has been happening in the last few weeks. Well, I have been working on a new project called ‘Walk in The Garden’ which basically is Alpha’s music put to filmed adventures in the Pyrenees Mountains, South Western France. The result is a real escape from the madness of life. Each walk is one shot so you get a real feel for being there, it’s a fantastic way to lose yourself for a moment. Rain and snow  has brought a delay to the project, we want sun so the project is on hold for the moment! I will be uploading a demo video shortly so you can get an idea. The walks will be released on DVD.....

 ....

Alpha have been in the studio working on new tracks. Some new tracks are already available to hear thought the subscription service featuring Hannah Collins who also sang with The Heavy. We are all very excited about the next album with vocals from Wendy, Hannah and Dunc from Blueneck, I know you going to like it. ....

 ....

BTW have you heard about Blueneck? – post rock is the tag, I hate tags but this is what people say, I completely disagree. I remember recording ‘shoe-gazing’ bands in the early 90’s with a very similar style. I guess we need to keep coming up with new genres to make us believe we have new music but the fact is there has been no new movement in pop music since ‘house music’ which came from the rebellion that the major record companies had started to commercialize and buy-out independent music. Ok, get off your soap box, I know but it’s true and while I’m on one – radio dj’s, will we ever have another John Peel? Someone who actually plays music on major station regardless of their bosses and pluggers budgets.....

 ....

One last thing before I go, have you been listening to our free radio? We have been doing live shows, they have been a lot of fun. Blueneck will be in for another live session and I am hoping Wendy will come and do a piano bar evening, keep alert for the posts.....

Cheers....

Corin....

 ....

14:51 
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[13 Oct 2009 | Tuesday] 
Streaming now dontTouch radio
Brighten up your morning
09:10 
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[08 Oct 2009 | Thursday] 
..
'Ariel ' - Ariel e.p.
'Storm ' - Two Phazed People.
'For the wages' - The sky is mine.
'Wah da fuc' -Reciever Alpha.
'Can't do that' - Horace Andy & Alpha
'Fire' - Horace Andy & Alpha
PLUS FREE RADIO - NO ADDS, JUST ALPHA
12:48 
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[05 Oct 2009 | Monday] 
DontTouch Recordings have launched their very exciting subscription service to allow fans to buy Alpha's music and more at a very low price but also be part of something special. At the moment there are two completely unheard Alpha tracks sung by Hannah Collins for you to listen. The only condition being is they are only for those who subscribe and the songs will be taken down within weeks, so if you want them go to www.donttouchrecordings.com 
16:04 
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[10 Aug 2009 | Monday] 
Horace Andy & Alpha
Two Phazed People
Don’t Touch Recordings

To start, this is the album I have been waiting for since I heard Horace Andy on Massive Attack’s Protection album. Heavy dub bass pounding along with jumped-up beats and sci-fi electronics sparkling through the speakers would be more than enough for a dub-head like me but add in the always outstanding vocal contribution from Horace Andy and my day-month-really year has been made. 

The production is stellar with layered beats, funky grooves, and a confidence that matches the expectations associated with Horace Andy. This is future dub and makes no concessions or sacrifices in its focus. One refreshing element of Two Phased People is how Alpha places Horace’s vocals front and center with little to no effects on it. Horace’s voice is a distinct instrument that needs no studio-trickery to mesmerize the ear. So to hear it immaculately-recorded and presented front-and-center is a top priority on my checklist of satisfied listening.

The second surprising element is that the songs “backing” track music is allowed to breathe and showcase how important the “riddems” are in dub and reggae. Track 2 clocks in over eight minutes as it builds itself into a dub meditation. Alpha’s production and composition skills have always been under-rated and criminally ignored in the realm of downtempo. So toHorace Andy & Alpha
Two Phazed People
Don’t Touch Recordings

To start, this is the album I have been waiting for since I heard Horace Andy on Massive Attack’s Protection album. Heavy dub bass pounding along with jumped-up beats and sci-fi electronics sparkling through the speakers would be more than enough for a dub-head like me but add in the always outstanding vocal contribution from Horace Andy and my day-month-really year has been made. 

