Product Description

The debut LP from Danish pop tykes Alphabeat takes in pop influences such as Abba and Wham, a vibrant and zany collection of tunes that is symptomatic of their comparative infancy. After a whirlwind of press attention on the emergence of their 'Fascination' single in early 2008 comes 'This Is Alphabeat', a slightly nostalgic but still vigorous and youthful effort that recalls the melodic fixation of fellow EuropeansThe Concretes, but with an essential buoyancy all their own. Includes the singles '10,000 Nights Of Thunder' and 'Fascination'.

Track Listing

1. Fantastic 6
2. Fascination
3. 10,000 Nights
4. Boyfriend
5. What Is Happening
6. Go Go
7. Touch Me Touching You
8. Rubberboots
9. Public Image
10. Nothing But My Baby

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168 in Music
• Released on: 2008-06-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk review
It’s difficult not to like Danish six-piece Alphabeat. Their retro-fuelled ‘wonky pop’ is pure optimistic fun of the kind that only po-faced too-cool-for-schoolers could possibly diss. This Is Alphabeat, their UK debut, is a version of their platinum-selling Danish release Alphabeat, minus some of the cheesier moments and with three brand new tracks produced by Mike Spencer (Kylie, Beverley Knight, Jamiroquai). 80s-style pop is still very much the motto here, with singles like "Fascination" and "10,000 Nights" manifesting more than just a casual aura of fame school about them. "Boyfriend" is reminiscent of 80s Madonna and the skewed electro of "Touch Me Touching You" is ridiculously saccharine and highly infectious. One of Spencer’s additions is worth noting - a cheerful romp through PiL's "Public Image," chirpy whistling and all, that will undoubtedly make John Lydon purple with rage. This Is Alphabeat packs in the musical clichés for sure, but there’s no denying the band’s zest and sincerity. At only ten tracks, this is a short but defiantly sweet statement.--Danny McKenna

Customer Reviews

Just good, wholesome fun
A cracking modern pop album that doesn't take itself too seriously or try to be anything it isn't - no po-faced deep and meaningful "message" here and all the better for it. Think somewhere between a Roxette that isn't trying so hard to be cool and a grown-up high-school musical without the schmaltz and you're about there. Don't think you don't like pop because you can't stand the bubblegum warbling that infests the charts - this is how it should be done.

Good for a debut album!
A good album very much a grower but the more you hear it the more you will love it...wasnt too impressed on first listen but now i love it....although i prefer the first 7 songs to the last 3 - not so good - bt yeh gd album for a gd band!!!

Very good indeed.
It's a brave band that tries to recreate that mid-90s indie sound. Infact, if you think back to recent years, most bands would rather hark back to the 80s, so when Alphabeat came along, basically trying to reproduce the feel of 90s Scandanavian indie (which let's face it, gave us brilliant bands like the Wannadies and the Cardigans), I have to admit I was very excited.

Thankfully, the album lives up to the obvious hype it generates. 'Fascination' could easily have been a Wannadies song, right down to the slightly punky 'the word is on your lips' chant in the middle. 'Boyfriend' is very reminiscent of the Cardigans around the time of Lovefool, and Stine's voice is just lush. Elsewhere, 'What is Happening' sounds a bit like Blur collaborating with the Young Knives, and 'Fantastic Six' could have been plucked right out of a Bis record. Hell, even the cover of 'Public Image' is wrecked in such shameless style that you can't help but love it.

It works. Every track is great, and more importantly, every track links into each other very well. I agree with some reviewer's comments that this European release doesn't sound quite as punchy as the first version, but it's still excellent, and I still think people would be mad not to buy it, because the only criticism you can honestly have, in my opinion, is that it could do with a couple more tracks.