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ALFA 9




United Kingdom

Profile Views:  39467




Last Login:  7/9/2008
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   Contacting ALFA 9

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/alfa9  

   ALFA 9: General Info
Member Since8/13/2005
Band Websitealfa9.co.uk
Band Members
Phil Mason  Guitar, Vocals
Ali Heath  Bass, Vocals
Leon Jones  Guitar
Andy Vernon Drums

an introduction

".......Classic English rock with a large psychedelic edge, think Stone Roses............Woodstock period Who, Noel Gallagher style wall-of-guitar laced with astral-progressions and unfolding psychedelic brit-rock bite that's rather good for your bones, oh and maybe a bit of Zeppelin tooooooo. Alfa9 are from Up North somewhere - that much is obvious, they rather like their 70's psychedelic artwork and their Freakbeat look, yep, that's also obvious - they're not obvious though, they hint at things but it's never obvious - we've seen a million tiresome Stone Roses/Oasis/Who flavoured wannabes, Alfa9 are a lot more than that. They have a swagger, not too cocky, it's not a chip on the shoulder attitude thing, they just know....."
The Organ - October 2005

Then We Begin Album Reviews

Alfa 9 are undoubtedly the most psychedelic thing to come out of Stoke.
With tips of the hat to all the great stoner records (Dark Side of the Moon is an obvious reference) their debut is not so much an album as a wall of sound, with no obvious breaks between tracks, lashings of harmonised vocals and some stunning Gilmour-esque solos.
Rating: 8/10 by Henry Yates
Total Guitar - September 2006



Recorded in The Charlatans' Big Mushroom studio, Alfa9's debut is a confident, elaborate trip through forty years of psychedelic rock. Having gigged across the country since their inception four years ago, Alfa9 have channeled everything into a definitive debut and produced a stunningly complete piece of music. Like most bands from outside one of the major music centres, they have found it hard getting noticed but rather than complain they just got their heads down and gigged and gigged. Given the reputation of their live shows as full on 'happenings' complete with a frazzled lightshow, it is easy to see why they have succeeded in breaking into the national circuit. Book-ended by instrumentals and boasting no less than three interludes shows the confidence they have in their material and the time their fans will invest in the music. A fully realised and hugely ambitious debut which succeeds on every level.
Clash Magazine - July 2006


If the Stones Roses had lived in Haight-Asbury....
Remember when, for a flicker, the Stones Roses blurred the line between indie, psychedelia and heritage rock with their 1994 album The Second Coming? Well, Alfa9 sound a bit like that.
Then We Begin is a little naïve and obvious in places, but the scope of its psychedelic vision sweeps from late-60s San Francisco to mid-90s Madchester. Reminiscent of early Elbow and Cooper Temple Clause before both succumbed to the indie shilling. Then We Begin is authentic, rallying and, on tracks like For Your Bones and Flasher, almost brilliant.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme band straddle psychedelia and indie, but so far have, thankfully, avoided stumbling into the latter's charms.
Rating: 7/10 by Malcolm Dome
Classic Rock Magazine - Summer 2006


Deadman Single Reviews

Remember the first time you got taken up and away by the 'Floyd's blissful psychedelia? That's what the verse of 'Deadman' sounds like, which would be a good enough recommendation for buying this single on its own.
But, if you stopped reading this review and did just that, you'd get one hell of a surprise when the chorus rushes in, propelled by mutiple layers of lead guitar. It steals the show in a The-Coral-harmonising-with-The-Byrds stylee and leaves you feeling like you've just been caught in the eye of a particularly forceful sonic storm.
A great live act, too, Alfa 9 are without a doubt ones to watch in the coming months.
Rating: 8/10 by Rob Webb
www.drownedinsound.com - July 2006



Stunning guitars break out of the speakers before giving over to hazy vocals and classic CSN/Hollies style harmonies in a western styled call to the stage. Changing rhythms and Gilmour-esque guitar take the listener to places they werent expecting and maybe never wanted to visit in the first place but you cant help listening. This is superbly crafted psychedelia for the 21st century and as perfect a summer rock number for 2006 as we are likely to get.
Rating: 4/5 by Andy Snipper
www.music-news.com - 4 August 2006



With the wistful melancholy of David Gilmour at his epic best fused tightly to the jittering psychedelic melee of the Stone Roses at its sharpest, Alfa9 are the band to paint a multi-coloured hole on a wall so we can all escape into their world....Last one in is a maggot!
www.subba-cultcha.com - August 2006

