At what point does "too corny become the embodiment of cool? Meet Alphabeat, the point at which "too corny becomes the embodiment of cool. Theyre from Denmark (but now live in London), theyre really, really into pretty colours and theyre possibly the most unnecessarily giddy band on the planet. And they have a name so contrived (A play on "alphabet emphasising their massive beat? Or Alphaville ville + the Beat the = Alphabeat?) its almost too perfect for them. (Original name: Sodastar. Yikes.) Like countrymen Junior Senior, youll either think theyre brilliant or absolutely, positively nauseating. Obviously, I think theyre brilliant.
Pushing that Scandinavian pop stereotype to its utmost extreme, the sextet have no shame, aping all of the most overzealous ideas and trends of the 80s and then taking things a little too far. Is it ironic? I dont even know! But they get away with being so sickeningly sanguine by name-dropping shit-cool artists like Daft Punk, the Tough Alliance, Of Montreal and Kid Sister as their favourites on MySpace. However, more explicable are their influences: Chic, Wham!, the Pointer Sisters, the B-52s and Lets Dance-era Bowie.
In fact, new/old single "Fascination (out March 3 via EMI in the UK and taken from their self-titled album) sounds a lot like Bowies "Modern Love, had it been covered by Richard Simmons, his twin sister and a rehabbed gang of Oldies sweathogs. Or maybe how Mogwais Happy Music For Happy People should have sounded, if those disgruntled Glaswegians were actually sincere instead of sardonic. Vocalists Anders and Stine are the most adorable duetting couple since Travolta and Newton-John, swinging with the same high school innocence on a set leftover from some Easter special, and singing nonsensical gems like "Fascination, its just the way we feel. Umm yeah, me too.
Pushing that Scandinavian pop stereotype to its utmost extreme, the sextet have no shame, aping all of the most overzealous ideas and trends of the 80s and then taking things a little too far. Is it ironic? I dont even know! But they get away with being so sickeningly sanguine by name-dropping shit-cool artists like Daft Punk, the Tough Alliance, Of Montreal and Kid Sister as their favourites on MySpace. However, more explicable are their influences: Chic, Wham!, the Pointer Sisters, the B-52s and Lets Dance-era Bowie.
In fact, new/old single "Fascination (out March 3 via EMI in the UK and taken from their self-titled album) sounds a lot like Bowies "Modern Love, had it been covered by Richard Simmons, his twin sister and a rehabbed gang of Oldies sweathogs. Or maybe how Mogwais Happy Music For Happy People should have sounded, if those disgruntled Glaswegians were actually sincere instead of sardonic. Vocalists Anders and Stine are the most adorable duetting couple since Travolta and Newton-John, swinging with the same high school innocence on a set leftover from some Easter special, and singing nonsensical gems like "Fascination, its just the way we feel. Umm yeah, me too.
