Alamein's Torch

Brighton based 8 piece band Alamein's Torch released their self titled debut album just over year ago...with regular appearances at numerous Brighton venues, Audio, Sticky Mike's, the Hydrant, Blind Tiger Club and others they have already attracted attention as well as a keen student following. They headlined at local festivals Sounds Like Brighton and Beach Dreams last year. Further festival appearances this year, numerous London shows and gigs further afield including Bedford's Esquires (host to Elbow, Bloc Party, Klaxons and many more)...and the legendary Half Moon, Putney have all helped to establish this band as a live act worth seeing.

"..Sing along hooks, anthemic choruses, raw energy and thumping bass lines... soulful emotion and melodic orchestration. A very mature sound from a brand new band!" ".. by the end of their first song the audience were all on board...." "...creative lyrics, soaring melodies", ... "...a cacophony of sound ...!" "...Admittedly, their brand of indie rock/new folk isn’t necessarily commercial or mainstream, but for me that makes it all the better and hopefully gives them longevity. Their album is certainly on my play list!" ".. A mature sound from a brand new band ..."Influenced by a whole wave of exciting new music coming out of the 'Naughties' from bands like Arcade Fire, Local Natives, Cloud Cult, Mumford and Sons, Tall As Lions, Elbow, Bloc Party, British Sea Power, Oceansize, the Raconteurs... the list of influences goes on...

Back story..

'Alamein's Torch, a Brighton based band, began life as a recording project. Paul Oakley, (Songwriter), David Evans (ex The Plymouths) and Pete Coggan (Forerunner) began meeting and writing together with a view to recording an album of "just epic songs" says Pete.

"Having previously been in four piece bands we just wanted to create a great album that wasn't limited or restricted by the musicians or the instruments we had to play with. We thought lets create the tracks first and then worry about whether we can form a band to play it.." says Paul

The album was extensively demo'd as the songs came together and other musicians were sort out along the way to furnish the ever expanding and ambitious soundscape. Along the way the desire to form a band and make the whole experience go 'live' just seemed obvious to everyone involved.

The result was something Jon Astley, (Producer, Eric Clapton, The Who - Who Are You - and mastering legend - everyone from Paul McCartney to Sting to KT Tunstall & Peter Gabriel) describes as follows ...

"Epic, catchy, organic, shout out loud stuff" ..."punchy hooks, anthemic choruses, thumping bass lines with mature orchestration"..."think big cinematic movie screen, huge landscapes, multiple voices ... a mix of sing along hooks, anthemic choruses and subtle more ambient tracks ...Everything from punk energy and thumping bass lines, through, soulful emotion to intimacy and melodic layers. A mature sound from a brand new band".

The resulting eight piece band that emerged from this album project, has a mature sound for what Oakley called 'a baby band', having done very few live performances together to that point. They are now relishing the challenge of reproducing the songs live with some members swapping instruments from song to song and Jules and Adrian playing multiple instruments to cover everything from glokenspiel to banjo, pump organ, melodica, extra drum parts and layered vocals.

The band did discuss the use of tracks but it seems everything about this band is bucking the current technological trends, choosing to go for the excitement of real players and the raw organic energy that comes from a whole bunch of people playing together rather than programming and loops. Paul says "It's about empathy and connecting with the audience. It's about raw passion and emotion and not about attaining perfection - no one can empathize with perfection!"

"...a cacophony of sound ..."
".. by the end of their first song the audience were all on board...."
"...creative lyrics, soaring melodies, ... a beautiful sound!"
"Admittedly, their brand of indie rock/new folk isn’t commercial or mainstream, but for me that makes it all the better. Their album is certainly on my play list!"

Reviews;(See Elevator Pitch...above)
also;

"The track "Bullet Proof" from this dazzling debut is already getting airplay and, as hipper music followers will know, Alamein's Torch are a Brighton-based band and obviously destined to be a success. Fresh, authentic and original, this album is a breath of fresh air for the indie rock market. Right from the first note the album