For Your Bones Single &
Then We Begin Album Review


Formed in Newcastle-under- Lyme a couple of years ago five-piece Alfa 9 have been gigging constantly and honing their art.  Forthcoming single, the psychedelic jangle-monster 'For Your Bones' is an artistic statement if ever I heard one.  Their debut album Then We Begin puts the band in the same league as Echo & The Bunnymen or The Byrds and on more than equal pegging with the new generation of Liverpool bands like The Coral and The Zutons.  Dreamy harmonies, chunky semi-acoustic guitars, spaced out tunes.  If you like '60s era Pink Floyd or early Stone Roses you will find something to love and cherish here.  'Little Girl' has a folky hypnotic magic only matched by The Byrds 'Dolphin Smile' or Lennon's 'Julia' from The Beatles White Album.  These talented twenty-somethings are going to be big news next year.
John Coleman -
London 'What's On' - 8 December 2005


For Your Bones Single Reviews

Layer upon layer of guitars -
This recalls The Who at their best
Rating: 4/5
The Sun Newspaper - 2 December 2005


It seems to have taken the initiative of Pure Reason Revolution in teaching the kids that Pink Floyd records needn't be concealed in a brown paper bag. With prog having long been a word not even the Collins Dictionary would touch, Alfa 9 don't exactly embrace it in the same vein as PRR, but there are nods in that direction. Flourishing with a hazy, strong psychedelic edge that evokes images of smoky backstreet NYC dens and Led Zep freakouts, this track is an impressively confident debut.
Artrocker - November 2005

LIVE Reviews

The Metro, London July 6th 2006

Who said prog rock was dead? It's alive, acid fuelled and dripping off the walls at the Metro tonight. With disarming vocal harmonies and swirling riffs this band could quite possibly be the Pink Floyd of the future. Guitars slide and sprinkle over monstrous drums creating a wall of sound that's impossible to ignore. If there was ever a band to make you want to munch some magic mushrooms and run naked through a field it's this one. Go lose your weekend in their melodies. I am.
Emma Edmondson
UNPEELED - August 2006



Record LabelBlow Up Records
Type of LabelIndie




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   About ALFA 9

ALBUM 'THEN WE BEGIN'

Our debut album was described in Clash magazine as...
"A fully realised and
hugely ambitious debut
which succeeds
on every level"!!

Released on CD, LP & digital







BIOGRAPHY
OK, so it's mid-2006 and any group looking to be a part of the Brit-rock resurgence better have all the necessary ingredients: tinny, post-Libertines guitar sound? Check! Stage-school, say-nothing interview technique? Check! Zero knowledge of anything that happened in the years B.C (Before Cassablancas)? Check!
Time, then, for a group blessed with a musical depth and lyrical imagination way beyond such fashion-led fodder.

Meet Alfa 9 (singer-guitarist: Phil Mason, Ali Heath-vocals/bass, Leon Jones-guitar, Jamie Gordon-keyboards, Andy Shaw-drums). Formed in Newcastle-Under-Lyme eighteen months ago, this photogenic quintet are the latest in a long line of musicians who tap into the British equivalent of 'cosmic americana'.
Inspired initially by The Stone Roses, Shack, and Verve's debut album 'A Storm In Heaven' they have traced their influences to the source, embracing everything from 'Dark Side Of the Moon' to the West Coast Pop Art Experimental band en route. The name, meanwhile, was indirectly inspired by literary great William Burroughs.
"I was reading about what Burroughs and Brion Gyson got up to in Paris" explains singer Phil (dark, bit of a catch, looks like a star-gazing Carl Barat).
"They experimented with dream machines, which are these revolving lights which when looked at for long enough produce alpha-wave activity in the brain, leading to other-worldy visions. "

So far, so esoteric. But Alfa 9 aren't here to wallow in a fug of narcotics whilst the world drifts by their window. There's a grainy realism to their lyrics prompted by an adolescence where excitement came and went with whoever played the Wolverhampton Little Civic.
"I think the lyrics are a reflection of where we grew up" continues Ali.
"It's pretty fucking grim where we're from, and you're not encouraged to do anything different" adds Keith Moon-a-like drummer Andy.
"We'd rather reflect that in the music than make it too obvious. Suede's 'Dog Man Star' is a good example: it's a dark record but you still feel like you're stepping into a different universe."
Indeed. Whilst their peers sledgehammer home the horrors of city centres deserted but for whirring CCTV's, Alfa 9 achieve the same effect via a mellifluous menace. Duly snapped up by the management company responsible for psych-godfathers Echo & the Bunnymen, the band signed to Blow Up records for debut single 'For Your Bones' (released Dec 2005). A haunting slice of psych-pop, it coincided with a spate of gigs where the band could show-off both their Floyd-like live extravaganza and get to grips with Service Station cuisine.
"Gigs are one-offs" enthuses Ali.
"There's a communal aspect to them where you can get lost in the music. Better still, you learn something every time."

