ALASKALASKA, an art-pop six piece based in London, first caught my attention back in May when Bitter Winter popped up in one of my Daily Mixes. Since then, they've been one of my 2017 favourites.
Yesterday the group finally released their highly anticipated debut EP, comprising of Bitter Winter and its B-side Familiar Ways, their second single Patience, and brand new track This. Upon listening, it's hard to believe ALASKALASKA have only been together for just shy of two years. Their sound is so distinctive and modern, a perfect blend of soulful jazzy elements and feel good indie-pop. Imagine the best parts of Mr Jukes, Sharon Van Etten and Honeyblood crammed together and made melancholic.
Starting out with the delightfully catchy Bitter Winter, lead singer Lucinda John-Duarte's vocals glide elegantly over a foot tapping beat. The song perfectly captures the essence of feeling young and not entirely sure of yourself with the tongue in cheek line: "When I grow up/It's a very big when/I'm just hanging around/Until then". Brass instruments reach a powerful crescendo towards the end of the track, ending on a euphoric care-free note.
Familiar Ways is next up and is one of the stand outs of the EP. A bittersweet track that highlights the band's ability to build a song up to an emotive high with their sheer musical talent. Introducing sax during the second chorus, Lucinda's vocals become increasingly impressive and captivating, encapsulating the feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness: "If this is called a competition/Darling you will always win/I've been waiting for the bad news/Ever since it all began." The last section of the song feels like an outburst of pent up feelings that have to be released. It's my most listened to track on Spotify this year.
The penultimate track, Patience, starts out with an almost Foals-esque riff, then brings in Lucinda's beautiful autotuned vocals. Her vocal-style is so well suited to the effect and it's reminiscent of POLICA. It's like a waterfall or a shower just flowing over the catchy beat. Many artists fail to understand how to use autotune to their advantage, but ALASKALASKA get it absolutely spot on. It's innovative choices like these that make the band different to other guitar bands working at the moment and give me hope for British alternative music.
This is the final song of the EP and is the lowest-tempo track the band have released yet. It's more simplistic than its predecessors but the record is better off for it. With keyboards inspired by 80s power ballads followed up with a synthy arpeggio towards the end, it's almost nostalgic and hazy. In fact, Lucinda sings of feeling stuck between dreams and reality, repeating "I feel awake when I'm inside a dream/I have to pinch myself whenever morning comes".
I have struggled to find another new British band that knows its sound as well as ALASKALASKA. This EP proves their songwriting prowess, instrumental skill and mood-provoking ability. It is hard to compare them to other existing bands because they are so unique. Lucinda's lyrical capability is awe-inspiring. A woman expressing the hazy confusion of your early-twenties is a refreshing thing in a music scene awash with the male perspective.
Listen to ALASKALASKA below and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
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