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Review: 'Alvin Purple'
'The Look / Stare to Declare'   


-  Genre: 'Rock' -  Release Date: '2010'-  Catalogue No: 'AP001 (Download Only)'

Our Rating:
This double A-side definitely shows two distinctly different sides of Alvin Purple - a female fronted four-piece from Leeds who pitch themselves as electronic / lo-fi indiepop / shoegaze / soul / trip hop - not some bloke called Alvin. I'm assuming it's a reference to the 1973 Australin sex-farce (yes, I did my research). Anyway, two different sides of the band, yet clearly marking a blueprint of a distinct sound of their own.

For my money, 'Stare to Declare' is the stronger of the two songs, beginning with a pulsing synth bass and climaxing with a shrill off feedback. In the middle, we have some sassy vocals and a solid beat from a drummer who shows great restraint when it comes to cymbal work and big fills, something I consider a rare virtue. Throughout, the guitars and murky and dense, breaking into a thick, sludgy distortion in the second half, acting as a well-balanced counter to the singing. The shoegaze aspect of the band's sound is especially prominent here, and while it may not be cool to say as much, there's also something of a gothy tinge to the atmosphere.

'The Look' is altogether more overtly commercial, built around a fat and rather funky bass groove and insistent, nagging guitar line that has a bounce to it without being excessively poppy. No doubt about it, it's a grower.


http://www.alvinpurple.co.uk/
  author: Christopher Nosnibor

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