The production is stellar with layered beats, funky grooves, and a confidence that matches the expectations associated with Horace Andy. This is future dub and makes no concessions or sacrifices in its focus. One refreshing element of Two Phased People is how Alpha places Horace’s vocals front and center with little to no effects on it. Horace’s voice is a distinct instrument that needs no studio-trickery to mesmerize the ear. So to hear it immaculately-recorded and presented front-and-center is a top priority on my checklist of satisfied listening.

The second surprising element is that the songs “backing” track music is allowed to breathe and showcase how important the “riddems” are in dub and reggae. Track 2 clocks in over eight minutes as it builds itself into a dub meditation. Alpha’s production and composition skills have always been under-rated and criminally ignored in the realm of downtempo. So to hear them fleshed out and allowed moments to step to the forefront is a welcome addition. One of my main complaints about dub vocal collaborations are that the songs are hurried along and shortened to end right when the vocals finish and never gives the listener time to just take a breath and understand the groove and relish the dub delay.

Alpha’s signature sound is all over this production but they have understood that this is a collaboration and not their own album. This fact makes for an exciting proposition as we get to hear Alpha producing in an expanded way and Horace singing with a freedom to use his strength of strong melodies and still remain classic dub. Track’s 4 and 6 are the most “traditional” dub tracks and are so strongly written both lyrically and musically that reggae fans would want to shake their dreads to it.

Dare I say it but this album satisfies my need for another Massive Attack album. Not to say that Alpha are trying to recreate Massive Attack’s sound. Two Phased People just fulfills my need for forward-thinking dub that doesn’t rely on the past but strives to move dub into the future. Track 7 is a perfect example of this that fits in perfectly with the dub/electronica/dubstep coming out of Europe. 

So this album could have been an easy one to relax and let Horace’s name sell the production. But never fear, Alpha sounds like they have something to prove (and they do prove it) and have produced an unexpectedly-upbeat album that emphasized electronics far more than any of their own releases. The music is mind-blowing, especially on Storm, Track 2 and Track 3 as an opening sequence that makes you smile, groove and haze out for nearly an hour to the dramatic ending of Track 11 that finishes the affair in an emotional flourish with swelling strings and crashing drums.

And finally, my favorite part of the record is the fact that you can hear and feel the amount of work that drove the making of Two Phased People an artistic statement. And in true dub soundsystem clash ethic, now the bar has been set high and creates expectations for future releases to match this effort by Alpha and Horace Andy. 

Dedric Moore
Properly Chilled Magazine hear them fleshed out and allowed moments to step to the forefront is a welcome addition. One of my main complaints about dub vocal collaborations are that the songs are hurried along and shortened to end right when the vocals finish and never gives the listener time to just take a breath and understand the groove and relish the dub delay.

Alpha’s signature sound is all over this production but they have understood that this is a collaboration and not their own album. This fact makes for an exciting proposition as we get to hear Alpha producing in an expanded way and Horace singing with a freedom to use his strength of strong melodies and still remain classic dub. Track’s 4 and 6 are the most “traditional” dub tracks and are so strongly written both lyrically and musically that reggae fans would want to shake their dreads to it.

Dare I say it but this album satisfies my need for another Massive Attack album. Not to say that Alpha are trying to recreate Massive Attack’s sound. Two Phased People just fulfills my need for forward-thinking dub that doesn’t rely on the past but strives to move dub into the future. Track 7 is a perfect example of this that fits in perfectly with the dub/electronica/dubstep coming out of Europe. 

So this album could have been an easy one to relax and let Horace’s name sell the production. But never fear, Alpha sounds like they have something to prove (and they do prove it) and have produced an unexpectedly-upbeat album that emphasized electronics far more than any of their own releases. The music is mind-blowing, especially on Storm, Track 2 and Track 3 as an opening sequence that makes you smile, groove and haze out for nearly an hour to the dramatic ending of Track 11 that finishes the affair in an emotional flourish with swelling strings and crashing drums.

