steering clear of the mainstream
since 2001

june 2010

review
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info opinion

Hope Alane

"Pink Sky Blue" CD

Grasshopper Records

Genres: dream pop, indie pop, dream rock

July 18 - 24 2005

Lush, female-voiced indie pop summarizes Hope Alane's debut album, Pink Sky Blue.  This disc runs the gamut from spacey dream-pop ("Patience," "Spinning World") to more charged rock ("Earth's Full," "Brave") - but Alane's lush vocals and powerful atmospherics drench the album in a certain ethereal sound.  I'm reminded of Ivy to an extent here, but over the record's duration I puck up on a wide array of influences, including Catherine Wheel ("Earth's Full), Jesus and Mary Chain ("Holding Hands"), and countless others.

Aside from a winning set of melodic pop songs, Alane's disc succeeds on account of its unconventional experimentation.  Be it the layered vocals of pretty "Pacific Grove" or the microtonal shifts in the solo of "Brave," it's clear Hope Alane isn't afraid to try new things out - and, for the most part, it works.  All in all, Pink Sky Blue, though occasionally disjointed and awkward, is a very enjoyable (and unusual) record.  Give it a shot.

85%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 9 tracks, distributed by the label, released 2004]