The lessons learned at over a hundred gigs have been channelled into debut album 'Then We Begin' (released August 7th). Recorded over six weeks at The Charlatans Big Mushroom studios, it is, quite simply, a gem. Full of euphoric surges, cool dignity and a scope to shame the guitar-pop scenesters clogging up the charts, it is as expansive as Secret Machines but as neo-folky as Dungen. If the meticulously layered instrumentation, and glacial pop tunes don't move you, songs like new single 'Deadman' suggest chart occupation is imminent.
"Deadman' is such a good song" enthuses Phil.
"It sounds beautiful in one sense, but if you look a little more closely at it, there's darkness in there too.".
'Give Me Your Heart Again', meanwhile, could be the Coral at their peak, with the playground surrealism traded in for a more worldly-wise mindset. There are traces of sweaty old rock music, but 'Then We Begin' always ends up sounding thoroughly modern.
Don't dip in, is the subtext, dive into the depths of the past and see what you can find. As Phil says:
"Dust off your headphones and make up your own mind."
These astral arbiters of faith, dope and clarity will be playing live near you soon.
Alfa 9: watch the skies.

by Paul Moody - July 2006



NEWS
Things are Moving Along
Yeah it's been quiet out front but in the background the Alfas are beavering away and generally getting stuff done and sorted........so we'll update you when there's a proper update but until then...........relax....unwind....take it easy....




RELEASES
Single 'Deadman' released 31st July 2006
Album 'Then We Begin' released 7th August 2006

Deadman - 31st July
7" - BU038
CD - BU038CD
DL - BU038DD
DL - BU038DDE

Then We Begin - 7th August
LP - BU034LP
CD - BU034CD
DL - BU034DD

Previous single (Dec 2005)
For Your Bones 7" and download single
Label - Blow Up Records - Catalogue No BU033




VIDEO

   ALFA 9's Friend Space (Top 12)
ALFA 9 has 4744 friends.
 Blow Up Records 


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 THE ASTEROID #4 


 Off With The Octopus Disco 


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 Gene Clark 


 brian jonestown massacre 


 Mike Cave 


 The Stairs 





ALFA 9's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 1525 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
MARIONEXXES Street Team





Jul 8 2008 4:00 AM

Assalamualaikum.
Thank you for supporting us ;)

MARIONEXXES is now offer FREE sample clips from their upcoming debut album. If you do not have enough on the clips do send the request to the admin on Yahoo! Massenger here: marionexxes@yahoo.com . Ask the admin with subject "FULL MARILYN MONROE Please"

"Ride the BMX, listens to MARIONEXXES"

PENTAS Aksi:
Join PENTAS Street Team for your College/University/School/Company/Bands/Artist.
Send complete resume to pentas.event@gmail.com
We do events, we do FREE promotion too.

Thank you.
Power by: www. myspace. com/pentas
Slippin N Slidin





Jul 1 2008 2:23 PM

King Kayak





Jun 25 2008 12:37 PM

Hi Alfa 9, how u all doin?
U got any gigs comin up?
JordanTylerGifford





Jun 25 2008 7:10 AM

aup hows it going lads.

nice one for accepting...you boys are quite the influence on me.

music should be up within the next couple of weeks so have a gander!

Jord
sweetjayne my arse





Jun 23 2008 6:42 PM

Slippin N Slidin





Jun 23 2008 2:06 PM

Designer Magazine (Music Website in Manchester)





Jun 23 2008 9:17 AM

DESIGNER MAGAZINE'S FIRST GIG OF THE SUMMER.....AFTER THE MASSIVE MAPS FESTIVAL LAST MONTH




Come down and see Fake Kings, Gasperilla, The 25-11s, The Last Loft...its a cracking line up of some of the best bands in Manchester at the moment...you might have seen Gasperilla supporting The Gossip last year in front of thousands and Fake Kings have steadily been building up the Salford massive in the past few months!!!

