Inspired Conflicts

Usually in my reviews, I like to give a bit of an introduction to the band. Alpine Skies, however, are relatively new on the scene, and so, we look more to their future than their past. A Dublin based band, this duo consists of Kevin Homan and Darren Farrell.In anticipation of the release of Inspired Conflicts, their debut album, Alpine skies have been dropping singles over the past several months.

These have already gained some traction however, with several positive reviews. The band has even been endorsed by Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran! “By Your Side“, the first of the singles released, is an excellent example of how much their album was anticipated. Even RTE has shown interest, having released an interview with them recently.

Luckily, I was given the opportunity to listen to their upcoming album prior to its release. The band describe themselves as a sort of fusion of a few genres. With influences of Indie Rock, Post Britpop and Electronic Rock, the band have clearly already found their voice. They claim that, while they have many favourite artists, such as The Beatles and Oasis, they’re sound is very much their own. 

This album, production and label

Homan and Farrell themselves do a large majority of the work when it comes to recording and mixing the music. Helped by Sean Hurley and Gabe Wolf, they played, sang, recorded and produced the album. The album is set to be released under the label Sequential Records on April 16. Though limited in manpower experience, the production quality of this album really is excellent. From what I’ve heard so far, this gives the impression of seasoned professionals who know exactly what they want. I really am excited to hear more from them.

“By Your Side”

The intro to the song is immediately a spacey vibe. With the guitar setting the tone, the vocals come in. A strong, resonating voice, with some reverb adding some atmosphere, the vocals really grab your attention. While it feels minimal at first, the song builds in stages. The drums join, alongside some more effects, which begin to fill out the sound. Finally, a guitar is added, rounding off the sound. This riff, heavy and full, only serves to build the other aspects of the song up. The guitar we heard in the intro, spacey and atmospheric, remains, and becomes the core of the song.

When the vocal harmony joins the mix, it noticeably bolsters the sound. While the main vocals are strong, the addition of the harmony adds a lot to the song. Once the keyboard is added, accompanying the slower section, the vocals begin to fade to a secondary instrument. I really feel like this type of song would be at home as a live performance. The atmosphere of it alone lends it a gravity that wouldn’t be out of place in a stadium. The song displays a great ability to pace itself, not rushing, nor dragging. It can be hard to keep listeners engaged for nearly 5 minutes of one song, which Alpine Skies do here, effortlessly.

“A Long Way”

This is a really nice song. The intro really struck me on my first listen. A nice guitar tone gives us a riff with a whammy to set the scene. The vocals come in then, deep and rich. The voice is slightly offset from the guitar. This sort of puts the focus on the voice, which works with the guitar that sits in the background for most of this song. The intro riff returns in bridges to break up the vocal passages. It’s a great returning theme for the song. Again, I feel as though this song would be a great live performance. The atmosphere lends itself to a larger live sound. The reverb helps with this feeling too, carrying the theme across the album. Its a nice song that fits in well with the album

“The Rhythms Alive”

The rhythm is really alive here, as this song launches straight in fully formed. This song comes in hot, with a rounded sound, drums, guitar and bass. The vocals come in shortly after, with a hazy effect. The vocals and the guitar take an opposing melody. The guitar taking a backstage and allowing the vocals to create a really great melody. The song slowly fades into a spacey vibe. The guitar continues and becomes more prominent in contrast as the washy effects fill out.

Conclusion

Clearly the band knows what they’re doing. A polished, well produced album, Inspired Conflicts is a great mission statement from Alpine Skies. We look forward to what they have for us next.