Portland – Alpine’s sexy, unwavering pop fusion unravels on their new album, Yuck. The six-piece has no trepidation towards self-indulgence with songs that reveal attitudes about sex, love and all the hazy parts in between. Yuck’s title is apt in that way because Alpine has a tendency toward playfulness, especially when it comes to sexual innuendo. Quickly becoming one of Australia’s favorite acts, Alpine is a crowd-pleaser because of their easy approach to pop. Using breezy harmonies and instrumentals that somewhat align with traditional pop, but challenge it with the reluctance to be similar to their sugar coated counterparts, Alpine strives to transcend what you’re thinking they might be. Yuck favors the passionate but distant, overtly sexual but in control, and it does so in a captivating, irrefutable way.
Vocalist Phoebe Baker and guitarist Christian O’Brien formed Alpine in 2009. They became a sextet with the additions of Louisa James, Tim Royal, Ryan Lamb and Phil Tucker. The band was quickly picked up by the Aussie indie label Ivy League Records and released Zurich, their debut EP, in 2010. Alpine released A Is For Alpine in 2012 and they solidified themselves as an artist to watch. They’ve performed with Cloud Control and The Naked And Famous and have peaked interest worldwide. Stepping out of their native Australia with Yuck’s expansive release, Alpine is hopefully moving towards a more widespread audience.
The album’s opener is provocative and beckoning. Baker and James form a writhing chorus of “Come ons” with just the accompaniment of a bass drum and twinkly keyboard. “Come On” lures the listener just as much as it does the subject. Alpine continues to toy with not the unrequited per se, but the full-fledged override of sexual attraction. In “Foolish” casual is king, and there is no tiptoeing around it: “you’ve applied too much metaphor on our relationship.” Lead with an acoustic guitar, handclaps and echoing hums, they sing “do ya?” and “will ya?” Alpine enjoys the shock factor of little discretion, but we like it that way. They even go so far as to say in “Need Not Be”: “I’m confused between sex and love.”
Make no mistake that Alpine has power in Yuck. The album is strewn with power struggles between soft instrumentals and more experimental sound, but each choice Alpine makes is a good one. “Jellyfish” is a frontrunner for the catchiest track. Its attitude is confident and cool: “Heels on cobblestone will satisfy / more than your cocky tone.” Perhaps the mellowest dance track, “Jellyfish” has the vocalists chanting: “I want to be the light / euphoric / stop beating myself up.” The song’s production is euphoric, with a calming synth and strained but careful vocals.
Alpine’s sophomore attempt is even better than their first. They’ve evolved to a dreamier, yet still as powerful pop outfit. There is a no-holds-barred quality to the band’s straight-forwardness. Alpine has been able to conquer the pop genre and modernize it. The album is dancey without being over-the-top. It is stunningly relatable. And it’s something that should be heard.
Follow Alpine and see their Australian tour dates here.
Dakota Smith
Follow her on twitter in case she says something funny: @LikeTheStates
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