Designer Magazine

www. designermagazine. org


Ps.
Any bands wishing to book gigs with Designer Magazine we have a handful of slots in July / August and then will be booking for October / November / December
R-O-M-A





Jun 22 2008 8:08 PM

Thanks for the add!
Greetings from Tokyo.
Hope you like our animation movie HERE.

Have a nice Monday my friend.
R-O-M-A
Palace of Pleasure





Jun 22 2008 3:13 PM

another deal cover

Release: June 16th, 2008

'Another Deal' is the first single from the forthcoming Palace Of Pleasure album, scheduled for release in August/September 2008.

The single will be available as download only (iTunes etc.), but you can download it for free for a limited period at:
www. myspace. com/palaceofpleasure

Yes, I managed to miss the release of the first PoP single since I joined the band (and my first single release ever!), but that's what happens when you're in the middle of the north Atlantic, running around in viking clothes. Anyway, I hope you'll follow my belated advice and check out our new tune. Download it for free and start dancing! :D

J U S T I N
www.PsychedelicCentral.Com





Jun 13 2008 2:31 PM

Have a good weekend guys!

Jan :)
Cyesm





Jun 11 2008 2:47 PM

Hi there !

Please, check my new release : *Oops I dig it again*

I hope you will appreciate it !

Cyesm

Oops i dit it again
Off With The Octopus Disco





Jun 10 2008 1:12 PM

Photobucket
Tribal Brides of the Amazon





Jun 2 2008 10:23 AM

Hey up, were playing The Sugarmill on Friday June 20th with The Control, if you want a cheapo ticket give us a comment :-)

xx
FACTEUR





May 27 2008 3:04 PM


NEW TRACKS !!!..

Off With The Octopus Disco





May 27 2008 11:33 AM

emmm like the new look, is this a sign of new things to come? some new demos up or something??
missFlag - new single out =]





May 21 2008 10:47 AM

how's everything going?

i'm so excited to let you know that our album is finally available on iTunes =]

cheerss
Assa
The Satellites of Love





May 19 2008 3:02 AM

Photobucket
Deezel





May 18 2008 11:13 PM

HI thnx for the friendship and it’s nice to know you!
Think it’s nice to be connected with musicians all over the world. In music we are all alike and speak the same language!!!
I think you have very nice music, I enjoyed listening to it…… really sounds GREAT …. !!
I respect your work.
Greets from “D E E Z E L” (Belgium) and lots of luck in every thing you do!!
If you can find the time check out my music too (thnx)
NEMO





May 18 2008 12:08 PM

Do not read this text

Check yourself before you wreck yourself!!
Blind Pilot





May 18 2008 11:07 AM

Hope you can make it

Photobucket
Acid Cowboy





May 16 2008 8:51 AM

I've got some new tracks up I think you would very much dig. Check em out if you are so inclined.
Leave a comment!
LoveLust





May 16 2008 4:12 AM

Photobucket
Sheffield Phonographic Corporation





May 12 2008 11:39 AM

Slow Down Tallahassee FREE download-only single

Slow Down Tallahassee "The Beautiful Light"

To celebrate the launch of their debut album on the 26th May


Click here for FREE downloads

www.PsychedelicCentral.Com





May 9 2008 10:43 PM

Photobucket

Jan :)

picassound





May 9 2008 2:52 PM

con permiso!!!!

2 NUEVOS TEMAS EN NUESTRO MYSPACE.
2 NEW SONGS IN OUR MYSPACE.
http://www. myspace. com/picassoundrock

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
Crusher Records





May 8 2008 7:46 AM

DEAD MAN - Euphoria. New album out March 31.

New Dead Man album
Off With The Octopus Disco





May 7 2008 2:22 PM

Photobucket
dave





Apr 30 2008 9:57 AM

thanks for adding me...cracking gig at fat cats last week,sounded really good.
La Dies





Apr 29 2008 10:16 AM

Ay up lads....Your tunes never seem to get old! Still love em...Howd fat cats go? Was gonna come but was off my head well before 6o clock!

xx
Owd Ear Recordings





Apr 28 2008 4:39 PM

ALRATE, DRINKING SMOKING FREAKS IS THE NEW TUNE TIS WORTH A LISTEN...SERIOUSLY
HAHA

TAKE IT EASY
X
THE BLACK APPLES





Apr 28 2008 3:52 AM

Brilliant as ever friday lad's....
top stuff....
more of the same soon....
APPLES
xxx
LINCOLN JEFFRIES





Apr 26 2008 9:52 AM

groovy stuff guys !!!
thanks for adding us !