And finally, my favorite part of the record is the fact that you can hear and feel the amount of work that drove the making of Two Phased People an artistic statement. And in true dub soundsystem clash ethic, now the bar has been set high and creates expectations for future releases to match this effort by Alpha and Horace Andy. 

Dedric Moore
Properly Chilled Magazine
20:55 
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[02 Aug 2009 | Sunday] 

Category: Music
Two Phazed People
18:08 
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[20 Jul 2009 | Monday] 

Current mood:  energetic
Hi everyone, thanks for your last comments on my blog. Where were we? Oh, yes made this single which got the attention of Massive Attack and led to the creation of ‘Come from Heaven’.

 I will try to recall some of the events that happened around this time. This is when we went from being on the dole to being treated like royalty. It wasn’t until after we had signed contacts did the powers begin to wine and dine us, though doing the deal was entertaining enough.  We found out how Lawyers make huge money by pushing contracts back and forth adding points so to make up a really heavy document·  Once it had reached over 10 Kg the deal was considered done and the partying began. It started with two large cheques and an expensive meal at 192 in Notting Hill in which we did not pick up the bill or have to have that after meal argument of splitting the bill and finding out who had the extra garlic breads. You also now start to be introduced to many people who start telling you how they love what you do and how brilliant you are, this is dangerous because you can actually start to believe them which leads to head swelling. I have to say that we were pretty cool and managed to keep a reasonable amount of reality. The day went into evening and that’s were my memory ends. I know that it finished at a pub because we found out later that someone had left the contracts on a seat. My memory returns as we found ourselves back at Paddington Station boarding the last train back to Bristol. We felt ridiculous as we had never had money before and thought we could do anything so put ourselves in first class and rolled a spliff.  Even when the conductor found us he did not throw us off the train, we had shown him the cheques like they were gold bars and told him it was like winning the lottery and kindly let us carry on our business. Back in Bristol Andy went to a party and I called my wifeand told her to meet me in room 233 at the Swallow.

From then on visits to London were always very different from our usual experience on cheap travel, A to Z maps and so on, now it was chauffeurs to London,  cars to take and wait for you around London, parties and expensive hotels. It all sounds so rock and roll and I guess it was. This was in the days when record companies had money to throw around,  I’m not sure if this is so common now? They certainly don’t throw money at bands like Alpha any more. The main A&R at Virgin told us that his policy was to sign bands like The Spice Girls to make loads of money so that they could sign the cool stuff like Massive Attack and support other labels like Melankolic. Incidentally the Spice Girls were signed at the same time as us and Scary liked my Scary hair but we didn’t make out. We were introduced to many other famous people, embarrassing for me, not Andy as he is very knowledgeable on music history, because I did not know who they were. I recall one occasion when I fell and split beer over Arthur Baker, still not sure who he is now??

It was quite fascinating to see how people’s opinions change towards your music once it has been signed to a label. It gives it a kind of certificate to say that this music is good and it’s alright for you to like it. I have worked with so many talented and original artists that will never be known and appreciated just because it has not been ‘approved’ as such. I remember at school so many friends would not go to see local bands because they were not known or in the NME but all bands are local bands even U2 were once local and what’s great about them? (sorry to all U2 fans).  A good example of this is a project I produced ‘James Roberts’ which received amazing reviews and is a top album. It was recommended to the Mercury Prize but was turned down because the label did not have a big enough profile or bank balance.

Like other Bristol bands though we did not run off to London we kept it in Bristol and ‘Come from Heaven’ was taken deep into the west country. Well, Clevedon actually just down the road from Portishead but Clevedon is a far grander. Here we dug ourselves in, grew the album and met the animals. Some people comment on the bird songs and other country noise on the album, this is because we would often record vocals outside to create the right vibe and so these natural sounds would be picked up on the mic. Other animal sounds were also recorded from the dog, cats and horses living around the house. Sadly none of these animals are alive anymore. The dog barking was ‘Tess’, the Horse farting was ‘Lady’ and the cat purring was ‘Monty’.

