‘Night-pop’ is perhaps an ambiguous label for South London’s Alpines to ascribe themselves –but it does neatly express their alignment with those other nocturnal star-gazers (Jamie Woon, The xx) who have shared a similar inspiration in the light of the moon.
Catherine Pockson is Alpines’ centre-piece. Draped in flowing black gown and mystic head dress, her ethereal howls and almost ghostly theatrics are reminiscent of Lykke Li’s ‘Wounded Rhymes’ or even Kate Bush’s darker dabblings. Beneath her banshee vocals lie thick synth lines which are every bit as swarthy and brooding, pulsing up and down as if the musical interpretation of Pockson’s beating heart.
Singles ‘Drive’ and ‘Ice & Arrows’ are the highlights of an epic set which celebrates influences far and wide, stretching from an arcane disturbia and alluring gothic mystery to dub-drenched fist-pumping and rave lights. For the sake of the MySpace tag, perhaps ‘night-pop’ will suffice for the time-being.
