Gone to Ground… Would have been a good album title for The Fall
Review: Alfa 9 – Gone to Ground
Published on February 20th, 2013 | Jonny Abrams
Conceivably the best West Coast pop album to come out of Stoke for some time – or, at least, since Alfa 9’s 2006 debut Then We Begin – Gone to Ground was actually released last year but has only just been brought to Rocksucker’s attention. Moreover, we’re glad it was.
“El Morocco” signals these chaps’ intent by seasoning their bustling, tumbling Britpop with light, breezy harmonies and deliciously jangling guitars, Byrds-ian leanings that also shine through on “Into the Light”.
Elsewhere we get the laid-back, sun-smooched swing of “Birling Gap”, the early Beatles-y minor key frame of the title track, the country-ish shuffle of “Ferry Song” and the chiming, Teenage-Fanclub-circa-Songs–from–Northern–Britain jangle of “Nothing Feels”. You might notice the reference points piling up, but they’re all good ones.
Alfa 9 make good comfort music as opposed to anything truly revelatory, so don’t expect much in the way of surprises. Sometimes, though, just good songs are enough. This is one of those times.
Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!
Gone to Ground is out now on Blown Up Records. For more information, please visit www.alfa9.co.uk
About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
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