alfa 9

phil mason : vocals/guitar
ali heath : vocals/bass
leon jones : guitar
jamie gordon : keyboards
andy shaw : drums

Alfa 9 formed several years ago in Newcastle-under-Lyme (nr. Stoke) and since then have spent their time honing their skills on the live circuit. Their relentless gigging and dedication paid off, wowing the local scene with their epic psychedelic live shows, cemented this year on a national level with supports slots for The Coral, Sunshine Underground, The Charlatans, and Edgar Jones.

In 2005 they signed to Blow Up, and the same month walked straight into The Charlatans’ Big Mushroom studio in Cheshire with Liverpool producer Mike Cave (The Coral, Ian McNabb). Mostly recorded in under two weeks, with additional production in Liverpool, the completed album was mastered in Devon by Simon Heyworth (Tubular Bells) at Super Audio Mastering, the end result being the psych masterpiece that is Then We Begin.

A limited 45 For Your Bones was released at the end of 2005, described by The Sun as recalling “The Who at their best” (4/5) and “an impressively confident debut” by Artrocker. The follow up single Deadman was released in late July 2006 a week before their album debut Then We Begin to some rave reviews:

"A confident, elaborate trip through forty years of psychedelic rock. Alfa9 have channelled everything into a definitive debut and produced a stunningly complete piece of music. A fully realised and hugely ambitious debut which succeeds on every level."
Clash Magazine, July '06

"Their debut album puts the band in the same league as 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. These talented twenty-somethings are going to be big news." What's On

"If the Stones Roses had lived in Haight-Asbury... Its psychedelic vision sweeps from late-60s San Francisco to mid-90s Manchester - 7/10" Classic Rock

Click here to read full review of the above & more.

blow up releases

1. for your bones listen
2. little girl listen

deadman

1. deadman listen
2. indian summer listen
   limited 7" (1000) & digital download, cat. no. BU038

1. deadman listen
2. in rome listen
3. the orchard listen
   limited CDs (1000) & digital download, cat. no. BU038CD
   

then we begin

1. prelude
2. then we begin listen
3. interlude 1 listen
4. flasher
5. interlude 2
6. for your bones (album version)
7. give me your heart again listen
8. catch me if you can
9. interlude 3
10. deadman (album version)
11. birds & flies listen
12. reprise
    

CD, LP (1st 500 signed) & digital download
cat. no. BU034CD/BU034LP
release date: 7th august 2006, status: out now
buy: Rough Trade / Townsend / Piccadilly / HMV
download: iTunes / Napster

back:
an intro to the band
releases
top of page

related pages:
reviews

links:
www.alfa9.co.uk
www.myspace.com/alfa9
www.peripheralanomaly.co.uk (great photos of Alfa 9 and other bands)

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