Polar Opposites

Alice Hubble - Polarlichter [BOT 17 UK 2019 FLAC]

Alice Hubble is the new solo project of Alice Hubley (Mass Datura, Cosines, Arthur and Martha), and the product of one lady locked in a room with her collection of synthesisers. Polarlichter was recorded using her vast array of analogue synthesisers at Alice’s home in north London. 

The album was born out of a desire to work on a project without constraints, to move away from the traditional song writing process and to experiment with the form. Inspired by the 70’s recordings by Tangerine Dream, Ashra and Mike Oldfield (particularly the records he made with his sister Sally), Alice wanted to take a more delicate approach; a distinctly feminine take on often pompous 70’s progressive synth sound. Other inspirations include Delia Derbyshire, Daphne Oram, Lee Hazlewood’s Swedish recordings and 80’s American synth pop band The Book of Love.

Constructing and sketching many of its riffs on her iPad during monotonous train journeys throughout the country. Alice built up her fragmentary ideas using vintage synthesisers and a mellotron creating something majestic, and sweeping. The album offers a soundscape of pastoral solace, far removed the urban sprawl in which it was conceived.

As a form of musical escapism, many of the recordings are inspired by far off places; Ruby Falls in Chatanooga, USA, Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies and the Atlantis Palm hotel in Dubai. Other inspiration was drawn by interpersonal interactions and Arthur C Clarke’s Childhood’s End.

Good stuff!

01 Ruby Falls
02 Goddess
03 Atlantis Palm
04 We Are Still Alone
05 Kick The Habit
06 Hunt For The Blood Red Moon
07 The Golden Age
8 Polarlichter (Still)