Alaska Campus
Ever one to send us a quality band or two to check out, Garry from SAN PR recently sent us through details of the new mini album, When We Were Young, from Herefordshire based Alaska Campus. Due for release in September 10th this year, Alaska Campus have been out there forming their sound, crafting their tracks, and making a name for themselves on the scene, working away to ensure that their sound is their own and the world is ready for them. Based on everything I read when the album came through, I couldn’t wait to hit play on the EP to see what was on offer!
Opening with You, Me and the Sun, the band get us off to a soft and melodic start, allowing the guitars to do the work to craft a track which is full of melody, technical ability and catchy hooks. The chorus is the true key to this track and soon fills the room with a blanket of sound, creating something which you simply fall into and absorb, the music taking you to a place where it’s the only thing that matters. Roseanna follows much the same conventions, keeping things soft and melodic throughout to allow you to fully appreciate each of the different elements of the band. The vocals adopt an almost haunting tone throughout this track, once again forming a sound which envelopes you and makes you feel warm, safe, and fulfilled. I love how the bass is kept high on the mix on this track, it adds a further sense of depth to things and keeps the track alive and moving from start to finish, the elements working in harmony to craft a sound which isn’t heavy or over the top, but simply melodic and dramatically powerful.
Mon Reve almost sounds quiet after the dramatic closing moments of the previous track, but the jumpy and upbeat pace which is adopted soon picks up the pace and gets you involved once again. I love how this track contrasts against the one before it, almost showing off a different side to the band and showing that on the live scene, this is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. There’s elements of early Snow Patrol going on in this track, the sort of moments which get you moving and singing along and make you want to see it live. Once again as if to contrast things further, The Story Of Alaska Pt. 1 comes up next, and once again returns us to a softer and more melodic place. Almost sounding akin to Sigur Ros through the opening bass line, there’s a sense of atmospheric reflection on this track, a sense that what you’re hearing is a story of a journey, and the music is designed to take you along for that journey. Reflective, calming, melodic and uplifting, the emotional edge of this track is enough to grab your mind, sit you down and make you simply listen, it’s quite simply an incredible track.
Closing with Control there’s one last contrast left on the EP, this time throwing us into a more upbeat and dramatic track to close things. The fast paced nature of this track closes the album on a high, leaving you with a desire to get out and see these guys live, knowing that when you do, it’s going to be an uplifting and energetic experience.
I’ve been really taken aback by the sound of Alaska Campus, as quite simply, it’s damned good. There’s moments of energetic music designed to get you moving, and moments of dramatic reflection designed to get the music to move you – and the band have pulled off both sides of things. This isn’t the sort of band I’d listen to on paper, but having heard this EP, I’ll be keeping a very close eye on these guys to see what happens next!
To find out more about Alaska Campus, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with You, Me and the Sun, the band get us off to a soft and melodic start, allowing the guitars to do the work to craft a track which is full of melody, technical ability and catchy hooks. The chorus is the true key to this track and soon fills the room with a blanket of sound, creating something which you simply fall into and absorb, the music taking you to a place where it’s the only thing that matters. Roseanna follows much the same conventions, keeping things soft and melodic throughout to allow you to fully appreciate each of the different elements of the band. The vocals adopt an almost haunting tone throughout this track, once again forming a sound which envelopes you and makes you feel warm, safe, and fulfilled. I love how the bass is kept high on the mix on this track, it adds a further sense of depth to things and keeps the track alive and moving from start to finish, the elements working in harmony to craft a sound which isn’t heavy or over the top, but simply melodic and dramatically powerful.
Mon Reve almost sounds quiet after the dramatic closing moments of the previous track, but the jumpy and upbeat pace which is adopted soon picks up the pace and gets you involved once again. I love how this track contrasts against the one before it, almost showing off a different side to the band and showing that on the live scene, this is going to be a hell of a lot of fun. There’s elements of early Snow Patrol going on in this track, the sort of moments which get you moving and singing along and make you want to see it live. Once again as if to contrast things further, The Story Of Alaska Pt. 1 comes up next, and once again returns us to a softer and more melodic place. Almost sounding akin to Sigur Ros through the opening bass line, there’s a sense of atmospheric reflection on this track, a sense that what you’re hearing is a story of a journey, and the music is designed to take you along for that journey. Reflective, calming, melodic and uplifting, the emotional edge of this track is enough to grab your mind, sit you down and make you simply listen, it’s quite simply an incredible track.
Closing with Control there’s one last contrast left on the EP, this time throwing us into a more upbeat and dramatic track to close things. The fast paced nature of this track closes the album on a high, leaving you with a desire to get out and see these guys live, knowing that when you do, it’s going to be an uplifting and energetic experience.
I’ve been really taken aback by the sound of Alaska Campus, as quite simply, it’s damned good. There’s moments of energetic music designed to get you moving, and moments of dramatic reflection designed to get the music to move you – and the band have pulled off both sides of things. This isn’t the sort of band I’d listen to on paper, but having heard this EP, I’ll be keeping a very close eye on these guys to see what happens next!
To find out more about Alaska Campus, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls