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Download press release as a word document or read below... |
BiographyAlphastates debut album, Made From Sand, was released in April 2004. The reaction from both the public and the press has been outstanding. "Made from Sand", is a collection of 12 evocative songs, encompassing diverse song-writing and sonic styles and topped with Catherine Dowling's sultry voice lending a subtle humanity to the proceedings. Since their humble beginnings, Alphastates have played at Witnness twice and to their biggest audience yet when 6000 people packed their tent at the Oxegen festival in 2004. They have shared stages with Throwing Muses, Sinead O' Connor, Cat Power, The Frames, The Beta Band and Lali Puna. Their music is currently in demand for both TV and Film productions, including recent Irish drama series "The Big Bow Wow". Courtesy of their phenomenal live performances they have built up a strong fanbase around the country. They were recently selected by RTE to perform on the programme "Other Voices - Songs From a Room", alongside Steve Earle, the Mark Lanegan Band (Queens of the Stone age) and many others. They also recently turned heads when they played at the Midem festival in Cannes where were approached by management and record companies. Tom Dunne has selected them for a compilation of Irelands best new bands which is due out early in 2005. They were also selected from thousands of other bands to have a video made by the prestigious New York Film School of their pulsating single Addicted.They are currently attracting interest from an array of International labels, and have been asked to supply songs for international soundtracks. Alphastates continue to impress fans and critics alike with their high energy performances and an album which has been described as "the freshest, most vital Irish release in an age"
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Reviews"Happily brimming with talent and seemingly oblivious to their comparatively mundane surroundings, all four are refreshingly unselfconscious onstage and clearly revel in a gig opportunity ... Perhaps if we put Stellastarr in the fridge for a couple of hours, or gave the Cardigans a soul, we would end up with Alphastates. But then again, to reduce this band's sound to a merely digestible indie-pop stereotype is to cheapen and gravely underestimate one of the most potent undercurrents in the country's alternative music scene. I look around and their audience are transfixed. Tonight, the Buttery was plucked from the armpit of stale indie bedwet and propelled skywards toward the lofty creative peaks of a band who I am convinced are poised to record something truly special." "'Made From Sand' is probably one of the most ambitious records to come out of Ireland in a while and here in the Limelight they sound absolutely huge … Alphastates managed to turn in one of the best belFEST performances in recent memory." "This band will manage to reassure you that there's still urgency, passion, and art left in music." "In Catherine Dowling they have a singer born to live on stage, her WW11 vamp-waitress persona and honeydripping voice pulling them in from the bar from the off … All told, a night that scored an appropriate ten out of Ten." "Alphastates are recreating these smooth studio sounds as raucous live rock blowouts the length and breath of Ireland - well worth catching live" "Currently presiding over the Dublin Music Scene, light years ahead of their peers, Alphastates are a tricky bunch to pin down. Made From Sand, is perhaps the freshest, most vital Irish release in an age ... Alphastates have their eyes fixed firmly on the future and that future looks very bright indeed." "Dowling's distinctive vocals call Beth Gibbons and Liz Frazer to mind. One of the more accomplished Irish debuts of recent years 4/5". "Sexy as fuck. Buckle up Kids and get ready to embrace your new favourite band. One small step for Catherine Dowling and her cohorts, then…one giant leap - in the right direction - for the Irish music scene". "They've the potential to be huge" "Alphastates is probably one of the most innovative and creative bands in the country … the frontwoman looks like a total star, belting out one great song after another." "Cool brooding electronica. Disarmingly sexy. Excellent debut album." "Accomplished, Compelling, Stylish..." "A fine debut" |