Alpha Stone
Bandname
Alpha Stone
Country
UK/Rugby
Members
Pete Bassman (ex Darkside)
Andy Smith
Duncan Coates / Mark Carolan - dr
Steve Janes - dr
Chris Brightwell - g
Plashcated Waveband
Label
Enraptured
Released
1998
Tracks
8
Time
60
Format
LP / CD

from Terrascope Mag: Thirteen years after the first Spacemen 3 album the Rugby sound continues. Pete Bassman, ex of the Spacemen 3 and Darkside submits his latest band name: Alphastone. It´s a thickly distorted guitar sound very similar to the Darkside´s but it throws in some jazzy vibes sounds at the end of ´lose Your Mind,´ which updates it a little. ´dans Le Jardin Avec Alphastone´ sounds like Suicide, always a major influence, and the slide blues and electronic pulse of ´theme to the Leafblower´ is a sublime guitar piece. A mysterious black plastic square in the sleeve turns out to be a liquid crystal picture. The Rugby psychers have always tried hard with their packaging. Spiritualized did their luminous covers and pill packets and Spectrum had water in a bubble sleeve and a turning colour wheel cover. Toys for addled minds.

Soulweed
Label
Bomp!
Tracks
9
Time
65
Format
LP ? / CD

After the intro what came next was a very electronic outing. Alpha Stone "Your Not Foolin Me" sounds a lot like Primal Scream, with a hint of Depeche Mode. Which is not a bad thing. "Swamp Gas" sounds like a mashup of the soundtracks of "trainspotting" and "Escape from new York" by someone who smokes lots of pot. Overall very enjoyable.

A pretty good album, with some really experimental but well-produced songs. Pete Bassman´s voice, not wining any singing awards, nevertheless suits the sound and is hypnotic. A good addition to any space/ambient/rock collection

Stereophonic Pop Art Music
Label
Bomp!
Tracks
8
Time
54
Format
LP ? / CD

a good album, despite only being recorded on an 8-track. some Spacemen-type noisy stuff, plus more ambient/dance numbers. Probably less consistently good than ´soul Weed´ though.