Before I go a quick plug to our new board for Don’t touch where strange new ideas are unfolding. Please check out the board here; http://donttouch.boardhost.com

Until next time, Corin
Currently listening:
Join the Q
By The Qemists
Release date: 2009-02-02
18:17 
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[15 Jun 2009 | Monday] 

Current mood:  working
Watch these....friends of mine saw them in Bristol the other day.





Check out more of his other tunes here....he is brilliant.

cheers, Corin.
Currently reading:
Speak French for Beginners [With Carrying Case] (Michel Thomas Speak...)
By Michel Thomas
22:02 
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[09 Jun 2009 | Tuesday] 


We've been blown away by the response so far to the record 'Two Phazed People', but we'll need your help to make sure that it gets the attention that it rightly deserves. Show some love by dusting off your address book and getting word out to friends, families and foes about this great new release. Tell them to go here:www.donttouchrecordings.com


18:15 
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[18 May 2009 | Monday] 

Current mood:  accomplished
I’m not one for blog writing but this might be a way of changing that. I have been asked to write so I apologise for the following. I do remember a very long time ago when life was somewhat more simple, I wrote a story to go on our first website with Virgin records and I remember being very shocked that people actually commented and enjoyed what I wrote. Ridicules as English by far my 2nd worst subject at school, I had to resit my GCSE. Religious education was my worst, no stand corrected I did pass that, English is my worst.
O.K. if your still reading this then well done otherwise surely you must have something better to do? I could go on about loads of crap and maybe I will but I better talk about music and stuff. I must first say though that I see and am told about the comments on this MySpace, which again amaze me. I find it incredible that you make the effort to comment, it is truly wonderful and I am always deeply touched. I am sure that past and present members of Alpha feel the same. I do not have a great memory for events but will try to explain a few things.
I started music as a kid and was always interested in the recording side of things and at the age of twelve had built my own 4 track-recording machine and mixer. It did not have an erase head, too expensive to buy so you had to get the music right first time, not like today were you can redo forever. I was hooked and stupidly let my place at Liverpool University go and pursued a career in music. I started working in a studio in Bristol which was heavily involved in the Bristol music scene. I had worked with Andy Jenks with his band ‘Static Sound System’ a number of times and we began working together. Before long we had produced some tracks, one of which and only just released on the ‘Ariel’ E.P.’ – ‘Morbison’. We soon released our first 7” recorded with our original name Ariel.
This was about 1995 and soon after Massive Attack heard it, loved it and introduced us to the lovely world of the Music Industry. I say this with a certain amount of sarcasm, because I began to realise that it was not the industry I thought it would be. Massive Attack gave us the great break and our music would have never got to a large audience without them, but the machine is about selling and making money and I was not prepared for the business side of things. Even now it still amazes me how untruthful people are. I love music for what it does for your soul not your wallet, unfortunately my wallet is empty and therefore I too am influenced by money.
It is a difficult issue and as we all know the industry is changing. Many of us now will only download music if it’s free, we are becoming accustom for everything on the internet to be free which is why at Don’t Touch we are launching a new project to create copyright free music that you can get involved in. You do not need large amounts of money to make records especially when you don’t have it. I wonder sometime when people compare albums in reviews for example do they also compare the budgets. Our last album was probably made for 1% the cost of Portishead's. Do we get an award for that or do you get awards for the biggest biggest promo and recording budgets? I better leave this subject before I upset people and get a reputation for having a chip on my shoulder.
On my next Blog (in one - two weeks) I promise not to rattle on and talk about Alpha, or am I Lying? BTW found this different mix of track ‘Flux’ which I have put up, it’s one of my favourite tunes I have ever done. Thanks for reading, xxxxxCorin.
Currently listening:
Jah Son Invasion [VINYL]
By Various Artists
Release date: 2003-12-29
20:57 
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